Backup Storage Technology News And Information Blog

The focus of data storage applications will change in the coming years from merely increasing physical capacity to allowing users to access their stored data from anywhere. There are several new trends that will allow users more control over their data.

Virtualizing data is the process of breaking up data and placing it on different storage devices, but reassembling it with software. Other software functions such as authorization, authentication, and encryption will become increasingly important along with new hardware innovations that increase the reliability of hard drives. Although there are many new technologies in existence, hard disk drives should continue to outperform in terms of cost. Cost per gigabyte, regardless of the media, will continue to drop, but especially with hard drives.

Future trends in data storage

september 3, 2006 23:39 - Disk Based Data Reduction for WAN Applications

In contrast to some costly techniques that prohibit their implementation, disk-based data reduction is cost effective because it recognizes patterns in the data to determine if the data has changed between the local copy and the server copy. If the data has not changed, there is no need to send it back to the remote location.

This technique resembles caching, but there are a few major differences. Firstly, caches work specific to one application and not across several kinds of traffic like data reduction. Secondly, the client/server relationship does not have to be modified with data reduction and lastly, the effectiveness is very high because the pattern recognition is done at a very low level. Depending on the application, data traffic can be reduced from five to 100 times.

Disk based data reduction over WAN

september 5, 2006 17:49 - Overland Storage Unveils New PROTECTION OS for its Backup Hardware

The data backup company Overland Storage recently released a new version of its operating system, Protection OS, to upgrade every REO SERIES disk-based backup and recovery appliance. The operating system allows users to configure combinations of virtual tape libraries and drives and disk drives.

In the latest version of the software, backup times are reduced as well as the time needed to restore a machine. After testing the new operating system with the REO 9000 machine, the software claims up to a 60 percent increase in backup speeds. The best improvements were realized with a simple single stream backup and on clone to tape actions.

Overland Storage New Protection OS

september 7, 2006 14:13 - Iomega Releases New High Speed Storage Devices

Iomega recently announced two new lines of high speed external storage: the Iomega Portable Hard Drive Hi-Speed USB 2.0/FireWire and the Iomega Desktop Hard Drive eSATA/USB 2.0. The first device comes in 80GB and 120GB sizes with a footprint that can fit into a shirt pocket, a weight under six ounces, and a thickness of only .5 inches.

Using USB 2.0 or a Firewire connection, the user can not only connect the device to their computer, but also power the storage device without an extra power supply. Finally, the drive comes with Drop Shock technology that claims to protect the drive from bumps. For a faster transfer rate as well as more storage (320GB), the second device is a stackable SATA desktop drive. The price of these products ranges from 170USD (80GB) to 240USD (320GB).

New Iomega hard disk devices

More on USB backup devices

september 9, 2006 17:10 - Small Businesses Protected with Online Backup Services

A mixture of several different companies bring IT protection to small businesses, especially in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Truistic Solutions, of Houston, TX, uses Asigra's Televaulting backup and recovery software to offer small businesses security in terms of automatic off-site backup as well as encryption of that data.

Truistic then works with Terian Solutions, a larger managed service provider, to insure reliability by replicating data in two locations. In case one area is offline, the other system can be brought into place relatively quickly. Truistic offers its services for free during the hurricane season, but of course, they collect monthly fees the rest of the year relative to the amount of storage their clients use.

Online Backup Data Vaulting Service

More on online data storage

september 12, 2006 11:46 - Storage Area Network (SAN) Fundamentals

During installation, care must be taken to properly and safely install the cabling for a SAN - otherwise, the network could fail prematurely. A host bus adapter (HBA) connects a SAN storage device to the rest of the network, but of course, continued reliability is essential; therefore, multiple HBAs should be present within the SAN.

Management of the SAN is generally automated with software and switches that control network traffic to improve data reliability. In some high end applications, transfer rates of up to 10GBPS are available; however, administrators must remember that the network is only as fast as the slowest link.

Storage Area Network SAN architecture

Learn how Storage Area networks work

september 14, 2006 14:47 - New Online Backup Software by Genie Soft

Genie Soft has integrated the Genie Online Backup service into its already existing Genie Backup Manager. Data backup, offsite storage, archiving, and data recovery are now more streamlined with the new package as well as options in data encryption, compression, and different reporting functions.

The new trend in data storage is off-site backup via the internet since natural disasters can obliterate an organization's data. Genie Soft's new service is accessible via an internet connection anywhere in the world, the Genie Soft software, and a subscription account with the company. The company also offers enterprise level solutions for members of a workgroup.

Genie Online Backup

Popular Online Backup strategies

september 16, 2006 22:12 - Can Encryption Save Tape Backup?

Although tape drive storage options are facing many challenges from low-cost alternatives, it is still a popular option for businesses because of its simplicity and cheap cost to implement. With the recent high profile losses or thefts for this type of backup data, encryption could restore customer confidence in this storage medium.

While encryption is not normally done with tape backups, there are some new companies offering services to encrypt tape data. There are many companies who are offering different solutions including Spectra Logic who began producing bundled encryption/tape storage appliances in May 2006. One issue to note is the different standards that are competing: Linear Tape Open (LTO) backed by HP, IBM, and Quantum versus Digital Linear Tape (DLT).

Encryption for tape backup

Tape backup standards

september 20, 2006 10:38 - Continuous Data Protection Explained

When enterprises cannot afford to lose any data, continuous data protection (CDP) could be a solution for them. As the name suggests, true-CDP records changes in real time, while so called near-CDP only takes a periodic snapshot of the system. CDP solutions are available in hardware and software depending on level of control and configuration the user desires. Another variable is whether the user wants "in-band" or "out-of-band" integration: an in-band implementation is between the data source and the backup system, potentially resulting in bottleneck, but also allows for better coverage of more servers.

Out of band will not cause a bottle neck, but requires higher IT maintenance overhead to install the additional software. A downside to CDP is that the possibility of data corruption is higher than other data storage techniques.

Continuous data protection as a data backup strategy

september 22, 2006 15:34 - Apricorn Releases Light-Weight Drive

Offering sizes of 40, 80, 120, and 160GB, Apricorn recently released their Aegis Portable Drive - with a weight of no more than 5.5oz. The drive's applications range from a simple external hard drive to a backup system for both Apple and PC computers.

An integrated USB cable allows the user to not only connect to their machine, but also takes care of power to the drive. This bus powered capability eliminates the need for external power supplies and cables. The drive is also designed to handle moderate shocks and comes with a neoprene carrying case as well as an extensive software suite to help users manage their data. Prices for the drive range from 109USD to 289USD.

Apricorn light weigh hard drive

Other USB storage devices

september 24, 2006 11:49 - Powerfile Uses a Combination of DVD and Online Storage Technology

In order to reduce costs and make data archiving more dynamic and useful to companies, Powerfile has combined DVD archiving for long term storage with online capabilities to allow their customers quick access to certain data. Considering the cooling and power costs of SATA systems and the unwieldiness of magnetic tape backup,

Powerfile considers their product, the Active Archive Appliance (A3), to be less costly in the long term. The A3 can be mounted as a normal extension of the network with capacities of 3.4TB to 30TB in one volume. The A3 seems to be another standard drive, but it actually records permanent data to an array of DVDs and keeps a large cache of frequently accessed data available for fast retrieval.

DVD and online archiving for network applications

september 26, 2006 21:37 - Apple Innovates Data Backup with Time Machine

Time Machine is Apple's new program built into the latest Mac OS X that allows users to backup their data automatically. Another feature is that it allows consumers to retrieve their data, piece-meal, very easily from the backup. Compared to older backup systems that required users to restore everything the way it was and the tediousness of backing up files on a CD, Time Machine is hassle-free.

The only complication is the need for an external hard drive to store the duplicated data. Since online storage is becoming more of a reality for data backup and storage applications, Time Machine will likely undergo some modifications to incorporate online features sometime in the future.

Apple Time Machine Backup Solution

september 30, 2006 01:17 - Louisiana CIO Improves State's Backup Capabilities

After becoming the state of Louisiana's CIO in March 2006, Rizwan Ahmed has started the process of preparing the state for future disasters. Since the data centers for the state are too close to the coast, Ahmed has proposed legislation to store data in the northern part of the state. While building a completely new building would be rather costly, installing the replication center into a pre-existing building will cost around 1.2 million USD.

If an emergency ever occurred, mobile data centers (trucks with servers and workstations) would be deployed to restore the state's data. The CIO realizes that state officials must move quickly to make improvements while the disaster from Katrina is still fresh on everyone's mind. He is also discussing possibilities of joint data protection agreements with neighboring states.

Louisiana State Backup Centers Preparedness.