SNIA'S SSF registers interoperable midrange storage solution with offsite data protection.

Midrange storage users can now more easily combine and support multi-vendor storage systems in their data networks, and protect their vital corporate data with offsite backup thanks to the latest interoperability solution registered by the Storage Networking Industry Association's (SNIA) Supported Solutions Forum (SSF).

The solution is the result of cooperative testing by IBM Corporation (NYSE:IBM), MTI Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:MTIC), FalconStor Software, Inc. (Nasdaq:FALC), VERITAS Software Corporation (Nasdaq:VRTS) and Brocade, and allows midrange storage end users to combine IBM's FAStT700 Storage System with MTI's Vivant 400 storage solution. FalconStor's IPStor Software supports the ability for the user to protect data with remote mirroring, local mirroring or migration to a different storage system. VERITAS's Volume Manager Dynamic MultiPathing (DMP) Software, HP's Physical Volume (PV)--Links Software, and IBM's Redundant Dual Active Controller (RDAC) Software provide the multipathing capability supporting high availability.

"This is a significant breakthrough for many users who want the ability to invoke copy functions between disparate arrays without relying on an array vendor's solution in order to do so," said Data Mobility Group Senior Analyst John Webster. "This type of migration or replication scenario supports disaster recovery, business continuance, acquisition and merger, content distribution, content management and other applications where users require this level of functionality."

Those who implement this solution have access to a single point for support through the SSF's TSANet-administered Cooperative Support Group Relationship. This relationship provides critical multi-vendor contact information and an escalation process via the Internet, allowing vendors to access the information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"SSF registered solutions are an indication of the SNIA's focus on helping users create secure, scalable and cost-effective storage solutions," said SSF Chairman Phil Mills, "Like all of the latest SSF registered solutions, the vendors in this solution will be using the TSANet vendor-neutral community infrastructure for support, enabling the end user in most cases to make a single call for technical support."