14 DAY TRIAL // The next generation of tape solutions for IBM mainframe customers is finally here. Several enhancements were included into the IBM Virtualization Engine TS7740 (even the ability to span data across multiple data center sites): a mainframe virtual tape solution designed to support improved tape processing and energy efficiency through Grid connectivity and automated replication. Apart from the TS7740, IBM also launched several other data storage solutions for midrange and enterprise organizations.
The new TS7740 uses what IBM calls "three-site grid configuration" that can automatically span data backups across three data center sites in order to increase protection against an outage or disaster. The other features of the TS7740 are on demand performance and cache capacity increments, a one-terabyte single cache drawer configuration, a copy export function to allow data retrieval and additional functions to improve management capabilities.
As power consumption increases in data centers, IBM focused more on its portfolio of "green" storage solutions, implementing energy saving technologies, particularly in data storage and backup, coming up with several low-power alternatives.
Along side TS7740, IBM also launched the System Storage TS3400 Tape Library, which now supports attachment to IBM's mainframes via a controller for the TS1120 tape drive. The new TS1120 Tape Controller allows the tape library to be attached to mainframes, offering drive-based encryption capabilities in a small footprint. The TS3400 has the functionality and robustness of an enterprise drive packed into the small form-factor of a two-drive library with 18 cartridges, allowing for smaller amounts of high-performance tape to be backed up in a tape library at low cost. There are various cartridge capacities, the maximum amount of compressed data that can be stored is 37.8TB alongside the WORM storage option.
The release date for TS1120 and TS3400 is set to 31 August.
For the midrange open-systems, IBM announced the introduction of the IBM System Storage TS2230 Tape Drive Express Model H3S LTO 3 Half Height, which is a solution with slightly lower performance and a lower cost. It incorporates the new LTO IBM Ultrium 3 Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Half-High Tape Drive and a single SAS interface for connection with a wide range of open system servers. TS2230 is designed for customers using midrange systems to which low cost and space savings are priorities. This product should be released on the 3rd of August.
Midrange storage servers, the DS3000 DC Power Model 02T, DS3200 DC Power Model 22T and DS3400 DC Power Model 42T are designed to help secure data for companies like those in the telecommunications industry. These are the new IBM leading midrange disk systems with built-in support for DC power and compliant with both American and European standards. DS3000s will be launched on July 20.