Bycast StorageGRID 8
May 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Annette Saliken and David Slik
The solution provides long-term storage and preservation of digital assets.
Data protection and preservation is provided by enabling content to be replicated to multiple sites, and monitoring the integrity of data to guard against corruption. If a device or even an entire site is lost, it will automatically rebuild data from other replicas and validate its integrity. If corruption is detected, data is automatically rebuilt from a known good copy.
By abstracting the hardware, the solution ensures that users are unaffected as new storage devices are added and old ones are retired. Migration from obsolete hardware to newer generations is automated and transparent. When a storage device is designated to be retired, its contents are automatically moved to newer devices without manual intervention, or changing file paths. Files remain where users and applications expect to find them.
StorageGRID addresses the shortcomings of the silos in three ways. First, it offers increased data protection. With configurable replication policies, the solution automatically stores redundant copies at distinct geographic locations. These, together with automated rebuild, eliminate the need for error-prone backup/restore procedures. Furthermore, comprehensive integrity checks protect data from corruption or alteration, thereby ensuring authenticity of data.
Second, it minimizes downtime. The grid architecture eliminates single point of failure. In the event of failures, or even when an entire site goes down, failover is automated, and operations continue. Automated disaster recovery protects against site, storage, or system failure and fully restores data to its original state.
Third, the system provides unparalleled scalability. The solution enables capacity and footprint expansion as needed, when needed. In addition, it allows organizations to take full advantage of decreasing hardware costs, increasing densities and new technologies through seamless hardware refreshes that do not require manual migration. Organizations can increase storage capacity, while reducing the footprint within the data center.
Summary
Challenges of long-term file storage can be minimized by choosing an archive system that consolidates and shares storage resources across sites and applications, rather than managing individual storage silos. With StorageGRID, organizations can use commodity hardware to create scalable digital archives that preserve and protect data, while reducing capital and operational costs of long-term storage. The solution also ensures consistent, reliable access to data for decades by delivering data protection, business continuity, automated disaster recoveryand multisite access in heterogeneous storage environments.
Annette Saliken is director of communications and David Slik is chief architect for Bycast.
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