TECHNOLOGY BACKUP & RECOVERY
moves files to an archive tier (or library) leaving a stub file behind. However, working with a large number of stub files can cause delays in file retrieval, and working with a completely virtualized file system can be much more efficient. Many storage arrays include optional soſtware that can identify data appropriate for each tier and move it based on predetermined usage policies. Although most large-scale IT changes are a challenging procedure for all involved, 93% of organisations have success with storage virtualisation projects.
Renton Howard Wood Levin Architects To give a practical example, RHWL is an architectural practice which employs approximately 130 in the UK and Germany. With considerable company growth, the organisation was continually running out of space on its SAN solution. It was forced to carry out emergency archiving exercises of data which should ideally have been kept online - and these emergencies soon became a weekly occurrence, taking up a considerable amount of IT staff time, and wasting productivity spent tracking down plans and documents. RHWL’s team was also struggling to carry out a weekly backup in the space of a weekend, with the process taking up to 14 hours.
RHWL implemented an intelligent file virtualisation solution, which could set policies for moving data between storage tiers on the basis of age, type and frequency of access - without needing manual intervention. RHWL has estimated that this will increase employee productivity by more than 5,000 man-hours per year, and delay purchasing of costly storage for quite some time, whilst also enabling the business to put off purchasing costly tier 1 storage in favour of cheaper options. Weekend backup times have also dropped from 14 hours to just 1.5 hours.
With statistics like this, and solving the headaches such as storage sprawl, challenges around managing an ever-increasing storage estate, and paying for too much tier one capacity, storage managers no longer need to cry over their tiers.
1 IDC: Digital Universe
http://china.emc.com/collateral/analyst- reports/idc-digital-universe-are-you-ready.pdf 2 Mozy: How much is a Petabyte?
http://mozy.com/blog/misc/ how-much-is-a-petabyte
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