September 29, 1997

Centralized Data Storage Technologies help Ocean Spray manage growing capacity By Martin J. Garvey ompanies are trying to rein in runaway storage capacity in their client-server systems by leveraging new technologies that let them centralize control of large volumes of distributed data. Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., for example, this week will begin running applications on two new Intel-based servers from NEC that will both be attached to a central EMC Symmetrix 3430 storage subsystem.Two factors are driving the recentralization of storage: First, customers are embracing applications that require centralized storage for multiple platforms within the same subsystem. S econd, the physical storage devices are being located in data centers rather than remote locations. The move to recentralize storage is part of a broader trend among companies looking to improve systems management and cut costs (see story, p. 64). Through centralization, storage infrastructures are better able to support the whole business. EMC's Symmetrix framework lets customers test entire production databases of 150 Gbytes or more while the data remains online. It also lets them move data from a mainframe-based DB2 database into HP-UX-based Informix, Oracle, or Sybase databases. "Financial customers can load data warehouses the same day and detect fraud much easier" by quickly moving data among databases, maintains Jeff Allen, VP of channel marketing for EMC Corp. in Hopkinton, Mass. Before Ocean Spray brought in the Symmetrix 3430 to replace storage on 12 NetWare servers, four NT servers, and eight AIX-based RS/6000 servers, each server required its own tape storage subsystem for backup. Wh en backups were conducted over the network, the backup would have to be restarted each time the network went down. With data doubling in size, that meant backup windows were shrinking. "Depending on each server vendor's [deal] of the day, it could have been anybody's storage device," says Gil Stringer, Ocean Spray's computer services manager. "We also wanted to connect every type of computer system into a single storage solution." Back to News in Review Send Us Your Feedback Top of the Page

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