SOFTWARE
EMC targets SAP upgrades
EMC recently introduced two service packages for users to upgrade to the newest versions of SAP software. EMC Replication Accelerator for SAP Upgrades streamlines replication of data during upgrades from older versions of SAP R/3 to newer SAP software. The EMC Replication Accelerator for SAP Productivity software automatically creates copies of data SAP generates for daily analysis, reporting, testing, and other tasks. Both packages are designed for EMC’s Symmetrix disk arrays and use EMC Replication Manager, TimeFinder, and PowerPath software. www.emc.com/solutions.
Veritas adds EMC option
Veritas recently introduced an option for its Indepth application performance management software that works with EMC disk arrays. Called Storage Extension, the software uses EMC’s open API to link arrays with Veritas software, resulting in improved database performance on EMC platforms, according to Veritas officials. Storage Extension can be deployed as a replacement for EMC DB Tuner, according to Veritas. The software enables Veritas Indepth for Oracle and Indepth for SQL Server to display performance metrics for EMC’s Symmetrix and CLARiiON arrays. Indepth for DB2 UDB software also displays performance metrics, but only for Symmetrix arrays. www.veritas.com.
DataCore introduces utilization analysis tool
DataCore Software has added a storage resource utilization analysis option to its SANsymphony software. Dubbed SANmaestro, the software correlates storage area network (SAN) activity to applications by charting I/O workloads, capacity consumption, and access frequency. SANmaestro lets users monitor and analyze how application servers consume storage resources over time. Resource consumption is defined in terms of disk capacity, ports, I/O bandwidth, and throughput. No host agents are necessary. SANmaestro gathers SAN-wide instrumentation information via SANsymphony. Both software products work in heterogeneous networks. www.datacore.com.
Arkeia targets SMBs, departments
At last month’s Linux World Expo conference, Arkeia introduced Arkeia Enterprise Backup software for small and mid-sized businesses and enterprise departments. Available options include hot backup plug-ins for Oracle, DB2, Lotus, MySQL, and MS Exchange, and a bare-metal disaster-recovery module.
An integrated wizard allows for easy setup of basic operations, including remote administration and operation; simultaneous backup and restore; automatic multi-flow management; total, incremental, and differential backups; interactive, differed, and schedule backups; before and after backup commands; point-in-time restore; and a calendar interface to manage scheduled backups.
Arkeia Server Backup is available in two versions: a standard version priced at $290, and a Disaster Recovery Edition for $890.
Hot plug-ins are priced from $190 to $990. All packages are available for download as 30-day demos at www.arkeia.com/downloadsb.html.
Vision delivers high availability
Vision Solutions last month began shipments of high-availability software for OS/400 and Windows platforms. The packages are based on the company’s flagship ORION software.
The OS/400 version is based on ORION Express for OS/400 on iSeries 810 systems, and the Windows version is based on ORION Professional for Windows. The high-availability software is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses and is priced at $25,000. Functions of the ORION software include data integration across disparate databases (UDB, Oracle, Sybase, and SQL Server), and application/server availability functions for homogeneous or heterogeneous environments, including multi-system fail-over and recovery. www.visionsolutions.com.
DISK/CONNECTIVITY
Cepoint’s RAID targets video apps
Cepoint Networks’ Rx524 RAID array is targeted primarily at video streaming and high-end video broadcast applications. The Rx524 is configurable with up to 6TB in a 5U form factor. The subsystem supports Windows 95/98/2000/NT4/XP/ME, Linux, HP-UX, AIX, Mac OS, UnixWare, Open Server, and SunSoft Solaris 7. A dual 2GBps Fibre Channel host interface option is available with support for FC-AL. Also, the system supports SCSI, Fibre Channel, IP, and Fibre Channel-tape protocols. Pricing for a 6TB Serial ATA version starts at less than $16,500 (OEM pricing). www.ce point.com.
Snap upgrades NAS software
Network-attached storage (NAS) vendor Snap Appliance recently released its SnapOS version 4.0 operating system, which is compatible with Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Server environments. SnapOS 4.0 is backward-compatible with all SnapOS-based Snap Server filers. The new software is available at www.snapappliance.com.
Olixir offers portable-disk backup
Olixir Technologies last month launched the Mobile DataVault FastRestore SE, a chassis-based portable hard-drive backup and disaster-recovery system based on the company’s Mobile DataVault 3DX portable disk drives.
The system is positioned as a faster, more-reliable backup alternative to midrange tape systems (DLT, LTO, and AIT) and includes portable 180GB or 250GB, 7,200rpm ATA drives. An optional Serial ATA interface cable boosts sustained data-transfer rates to more than 40MBps. The drives are also available with USB 2.0, Firewire, and PCMCIA interface connectivity.
The FastStore SE consists of five 180GB or 250GB drives, 8MB of cache memory, and a chassis with one USB and two Firewire interfaces, a Firewire cable for host connection, a Firewire PCI server card, and Dantz Retrospect Backup software with support for one server and five clients. It also supports Veritas Backup Exec 9.0.
The system is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms. It is available through PC Mall at list prices of $3,199 (for a system configured with 180GB drives) and $3,799 (for a system configured with 250GB drives). www.olixir.com.
TAPE
GST delivers 2.3TB SAIT-1 drives
GST last month added Sony’s Super AIT (SAIT-1) tape technology to its product line. The company offers three SAIT systems: the EntryDR single-drive system, SafeDR dual-drive mirrored subsystem; and Growth DR midrange tape library.
Each drive has the option to include Write-Once Read-Many (WORM) technology to protect data against alterations or deletions for compliance purposes, as well as Adaptive Lossless Data Compression (ALDC) for a compression ratio of 2.6:1, which results in a sustained transfer rate of 78MBps.
SAIT drives come in a 5.25-inch form factor and use Sony’s Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media.
The drives also feature Sony’s Remote-sensing Memory-in-Cassette (R-MIC) technology, which enables the drives to access key parameters quickly, improves media management, and enables WORM technology.
GST value-added features include iSeries connectivity, mirrored backup protection, virtual library partitioning, a real-time operator interface, and support for Fibre Channel as well as LVD and HVD SCSI. Operating system support includes OS/400, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, and Windows. www.gstinc.com.
OPTICAL
QStar supports UDO
QStar has announced compatibility with Plasmon’s UDO optical drives and libraries in its QStar HSM and Data Director software. QStar’s software presents UDO drives/libraries as a standard file system on supported platforms, which include Windows NT/2000, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, Irix, and Tru-64. www.qstar.com.
Kano debuts double-sided DVD+R media
Kano Technologies recently introduced ArchivMedia DVD+R double-sided media. Kano teamed with Verbatim to develop the media for use with Kano’s XFiniti optical libraries. However, the media is also compatible with all DVD+ recorders and players. The media will be manufactured by Verbatim for Kano. www.kanotechnologies.com.