EMC has announced two new disk arrays for the SMB space, as well as upgrades to its existing enterprise-class virtual tape library (VTL) that include policy-based data deduplication and disk power-down capability.
At its annual EMC World conference, EMC announced two new versions of its DL-series VTL, the Disk Library (DL) 3D 1500 for entry-level shops and the DL 3D 3000 for mid-range environments. The new arrays are targeted at LAN-based backup, using NFS and CIFS protocols for file backup. The DL 1500 offers up to 36TB of capacity and the DL 3000 offers up to 148TB capacity. Both systems are using new, larger-capacity 1TB serial ATA disk drives with RAID 6 protection, and they offer optional Fibre Channel ports for SAN connectivity. Both libraries will also include deduplication capability.
EMC will also begin offering policy-based deduplication on its DL 4000 enterprise-class VTL, according to EMC storage president Dave Donatelli. The new SATA 1TB drives will also be available in the DL "3D" 4000 VTL, which previously used 750GB drives.
Deduplication is the ability to create a single copy of a document but allow it to be seen by multiple users through the creation of a pointer. For example, an email sent around an organisation with an attachment would not include the actual attachment for every employee receiving the message, but a pointer to a centrally located file that only looks like an attachment.
EMC has also added disk power-down capability on its DL400 VTL through an algorithm built into the array's management software, allowing users to put any number of disks into a "hibernation" mode when not in use to save on power and extend overall hard disk drive life.
EMC also announced a new version of its NetWorker backup software for mid-sized businesses. NetWorker Fast Start integrates licensing, installation and set up under a single panel view. The backup software supports up to 20 Windows or Linux servers and five applications, including SQL Server, Exchange and Oracle.
Both Donatelli and EMC CEO Joe Tucci emphasised the importance that solid state disk drive technology will play at the highest level of enterprise-class primary storage. Tucci said that "over the next two years, all [data] recovery will come off disk ... not tape. Tape is too slow."
EMC announced support for solid state disk drives in its enterprise-class DMX array in January.
Donatelli said that by the end of 2010, solid state disk drives will be on price parity with the highest-end spinning disk drives and will represent greater and greater amounts of the tier one capacity in DMX arrays.