DataThinK revolutionizes HSM with new Metior/Magstar bundle.BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1997--DataThinK Inc. Monday announced a new integrated Hierarchical Storage Management See HSM. (HSM (1) (Hierarchical Storage Management) The automatic movement of files from hard disk to slower, less-expensive storage media. The typical hierarchy is from magnetic disk to optical disc to tape. ) solution that takes advantage of the revolutionary features of IBM's Magstar tape technology and the industry leading Metior software from Automated Network Technologies (ANT), creating a new standard in Heirarchical Storage Management functionality in automated tape libraries. Available from DataThink, the new HSM solution combines the fast file access capabilities of Magstar MP (Magstar MultiPurpose) A magnetic tape technology from IBM for midrange systems. Except for the use of linear recording, Magstar MP is completely different than the Magstar line. technology with the power and flexibility of Metior HSM software from ANT. DataThink President Lee Elizer said that the fusion of these two innovative products has dramatically improved effective HSM using an automated tape library technology. Metior HSM software is based on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. mass storage reference model and is one of the first distributed HSM solutions for UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). . In addition to IBM's AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) IBM's Unix-based operating system which runs on its Intellistation workstations and pSeries, p5, iSeries and i5 server families. for the RS/6000 platform, Metior runs on the most popular UNIX platforms including Sun OS, Solaris, Silicon Graphics, HP-IX and SCO UNIX An enhanced version of Unix System V Release 3.2 for Intel processors from SCO. In 1989, SCO Unix was introduced as a major upgrade to SCO XENIX with more security, networking and standards conformance. . The exclusive "three-dimensional" hierarchy capability gives it the most configuration flexibility of any UNIX HSM software. The three-dimensional feature allows network administrators to create up to seven levels of hierarchical storage, including multiple levels of hierarchy in the same physical medium, as in a single tape library. Files can also be moved directly from one layer to any other layer in the hierarchy, or can be restored to any authorized work station directly from the tape library with no intervention by the server disk. The three-dimensional design and distributed architecture of Metior significantly reduces disk thrashing, greatly improving network storage performance. "The Magstar MP is a truly intelligent product that has transformed the end user environment and the way tape drives are used as on-line storage devices," said Elizer. "The revolutionary fast file access capability of Magstar MP, added to the existing elegance and intelligence of the Metior HSM software, provides an integrated solution that will rejuvinate the HSM world." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Elizer, ANT's demonstrated expertise in HSM and AIX makes Metior the obvious software component of a Magstar MP-based HSM solution. As a result, DataThinK's Magstar-Metior solution provides effective HSM for tape libraries based on its unprecendented file access capabilities. Data retrieval requests that require minutes on other tape devices take only seconds on Magstar MP, so tape can be used for effective near on-line storage. Any file on a 10 gigabyte Magstar MP cartridge can be accessed in 34 seconds or less. This breakthrough file access performance is made possible in part due to the patented new Magstar MP Fast Access Linear Tape Cartridge See cartridge. . The cartridge contains a self-enclosed tape path that eliminates time-consuming tape threading, loading and unloading, thereby reducing random search times. The design of the robotics system of the IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Magstar MP tape library has also been optimized to improve file access performance with high-speed cartridge loading and exchange features. A cartridge can be swapped out swapped out - swap and a new cartridge loaded in the drive (ready to read or write) in less than 13 seconds, while other tape libraries can take more than two minutes to perform the same operation. Additionally, data transfer performance is also balanced to provide the fast data recall that satisfies the demand for responsive file retrievals for near on-line appliacations. IBM Magstar MP technology is designed for integration with tape storage devices that provide unattended tape handling. This provides a subsystem that can be installed for tape save/restore today and that can evolve into an intelligent storage management solution, such as HSM, to provide better combined use of disk and tape. Metior software continuously polls the library and sends file save or retrieval requests to the first available drive in the dual-drive IBM Magstar MP library. In the event that a drive becomes disabled, Metior automatically rolls over the request to the next available drive. The dual-drive capability of the IBM Magstar MP library eliminates any individual drive as a failure point that could disable the library and interrupt access to critical business data. The Magstar-Metior HSM solution is currently available through DataThinK. Prices start at about $25,000. DataThinK is a departure from the traditional value added reseller See VAR. (company) value added reseller - (VAR, or "value added retailer") A company which sells something (e.g. computers) made by another company (an OEM) with extra components added (e.g. specialist software). -- operating as an Intelligent Solutions Integrator. DataThinK offers customers a range of services beyond simply matching storage peripherals with backup or HSM software for specific platforms. To adequately address the challenges of effective storage management, customers are demanding more services from integrators. DataThinK is positioned to meet this challenge by offering comprehensive services, including in-depth customer counseling, development and implementation of customized integrated storage solutions, and capacity planning Determining the required future configuration of hardware and software for a network, datacenter or Web site. There are numerous capacity planning tools on the market used to monitor and analyze the performance of the current hardware and software. along with product procurement via the Internet. For further information, contact Lee Elizer at DataThinK, 5777 Central Ave., Boulder, Colo., 80301. Telephone: 303/448-0420. E-mail: LeeElizer@DataThinK.com. Or, check the company's home page: http://www.DataThinK.com . CONTACT: DataThinK, Boulder Lee H. Elizer, 303/448-0420 LeeElizer@DataThink.com http://www.DataThinK.com or JPR JPR Jon Peddie Research (California) JPR JBuilder Project File (file extension) JPR Journal of Proteome Research JPR Journal of Plankton Research JPR Journal of Psychosomatic Research Communications Judy Smith, 818/992-8867 JPRCommun@aol.com http://www.jprcom.com |
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