Crossroads’ SPHiNX Now Offers Backups of Desktops

October 5, 2010 Alex Woodie

Organizations that rely on disk-to-disk (D2D) backup devices from Crossroads Systems to manage backups of IBM i, AIX, and Windows servers can now use the devices to back up their Windows-based PC desktops as well, according to an announcement the Texas company made at the COMMON conference yesterday.

Crossroads’ SPHiNX line of virtual tape libraries (VTLs) are dedicated backup appliances designed to bolster customers’ data management policies. The devices, which scale from about 3 TB to more than 10 TB, connect to servers via SCSI or Fibre Channel, and emulate the tape libraries they’re replacing.

In addition to offering advanced features like continuous data protection (CDP) backup and hierarchical storage management (HSM) capabilities, customers also have the option of deploying encryption and data replication with the device. It also supports a feature that is rather unique to VTL and D2D appliances: it can directly IPL an IBM i server.

With yesterday’s announcement from the COMMON Fall Conference and Expo being held this week in San Antonio, Texas, the SPHiNX devices are now backing up data from Windows-based PC desktops.

SPHiNX product manager Glenn Haley says that, in addition to the support for desktops, the new generation of the device offers enhanced performance and replication features, greater capacity, and scalability.

“Crossroads offers an unmatched solution that is easily installed and managed–all while protecting data from the desktop to the data center for complete peace of mind,” he says in a press release. For more information, visit the company’s’ website at www.crossroads.com.