Storage specialist, local distributor of Spectra Logic tape libraries and member of the Siltek IT Supply Chain, Intelligent Systems (IS), has announced a Fibre Channel (FC) interface for its entry-level TreeFrog family of automated tape libraries, thereby introducing a low cost, SAN-ready tape solution.
Gerhard Grundlingh, marketing manager at IS, says the integrated FC interface enables the sharing of one or more TreeFrog libraries in Storage Area Network (SAN) environments. "This allows backup resources to be shared across multiple servers, simplifies management tasks and reduces the backup cost for each protected server."
The virtually unlimited scalability provided by SAN environments improves the performance of backup and restore operations and alleviates cumbersome management aspects of securing data in multi-server environments. "Until now, the high cost of FC connectivity has inhibited the widespread adoption of SAN technology, with only the largest data centres being able to afford it. Spectra Logic's goal is to provide affordable access to shared tape resources," he adds.
The AIT TreeFrog provides up to 3.7 terabytes (TB) of data storage with data transfer rates of over 10 GB per hour in roughly half a cubic metre of space. It can be configured with one or two Sony AIT tape drives and fifteen or thirty tape cartridges. FC connectivity allows sharing of TreeFrog libraries by multiple servers and operating systems, while maintaining burst transfer data at rates up to 40 MB/sec.
Completely integrated within the Spectra 2000F library the Fibre Channel controller has support for private loop, public loop and fabric topologies (Class II and Class III). In addition to the Fibre Channel interface, the Spectra 2000F includes a 10/100 Base Ethernet port for browser based configuration and monitoring. The physical connection to the library is via direct-connect using copper cables. Optical cabling is accomplished through the use of an optional Media Interface Adapter (MIA).
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Spectra Logic Corporation
Spectra Logic Corporation is a leading manufacturer of high-performance tape automation products providing mission-critical data protection for companies worldwide. Spectra Logic tape library products offer capacities from 60 Gigabytes to hundreds of Terabytes. The Boulder, Colorado-based company's products operate on a broad range of platforms and utilize a wide range of interface configurations to take advantage of rapidly evolving SAN, NAS, and direct-attached storage architectures. For more information, contact Spectra Logic by phone at (800) 833-1132, or visit the company's web site at http://www.spectralogic.com.
SILTEK IT Supply Chain Group
A specialist distribution company in the SILTEK IT Supply Chain Group, Intelligent Systems provides storage solutions that underpin many of the diverse business applications so prevalent in the business world today, including: Storage Area Networks, Data Warehousing, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Document Imaging, e-Commerce and Hierarchical Storage Management. The company holds distribution or sub-distribution rights to a broad range of storage technologies and products, including hard disk-based subsystems, optical technology, tape devices, high-performance connectivity and software management products.
Intelligent Systems
Intelligent Systems applies its considerable expertise to building solutions to satisfy individual storage requirements of a variety of specific business applications. The company can be contacted on +27 11 315 3120 or on its Web site at www.intsys.co.za
The Spectra Logic logo is a trademark of Spectra Logic Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.