Shoden UK Introduced Mainframe VTL

Shoden Data Systems UK, a provider of data storage solutions for organisations facing backup and data recovery challenges, introduced its new QuickRecover mainframe Virtual Tape Library (VTL) solution. This disk-based solution allows businesses to enhance their data protection by increasing backup reliability, improving data restore times and bringing data de-duplication into the mainframe environment. To achieve this, QuickRecover removes tape-based backup, recovery and vaulting, overcoming issues related to this medium. Using Shoden’s own management and monitoring software, a unique set of tools that allows the IT administrator to have complete control over the mainframe backup and recovery processes, QuickRecover features an integrated system of internationally-recognised components, including Data Domain’s deduplication storage systems and Luminex’ Channel Gateway.
 
Traditionally, tape has been the default medium for storing mainframe backup data, even though it was optimised for backup, but not for restore. As a result, it comes with a number of shortcomings including:

• it does not provide the same levels of data integrity as disk;
• one faulty tape can cause the entire restore operation to fail;
• it relies on human intervention and management to replicate data to a remote site, whereas disk allows automation, thus lowering the risks associated with human error and cutting down on operational expenditure;
• as data volumes grow, disk-based backup allows greater flexibility and scalability than tape.

“The challenge is clear. A backup storage solution must combine the economy of tape with the usability and speed of disk. At the same time, it should overcome the disadvantages of both tape and conventional disk arrays,” said John Taffinder, CEO at Shoden Data Systems UK. “IT administrators can no longer afford long backup times with ever-shortening backup windows and this is one of the reasons why we decided to develop our QuickRecover appliance.”
 
Disk arrays can simplify and speed up the overall backup process by allowing the administrator to perform incremental backups to protect new data as it is generated; tape on the other hand, forces IT administrators to carry out full backups, dramatically increasing the number of tapes required and therefore the related risk of failure. In addition, in the event of data loss at the primary site, disk makes recovery of off-site data much faster and more reliable than tape, allowing organisations to reduce downtime and related financial losses.  Disk also allows administrators to shorten backup windows, minimising disruption to production.
 
Inside QuickRecover, the Luminex Channel Gateway emulation software allows mainframes to communicate to the Shoden appliance as if this was a traditional tape library. Therefore, for the first time, mainframe users can take full advantage of data deduplication in their IT infrastructures. The Data Domain system in fact allows businesses to dramatically reduce the volume of backed up data, enabling cost-effective onsite data storage and improving network performance for more efficient offsite data replication.
 
“Shoden’s QuickRecover mainframe VTL solution integrates field-proven systems and technologies to allow mainframe users to address their data protection issues with new levels of efficiency and reliability,” said Beth White, vice president of marketing for Data Domain. “Our work with Shoden in South Africa resulted in highly successful implementations that leveraged the benefits of Data Domain’s deduplication storage systems. The combination of Shoden’s breadth of experience in mainframe environments and Data Domain systems creates a powerful solution for mainframe users.”