A new series of data-backup and disaster-recovery appliances has been unveiled by a company this week. These appliances combine a server, hard-drive cache, tape library, and the Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) software application in a turnkey solution. This product aims to bring an enterprise-level storage solution with full TSM support to smaller businesses.
Kevin Hoffman, the vice president of sales at Hoffman Technologies, a storage solution provider based in Sacramento, California, stated that most smaller customers are not interested in TSM due to the high cost of integration. Typically, the necessary server, tape, and software can cost around $50,000. However, Hoffman expects customers’ perceptions to change with this fully integrated solution.
While the company has previously offered similar appliances based on tape libraries from vendors like Overland Storage, Qualstar, and Spectra Logic, this latest family incorporates a Sony tape library using AIT drive technology. It marks the company’s first offering aimed specifically at small businesses, according to Ellen Rome, the vice president of channel sales and marketing at StorServer in Colorado Springs.
The Y-series solution consists of a 4U rack-mount server with hard-disk-based storage and a 2U Sony AIT tape library, as explained by John Sorensen, the vice president of manufacturing at StorServer. Customers need to perform a full backup to the appliance upon installation. After that, TSM allows for incremental changes to be backed up to disk first and then to tape.
This approach ensures that a full backup is available for as long as needed, while customers can recover files or systems up to 20 days prior. Sorensen emphasized that TSM is the best technology for this capability.
For small businesses considering implementing a disaster recovery program, the Y-series is worth considering, according to Hoffman. He highlighted that TSM includes Disaster Recovery Manager, which is the only product he knows of that writes a disaster recovery plan for customers. It even advises on tape storage locations by asking a series of questions and generating a plan.
Hoffman also noted that the Y-series is suitable for the government sector. Typically, the government would require a server, a tape library, and software, which would involve three separate bids to different companies. However, the Y-series provides a turnkey solution, simplifying the process with a single bid.
The Y1, starting at $12,900, offers 100 Gbytes to 300 Gbytes of non-RAID ATA hard-disk capacity and one AIT drive. The Y500, starting at $13,900, provides 20 Gbytes to 160 Gbytes of non-RAID SCSI disk and one tape drive. The Y1000, starting at $20,900, includes 50 Gbytes to 190 Gbytes of RAID SCSI disk and two AIT drives. These solutions are available to both StorServer and Sony solution providers.
StorServer currently sells its products exclusively through solution providers. According to Rome, the company has around 65 partners in North America but is actively recruiting more who can sell this turnkey solution. Partners have access to online quoting tools from StorServer and can receive margins of up to 35 percent on the integrated solution.
Currently, implementation is handled by StorServer. However, the company plans to certify partners who undergo two weeks of training, participate in three installations with StorServer personnel, and have previous TSM certification, said Sorensen.