A new series of data-backup and disaster-recovery appliances has been unveiled by a company this week. This turnkey solution combines a server, hard-drive cache, tape library, and the Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) software application. The aim is to bring an enterprise-level storage solution with full TSM support to smaller businesses.
According to Kevin Hoffman, the vice president of sales at Hoffman Technologies, a storage solution provider based in Sacramento, California, most smaller customers are not interested in TSM due to the high integration costs. Typically, by the time the necessary server, tape, and software are integrated, solutions 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 using 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.
The Y-series solution consists of a 4U rack-mount server with hard-disk-based storage and a 2U Sony AIT tape library, according to John Sorensen, the vice president of manufacturing at StorServer. Initially, customers need to perform a full backup to the appliance. 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 always available for restoring files or a system for as long as needed. Additionally, customers can go back up to 20 days to recover files or systems at a specific point in time. Sorensen emphasized that TSM is the best technology for this capability.
For small business clients 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, including guidance on tape storage. By answering a series of questions, the software generates a plan.
Hoffman also noted that the Y-series is well-suited for the government space. Typically, the government would require a server, a tape library, and software, which would involve separate bids going to different companies. However, this turnkey solution consolidates all the necessary products into a single bid.
The Y-series appliances are available in different configurations and price points. The Y1 starts at $12,900 and offers 100 Gbytes to 300 Gbytes of non-RAID ATA hard-disk capacity and one AIT drive. The Y500 starts at $13,900 and provides 20 Gbytes to 160 Gbytes of non-RAID SCSI disk and one tape drive. Lastly, the Y1000 starts at $20,900 and includes 50 Gbytes to 190 Gbytes of RAID SCSI disk and two AIT drives. These appliances are available to both StorServer and Sony solution providers.
StorServer currently sells its products exclusively through solution providers. According to Ellen Rome, the vice president of channel sales and marketing at StorServer, the company has around 65 partners in North America but is actively recruiting more. Partners have access to online quoting tools from StorServer and can receive margins of up to 35 percent on the integrated solution.
Currently, StorServer handles the implementation process. 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.