PowerFile Redefines Archival Data Storage with New Active Archive Appliance; Appliance Built to Replace Tape as the Preferred Archive Medium for Keeping Fixed Content Online and Active for Generations.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PowerFile(R), an innovator in archive appliances for permanent storage of digital content and assets, today announced the introduction of its Active Archive Appliance(TM) (A3(TM)). Redefining archival data storage, the A3 embraces an entirely new approach to keeping fixed content data, such as documents, images and media files, accessible on the network and "active." This innovative approach stands in sharp contrast to the traditional method of banishing data off to tape where it remains an enterprise burden for years.

While presenting itself to the network as a standard network volume, the PowerFile A3 commits permanent data to a virtualized massive array of DVD optical media. The system leaves a copy of frequently accessed data in primary cache for very fast retrieval. By pooling the DVD subsystem storage, the A3 creates highly reliable volumes of storage up to 30.6 Terabytes. By using a standard DVD underpinning, the system protects important archived information from accidental erasure, unauthorized modification, data corruption, or viruses, for 50 years or more. Since the system was designed and tuned for long-term online archive, power usage is 5 percent of that of typical spinning disk. The total cost of the system over five years is about one-tenth to one-twentieth the total cost of this disk over the archival period.

The Time for Active Archiving Has Come

In the past five years the emergence of multi-tiered storage has gained great acceptance, as an organization's ability to generate data has outstripped the ability to scale primary storage systems, either physically or economically. For aging content that needs to be kept for reference or to satisfy regulations, the only choices have been lower-cost, SATA-based disk systems and offline tape systems. Both technologies require high maintenance over the life of the archive, due to the nature of magnetic media. Power and cooling alone make the SATA systems too expensive over five to 10 years, even if the systems were free. Meanwhile, tape is offline, inaccessible, and vulnerable to data decay.

"The process of retrieving a file from our tape archive was such a hassle even after the tape was mounted and restored," said Terreyl Kirton of Pennsylvania-based VT Graphics Incorporated, in pointing out the pitfalls of tape. "With PowerFile's A3, we are now able to pull the content from our archives in seconds much like any other network share in our environment. Moreover, we can give our internal customers direct access to the archives, allowing my team to focus on higher level IT initiatives. In addition to being a rock-solid system, this has got to be the easiest storage system I have ever installed. PowerFile works."

PowerFile's introduction of the A3 is a timely response to the growing emergence of archiving as a distinct discipline. As forecasted by ESG, total digital archive capacity is expected to grow at 58 percent CAGR between 2006 and 2010. (Source: ESG Research Report, "Digital Archiving: End-User Survey & Market Forecast 2006-2010".)

Optical Redux 

Many industry observers have remarked how optical storage technologies have failed to take hold in the enterprise storage market over the years, due to reliability, cost, proprietary format, and management complexity concerns. PowerFile addresses these issues head-on with its A3 in much the same way NAS vendors have eliminated the complexity of individual disk drive management complexity and reliability concerns. By leveraging off-the-shelf DVD technologies, the cost becomes compelling, and customers do not need worry whether or not the format will be readable in 15 years.

"The A3 completely virtualizes its optical underpinnings. PowerFile has made the fact that DVD is part of the system about as relevant to the user as what brand of disk drive they have in their NetApp, EMC or HP network filer," said Jonathan Buckley, PowerFile's Vice President of Marketing.

Archival Storage Development Requires a Specialty Focus

"Active archiving presents a different storage challenge than what the big storage vendors are technically positioned to address. Whereas both tape- and disk-based systems are all designed on a price/performance or a price/bulk capacity curve, online archive storage requires a different design criteria: price/longevity as a function of accessibility. The science of primary and secondary online storage systems is designed to write/rewrite and rewrite again, with bulk speed as its yardstick. In contrast, the A3 is designed to write, set and forget until required, with peace of mind for years to come," Buckley said.

PowerFile's new Active Archive Appliance is built from the ground up to offer the longevity, rapid retrieval and cost efficiency needed for active archiving of valuable fixed content. The A3 is implemented as a highly scalable network-attached storage system that mounts as a network drive supporting both NFS and CIFS protocols. Every PowerFile A3 is a complete plug-and-play solution, consisting of a disk-based cache server that currently ranges from 1 to 4 TB, comprehensive file management software, and modular optical WORM-based libraries. Each library can create a subsystem that scales from 3.4 TB to over 30 TB in a single volume.

PowerFile's advanced browser-based file management software enables an initial commissioning time of well under 30 minutes for the average environment. Using NFS or CIFS file sharing protocol, the A3 is compatible with most if not all third-party data management tools, enabling customers to easily integrate the A3 platform into their existing storage infrastructure.

Price and Availability

The Active Archive Appliance Starter Kit provides 3.4 TB of usable archive capacity at an MSRP of $15,900, with 1.7TB Expansion Kits available at an MSRP of $5,900. The A3 is available through a large number of value-added resellers in North America working through distributors such as Ingram Micro, Rorke Data, Cranel Imaging and Optical Laser.

About PowerFile

PowerFile, Inc. is the innovator in archive appliances for permanent storage of digital content and assets. The company's award-winning solutions combine the speed and simplicity of online access with better economics and integrity compared to traditional archives, empowering organizations of all sizes to efficiently manage, secure, and preserve valuable digital assets. PowerFile's product offerings combine intelligent storage management software and sophisticated file management with cost-effective, robust hardware to deliver integrated, active, easy-to-use archive solutions.

(C)2006 PowerFile, Inc. PowerFile, the PowerFile logo, Active Archive Appliance, and the A3 logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PowerFile, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Information is subject to change without notice.