Appliance boosts backups

Storage solutions provider Quantum launches disk-based backup appliances this week

Storage specialist Quantum will today launch a range of disk-based backup appliances featuring new data de-duplication technology that the company claims will increase capacity between 10 and 50 times.

The DXi3500 and DXi5500 distributed backup and replication appliances integrate Quantum’s hardware and file-compression technology with data de-duplication capabilities the vendor acquired through its purchase this summer of storage rival Adic.

Steve Mackey, Quantum’s European product marketing director, said the new appliances break up each file into sub-file blocks to help firms get the most out of their capacity. “With traditional back-ups you are saving the whole file again and again,” he said. “This technology detects what has been changed and only saves that.”

As well as reducing the amount of storage capacity required, this approach reduces the time it takes to recover data, according to Mackey, as it lets firms keep more on disk rather than moving it over to tape systems.

Mackey also argued that de-duplication makes it easier for IT directors to back up data held at remote locations, as only saving changes to data means that files can be backed up over much reduced bandwidth.

“Many firms are backing up at remote locations and branch offices using manual tape systems managed by non-IT professionals, and they are beginning to realise that this poses a business continuity and a compliance risk,” Mackey added.