Subject: RE: 3592 Tape Cartridges
From: Edward M Martin (EMartin@aultman.com)
Date: Wed Aug 19 2009 - 11:43:47 EDT
Hello Tom, I have been looking at solutions other than IBM VSE VTAPE. Example VISARA or BUSTECH to get the full ESCON speed going to disk. Then use the USB Disk for offsite replication. I am thinking 7 2TB external USB drives, with some sort of encryption software running on each. (I have found some that will delete the data after 5-10 failed tries at the password.) Each external drive is for offloading virtual tapes for offsite storage. Every Sunday around 12:00 we would copy all the virtual tapes to the external drive. (I am still working out details in my mind) The companies I have been looking at would allow IPL directly from the device and virtual tape. Basically the external disk would only be used for copies for offsite storage. Ed Martin Aultman Health Foundation 330-363-5050 ext 35050 -----Original Message----- From: owner-vse-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-vse-l@Lehigh.EDU] On Behalf Of Tom Duerbusch Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:33 AM To: VSE Discussion List Subject: RE: 3592 Tape Cartridges Hi Ed I mentally toyed with an USB option. It didn't seem fast enough. I've also thought about a laptop, perhaps with an extra drive, that is configured to support VSE VTAPE. Just send the laptops offsite. Of course you still need tape (or DVD) to build a minimum VSE system. For that, I've toyed with the idea of just using the VSE install media. That would be to install enough to get VSE VTAPE up, and use the laptop server for the restoration process. But then again, VSE VTAPE over IP isn't a barn burner when it comes to the under 100 MIPs processors either. A couple weeks ago, at a disaster recovery test, I sure wanted to use a thumb drive somehow in the standalone restore process. (vs the 40+ 3480 carts needed for the standalone restore portion of the plan). Tom Duerbusch THD Consulting >>> "Edward M Martin" <EMartin@aultman.com> 8/18/2009 5:06 PM >>> Hello Everyone, I have been working on that same type of situation. 1) Do you depend upon the data being correct when you get to your DR site? 2) What happens if the DR site has it's own disaster evern if it is 60+ miles away? So I have been looking into writting out to a network drive (almost everyone has this option), and then writing/copying to a USB 2.0 or someother connected device. 1 TB USB 2.0 is around $120.00. You would need to put some sort of encrytion software on it. And maybe you want 5 to 7 for rotation. Or how about your network people and their backups???? Anyone? Ed Martin ________________________________ From: owner-vse-l@Lehigh.EDU on behalf of David Stuart Sent: Tue 8/18/2009 12:34 PM To: VSE Discussion List Subject: Re: 3592 Tape Cartridges Bob, Billy, et al, I don't argue getting rid of real tape. But, using an SDS device like Billy, or an MDL like Bob, or a VTA, or a ???, you need someplace to replicate the data to. We don't have that. There was a building the County was setting up for that purpose (alternate/emergency data center), but they have decided that it won't work, is not viable (someone pointed out it was in an earthquake liquifaction zone), etc. So at this point, my only really viable method to be able to restore in a 'disaster' situation is real, physical tape. We have Jeff Barnard's Opti-Tape, and we're moving as much of the 'on-site' tape data sets to Opti-Tape as we can. Thanks, Dave Dave Stuart Prin. Info. Systems Support Analyst County of Ventura, CA 805-662-6731 David.Stuart@ventura.org >>> <Rbotsis@aol.com> 8/18/2009 5:58 AM >>> Dave, I don't know the cost of the unit/s that Billy mentioned nor any of the others (VTA from Universal, CUB from Fundamental and who knows what others), but at WAVV Bus-Tech had a session about their ENTRY level (may be all you need) MDL or whatever they called it. They stated that the entry level was probably going to be priced around 40K. I told them I doubt they'd sell many at that price. Maybe they reconsidered, maybe not. As Billy pointed out and he only touched the surface, getting rid of REAL tape and EVERYTHING associated with it, IS the way to go.
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