Physical storage in form of hard disk, tape or optical systems is a significant cost factor in the IT considering the continuously growing capacity requirements. This applies for acquisition as well as for administration and operation of such systems. Storage devices can be virtualized by PoINT Storage Manager, hard disks can be enlarged network-wide, files can be replicated and “Fixed Content” can be archived. This way, storage systems are used more efficiently which safes costs in the long run.

 

Storage Virtualization

PoINT Storage Manager administers diverse storage technologies (hard disk, tape, optical storage) centrally and it makes them available for network agents and applications by the PoINT Virtual File Systems (PoINT VFS). The respectively requested storage capacity will be reserved dynamically in case of need and allocated accordingly which allows an efficient utilization of the storage devices. PoINT Storage Manager can even combine different technologies for data storage and this way the advantages of the respective technologies are merged. An efficient and secure storage solution for long-term archiving can be realized with durable optical storage in combination with fast hard disk systems.

 

Migration

Migration is an embedded function of PoINT Storage Manager as the lifetime of each physical storage device and technology is limited. Thus, a storage solution must not be static but renewed continuously. Old systems (e.g. MO/WORM jukeboxes) can be integrated into a new storage solution via PoINT VFS. The existing files can be accessed immediately and are also migrated smoothly to the new storage technologies in the background.  But migration does not only apply to the replacement of old devices which are no longer in service or whose manufacturers do no longer exist. It can also improve performance and reduce cost by implementing innovative solutions as e.g. PoINT Storage Manager. By means of storage virtualization in connection with the capability to combine several devices and technologies, data migration to a new storage device with the requested characteristics can be carried out without service interruption by just pressing one button.

 

HSM And Tiered Storage

PoINT TAFS agents make the virtualized storage accessible for existing servers and their file systems. Files are stored centrally according to welldefined policies and replaced by links (“reparse points”) on the primary hard disks. Files are accessed via the original path and file name so that there is no need for adjustments of applications or work flows. Instead of expanding the local storage physically, it now becomes the first tier of a tiered storage architecture.

 

Highlights PoINT Storage Manager

• Storage virtualization of hard disk, tape and optical systems
• High level of storage utilization by dynamic storage allocation
• File servers are purged by trans-parent file migration
• Protecting files by replication on additional storage technologies
• Cost-Benefit optimization by technology mix
• Automated, smooth replacement of existing storage systems
• Technology migration as embedded function and not as expensive exception

 

Protection Of File Systems

PoINT Storage Manager monitors the directories and archives the files stored therein additionally on the virtualized storage according to definable policies. Files protected in such way can be restored randomly and therefore very efficiently from the centralized hard disk, tape or optical systems, even in case of a disaster.

 

Archiving

Law and regulations force companies to handle their data compliantly. Very often, record retention periods or qualities (e.g. original, electronically auditable) are specified but not the storage technology to be used. Therefore, the file system interface PoINT VFS offers the possibility to implement every supported device as archive storage and access it directly or in combination with a document management system or other applications. Additionally, the PoINT TAFS agent can even protect existing directories on hard disk to avoid unauthorized manipulation of the files stored therein. Depending on the configuration, the local file system can even be used as “Write Once Read Many” (WORM) storage.