Time For Tapeless? LaserVault Tempts The SMB
August 29, 2016 Dan Burger
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IBM midrange shops with dedicated system operators that manage backup media and drives are few and far between these days. The common staffing arrangement has programmers or maybe network admins juggling backup duties along with their other responsibilities. Of course, lean staffing invites human error into IT operations. Automating backup procedures can provide welcome relief. Data at risk is a problem that Electronic Storage Corporation is addressing with a new appliance it calls Backup SAVSmart for i. Electronic Storage Corporation is the maker of LaserVault backup and recovery solutions. SAVSmart uses the newest version of the LaserVault Backup software, which is pre-installed on the appliance and connects to the IBM i platform using an Ethernet connection. Users can access the SAVSmart control panel with a Windows tablet (provided with the appliance) or with their existing laptops.
The SAVSmart package includes a software module called SAVSYSLV, which enables full system saves without tape. The solution comes with a DVD writer and two external drives–each with 2 TB capacity–for data backup and a second copy that can be taken offsite. The system is shipped complete and configured remotely with the assistance of LaserVault’s engineers. In terms of performance, SAVSmart can store up to 8 TB of compressed backups and runs up to 277 GB/hour. As is the case with other LaserVault Backup software, SAVSmart uses commands that are similar to IBM i tape backup commands, which makes it easier to use for personnel familiar with the IBM i commands. Brad Jensen, CEO of ESC/LaserVault, says the new product was specifically designed for IBM i shops with daily backups between 10 GB and 400 GB. The company’s Universal Backup Device (UBD) for IBM i was designed for shops with backup loads exceeding 400 GB. In the world of IBM i storage, tape remains the key ingredient in most companies’ storage strategies. Even when you look beyond the IBM i community, you find around 75 percent of all data is stored on tape. Keeping things inexpensive and simple is a popular strategy, but are companies contented or complacent? Jensen refers to the decision to go tapeless as a “no brainer” because SAVSmart automates the backup process without interrupting day-to-day business. “When [IBM i shops] receive the appliance, it is ready to go. They plug SAVSmart into their IBM i and we work with them via remote access to do the initial software setup. That same day they can be backing up their data to SAVSmart. No longer do they need to deal with the hassle of using tape,” he says in a statement announcing the product. A quick return on investment is predicated on the savings in overtime wages paid to employees that otherwise would be putting in extra hours to perform manual backups. LaserVault SAVSmart will be available September 1. Pricing starts at $2,875. RELATED STORIES LaserVault Debuts New Backup Option for IBM i Tectrade to Sell LaserVault UBD in Europe LaserVault Launches Hybrid Cloud Backup Appliance for IBM i
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