Disk-based backup improves performance: storage provider finds a simple, high-speed solution for protecting customer data. (Special focus: storage technologies).

Data Base File Tech (DBFT), a Victoria, British Columbia-based data storage company specializing in high-security storage of both physical assets and digital information, maintains one of the most secure storage sites in the world. Situated on a veritable monolith floating on the Earth's crust, DBFT's main facility in Victoria tops a geological phenomenon of igneous rock measuring several kilometers in surface dimension and 80 kilometers in depth. DBFT's site literally provides a rock-solid foundation for data storage.

Maurice Auger, director of operations at DBFT, was recently tasked with reviewing the firm's backup capabilities and recommending upgrades for improved performance required by the growing company. Auger and his associates researched disk-based products from several companies, which, while fast and scalable, posed integration and management challenges.

"As a storage-solutions provider, we needed a high-performance storage subsystem that was flexible, scalable, easy to manage and cost-efficient," states Auger. "We have incredible bandwidth coming in, and needed a backup target for our storage area network (SAN) that could handle the demands. Tape has not met our requirements in the past, so we looked for a disk-based solution. Since we rely on Time Navigator from (storage-management software provider) Atempo, we weigh their recommendations seriously. They suggested Quantum's new enhanced backup system, the DX30."

DBFT subsequently decided to try a beta version of the product, which involved a simple integration process. DBFT's SAN consists of Dell PowerEdge 2550 servers running Windows 2000, with QLogic host bus adapters and switch. Quantum support engineers were onsite to oversee installation, which consisted of plugging the unit into the SAN, powering up and configuring it. Since the DX30 emulates existing automated tape libraries, Atempo's Time Navigator recognized it immediately.

DATA CENTER EXPENSES MINIMIZED

"The beta unit tested well, with performance of about 200 GB/hour," notes Auger. "In addition, we were pleased with the environmental benefits provided by the solution. The unit, when idle, makes very little demand for power or air conditioning, which minimizes data center expenses. Unlike tape libraries, the DX30 has a small form factor for its capacity, so floor space is minimized, as well."

For most organizations, backup is a necessary operation, performed grudgingly in the name of data protection. DBFT, however, makes a business of it.

"We are an application-solutions provider," Auger says. "Our primary application is backup/restore. The faster we can perform these operations for our customers, and do it with less manual intervention and a minimum of environmental overhead, the better. Not only does the solution provide a distinct business benefit by complementing our business model, it also gives us a strategic advantage over our competitors, who are duplicating tape, manually swapping tape in and out of drives and distributing copies by courier, in some cases.

"Our customer's data, while residing on our SAN, is virtually online. Our customers can issue a restore order to the backup system, which responds in seconds."

Today, DBFT is using a production version of the DX30. While its specifications call out higher throughput than the beta unit, Auger has yet to "crank it up" to realize its full potential. Also, when installing the production unit, Auger and his team ran into issues between the DX30 and Time Navigator.

"Quantum had apparently changed something in the production version that was still being qualified by Atempo," explains Auger. "I gave Atempo engineers access to our servers when I left work one evening. When I returned the next morning, the unit worked."

MIRROR SITE IN THE WORKS

DBFT is expanding its new disk-based backup system. A second facility is being built in Prince George at the University of Northern British Columbia's Research and Development Park. The new site will be equipped with another DX30 in a secure vault and will mirror the Victoria-based DX30 for disaster-protection purposes.

"The Prince George facility will be managed remotely," comments Bob Gignac, director of business development with DBFT. "The backup system allows us to manage over 50 TB of data with two administrators at our Victoria facility. We have been able to eliminate the need for an onsite operator, which is mandatory with tape-based backup. Since our services are provided on a per-gigabyte schedule, our margin dramatically improves with disk-based backup because it reduces expenses normally associated with tape."

Eliminating tape from its system has also broadened the company's market. "Previous to implementing the DX30, our market was primarily Victoria, B.C.," Gignac says. "That is because of the physical nature of tape, it's transport and archival requirements. With the solution, there are no geographical limits to our service. We are currently closing a deal with a customer in Georgia and are investigating the feasibility of licensing our solution internationally."

Facing tremendous growth, Auger says DBFT is well positioned to handle it. "We expect to add a DX30 every 30 to 60 days," he says. "Looking down the road, we expect to manage between 1,000 TB and 2,000 TB of data with this product."

Storage watchdog

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a not-for-profit organization made up of more than 300 companies and individuals spanning virtually the entire storage industry. The SNIA is the point of cohesion for developers of storage and networking products, in addition to system integrators, application vendors and service providers. The goal of the SNIA is to ensure that storage networks become efficient, complete and trusted solutions across the IT community.

The SNIA has established technical work groups (TWGs), committees, and forums, and will use the vendor-neutral technology center facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., for testing and demonstrations.

The SNIPs technical council is a group of industry experts who will create a high-level "roadmap" for the industry, review architectures submitted by work groups, and serve as the SNIA's technical liaison to industry standards organizations.

The TWGs consist of volunteers from SNIA membership. These volunteers collaborate to develop technical solutions to promote the adoption of storage networking by creating deliverables required to meet the goals of the technical council.

For more information from SNIA: www.rsleads.com/305cn-256

For more information from Quantum: www.rsleads.com/305cn-250