Lab Tests Prove That Critical Data Management Services Can Be Successfully Delivered In a Virtualized File Area Network (FAN)
Lowell, MA - February 6, 2007 - Acopia Networks®, Inc., the leader in high-performance intelligent file virtualization, today announced the results of independently validated lab tests, in which it demonstrated the ability to create a consistent point-in-time replica across a virtualized volume whose physical files simultaneously reside on both EMC and Network Appliance network-attached storage (NAS) arrays.
"The ability to create, schedule, and manage consistent snapshots across heterogeneous storage devices from a single, centralized management point will provide customers with dramatic savings in capital and operating expense," said Harald Skardal, Acopia's senior consulting engineer overseeing the testing. "Initial data reveals that the hard cost savings will range from 20% in smaller, less complicated environments, to well over 50% in larger enterprise-class computing datacenters."
The test, which was performed at Acopia's multi-million dollar test and qualification laboratory, was verified by independent industry analyst and acclaimed data protection expert, Jon Toigo, CEO of the Data Management Institute, and other members of the institute's staff.
"The ability to do snapshots across the proprietary boundaries created by many enterprise storage vendors is an important step toward the deconstruction of monolithic storage arrays," said Jon Toigo, managing partner of Toigo Partners International and well-known industry watchdog and consumer advocate. "Heterogeneous snapshot holds out the possibility of driving down the cost of array products by eliminating a consumer lock-in too often soft-peddled as a 'value-add' feature - one for which vendors charge a premium whether their customers use the feature or not. We ought to be able to fit storage features and functions to our needs, and not be forced to fit our requirements to the proprietary architecture of vended products. Heterogeneous snapshots are a step in the right direction and Acopia Networks offers this capability today."
In the test, a cross-vendor snapshot was taken instantly, with no disruption of clients or applications. The Acopia snapshot, an integrated view of the volume spanning the physical filers as of the time of the snapshots, was proven to be consistent and atomic. All files and directories in the snapshot were from the exact same point-in-time, with no client write separating the state of two objects. The test also proved that clients could access the snapshots immediately and directly. Additionally, Acopia showed that policy rules can be set to create and retain snapshots. The Acopia snapshot capability was then used to create a self-consistent backup across multiple file servers. The federated snapshot was used to rapidly restore files, proving that end-users could easily and directly perform restores across their heterogeneous file storage environment.
Details of the test, which spanned two shares on a NTAP FAS3050 filer, and two shares on an EMC NS 700 filer, and involved both CIFS and NFS client access, are available upon request.
About Acopia Networks
Acopia Networks, Inc. is the leader in high-performance intelligent file virtualization. Its family of ARX systems help customers manage the growth, complexity and cost of unstructured, globally distributed, file-based information. By providing automatic, policy-driven, data migration, tiering, load balancing, and replication across multi-vendor storage environments, the ARX systems help IT executives to reduce management overhead and accelerate business workflow. For further information about Acopia's products and services, please visit www.acopia.com, call 978-513-2900 (US) / 49-89-944-90-165 (Europe), or email info@acopia.com.
###
© 2007 Acopia Networks, Inc. Acopia is a trademark of Acopia Networks. All other brands, products, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.
Contact:
Nicole Gorman
Acopia Networks, Inc.
508-397-0131
ngorman@acopia.com