August 18, 1997

Backup Gets More Efficient EMC system uses less bandwidth By Martin J. Garvey MC Corp. this week will roll out backup storage products that let customers back up data online more efficiently then ever. The concept of backing up data online isn't new. But with the EMC Data Manager (EDM) Symmetrix Connect option, customers may no longer have to hog precious network bandwidth to do it. The EDM system, which consists of a centralized tape backup solution, its own CPU, and an automated tape library, connects directly to EMC's Symmetrix storage subsystem and backs up information on live Oracle databases at up to 400 Gbytes an hour, says EMC senior product manager Ray Dunn. Previously, using a network connection, administrators could back up only tens of Gbytes per hour. But speed isn't the only improvement. Paul Mason, an analyst with International Data Corp., a market research firm in Framingham, Mass., says remote backups can now be performed during the busiest parts of the day. "Before, you were forced to back up during quiet time, and most companies don't have such a window anymore," says Mason. Matthew Bender & Co. Inc, a New York publisher, uses EDM to back up 3 terabytes of data nightly from Novell NetWare, NT, Sun Solaris, and Digital VMS systems, says technology director Ed Walsh. Next month when EMC rolls out its Symmetrix Connect option for Solaris, Matthew Bender will be able to improve throughput on 30 servers and reduce backup time. "I'll be able to reduce overnight operator time and save money on server upgrades," says Walsh. EDM comes with a hefty list price: $280,000. But, says Mason, "It's for customers where downtime results in losses of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars an hour." Back to News in Review Send Us Your Feedback Top of the Page

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