Data Domain Extends Backup to Fibre Channel SANs

The backup-to-disk provider's Virtual Tape Library option for enterprise storage significantly cuts down on bandwidth costs.

Backup-to-disk provider Data Domain on Monday introduced its first Virtual Tape Library option for its DD400 Enterprise Series Restorers, extending its replication and compression technology toward Fibre Channel storage area network environments.

Currently in a beta format and targeted for release next month, Data Domains VTL option emulates up to 4u7 active virtual LTO drives across upwards of 100,000 virtual cartridges.

The new product can include an FC host bus adapter for larger systems, is able to support 1GB or 2GB FC links and can be used with Data Domains NAS (network-attached storage) Ethernet-based file service interfaces at the same time.

Resource Library:

Click here to read more about backup options from Data Domain.

Significantly cutting down on bandwidth costs, the VTL option features support of Data Domain Replicator, enabling compressed virtual tape images to be copied and sent across WANs or for disaster recovery processes, said Brian Biles, vice president and co-founder of Data Domain, based in Palo Alto, Calif.

The VTL software is designed to mask a disk array and make it look like a series of tape libraries to a backup server. Data Domains VTL has been tested against backup solutions such as Veritas Softwares NetBackup, EMCs Legato Networker and CommVault Systems software, as well as Oracle, IBM and Hewlett-Packard systems.

The VTL option is available for the full product set across the DD400 Enterprise Series of Data Domain Restorers.

In terms of storage capacity, the DD410 provides 15TB of usable backup storage capacity; the DD430 provides 40TB of usable backup storage capacity; and the DD460 provides 85TB of usable backup storage capacity.

Pricing starts at $4,000 for a DD410 VTL for low-end customers.

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