Seagate Software redefines FC SAN market with certified solutions

Seagate Backup Exec Shared Storage Option breaks new ground in manageability and performance

To provide 15 combined end-to-end storage area network (SAN) solutions in the emerging Fibre Channel market, Seagate Software has announced its certification with 13 collaborative partners. Some of the vendors include ADIC, ATTO, Compaq, Crossroads, Dell, Emulex, Exabyte, Gadzoox, Hewlett-Packard, Overland Data, QLogic, StorageTek and Vixel.

By combining their products with Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT, or Seagate Backup Exec for NetWare with Shared Storage Option and other Seagate Software products such as Intelligent Disaster Recovery, Autoloader module and multiple database agents, Seagate Software provides users with the flexibility to scale and manage storage in a Fibre Channel environment.

"The market for Fibre Channel products is rapidly growing," says Philip Mendoza, analyst, International Data Corporation. "Seagate Backup Exec Shared Storage Option uses the benefits of a Fibre Channel SAN. Some of the key benefits include increased backup performance, centralised management, reduced impact on network users, consolidation of storage devices, and lower total cost of ownership."

"Seagate Software has tested and approved over 15 end-to-end solutions for Fibre Channel SAN hardware vendors in its internal Fibre Channel test labs. As a result, Seagate Software offers Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC AL) solutions, as well as Fabric solutions to meet the evolving demands of enterprise customers," says Nick van Noordwyk, regional manager for MEA at Seagate Software, Network and Storage Management Group (NSMG).

"The Fibre Channel SAN is quickly emerging as the dominant backup platform for enterprise customers with large-scale storage environments," says Van Noordwyk. "As the only vendor to offer a Fibre Channel storage management solution for both Windows NT and NetWare, Seagate Software is providing true information availability." For a complete list of hardware certified for use with the Seagate Backup Exec Shared Storage Option, visit www.seagatesoftware.com/sso

Seagate Software`s Shared Storage Option Seagate Software offers Shared Storage Option for both Windows NT and NetWare on separate Fibre Channel loops. When Shared Storage Option is used in conjunction with Intelligent Disaster Recovery in either a Windows NT or NetWare environment, users may quickly restore a failed backup server to the point of the last backup on a Fibre Channel loop. The Advanced Device and Media Management functionality in Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT provides centralised management and a single unified view of all backup devices and media within the Fibre Channel SAN. A Primary Group Server is responsible for co-ordinating access with other Seagate Backup Exec for NetWare and Shared Storage Option servers on a Fibre Channel Loop. The NetWare version of Shared Storage Option is currently the first and only Novell-certified NetWare Fibre Channel backup solution available.

Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT, the first storage solution based on Microsoft`s COM architecture, offers enhanced reliability, performance and ease-of-use with the new integration of Working Set Backup, virus protection and centralised monitoring. Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT also provides backup agents and options for Autoloader, multiple databases and Intelligent Disaster Recovery. As a reliable, high-performance and easy-to-use data-protection solution, Seagate Backup Exec for NetWare provides advanced features such as the new Working Set Backup, advanced bar-code reader and media portal support, and multi-platform centralised management. In addition, Seagate Backup Exec for NetWare provides backup agents and options for Autoloader, multiple databases and Intelligent Disaster Recovery.