NetBackup OpenStorage API Starts to Bear Fruit: Quantum DXi7500 Demonstrates Interoperability

It is easy to understand why disk-based backup solutions such as Quantum's DXi Series are growing in popularity as a primary target for backups. Disk shortens backup times, expedites recoveries and removes the inconsistent results that tape delivers when used as a primary backup target. However the difficulties that arise with using disk as a primary backup target are less intuitive. Disk solves the immediate pain of backup but creates other less intuitive, longer term data management issues.

One of the important benefits of tape emulation, or VTL technology, is that backup software sees the disk as tape with which backup software has enjoyed a long partnership. However some of the key problems that companies face after the backup to a disk-as-disk system is completed include:

• Managing the replication of data between different disk-based systems
• Tracking what data is where and expiring it
• Managing the copy of data from disk to removable media
• Updating the backup catalog as these changes occur

Data protection vendors are working to meet these challenges though it is only now that companies are starting to see the results of these behind-the-scenes efforts. One such initiative is Symantec's NetBackup OpenStorage API that Symantec announced back in November 2006. Its purpose: provide customers with more flexibility in managing backup data stored on disk-based backup solutions.

When Symantec announced its OpenStorage API, it envisioned treating "disk as disk" so companies could take full advantage of the options that new disk-based storage systems afforded them. Specific features that the adoption of the OpenStorage API on these system would enable included granting NetBackup permission to manage replication between storage systems as well as the copying of data from disk to tape (on disk-based storage system that supported this feature).

The upside for disk-based backup providers like Quantum is that the NetBackup OpenStorage API provided them a base line to develop code as it developed replication and disk-to-tape copy features for its disk-based storage systems. By coding to the standards detailed in Symantec's NetBackup OpenStorage API, Quantum would have the assurance that any company using NetBackup could backup to its DXi Series disk systems and manage its replication and disk-to-tape copy features without the NetBackup catalog loosing track of what data resides where.

This brings us to today. Though Symantec made this announcement over 18 months ago, only now are we starting to see some of the fruits of its OpenStorage API announcement. During the recent Symantec Vision Conference, Quantum did a live demonstration of the integration between its DXi7500 enterprise disk-based backup system and NetBackup 6.5. Using the OpenStorage API plug-in, and including key management capabilities through NetBackup. Ultimately, this development will allow users to manage duplicate backup images on multiple DXi systems as well as copy data from disk to tape using the DXi7500. The management, cataloging, and tracking of data that is moved or copied by the DXi7500 are completely controlled by NetBackup regardless if the DXi7500 moves data from system to system or off to to tape.

When Quantum announced its new DXi7500, it took aim at the enterprise data center by offering expanded features, such as a policy-based de-duplication methodology, simple scalability and high availability. However enterprise companies still need to centrally manage and track their backup data and many still turn to Symantec NetBackup to perform this task. In fact, according to Quantum, it has tens of thousands of NetBackup customers using its disk and tape systems. So now that this integration between these two technology is nearing completion, companies can jointly use NetBackup and Quantum's OpenStorage API software option to take another step forward in centralizing the management of their backup data regardless of where the data resides or on what type of media.