While the cache is MF DASD (which gives it great performance when writing and reading from cache), CA-Vtape now has the ability to be offloaded to cheaper dasd that is attached through an NFS Server (such as NetApp or Data Domain). And you even have the flexability of having the offload copy go through data de-duplication (with Data Domain) and/or having a replicated off-site copy and still have a physical tape copy (or two). It allows for the client to decide which options are best for which types of tape data.
For example, backup data kept for DR purposes might be best on an NFS Server that is duplicated off-site at the DR location and kept for 2-4 weeks. But for data that needs to be kept for decades (regulatory requirements) it might be a lot more cost effective to have 2 phsyical high-capacity drives and stack a couple of tera-bytes of data on each cartridge for long-term storage. The nice thing about a software solution such as CA-Vtape is that it gives you many different options. If you want a truely "Tapeless Solution" and don't mind keeping un-used and un-referenced data on dasd for decades (not very "green" of you) then something like CA-Vtape with a replicated NFS Server as the backstore might be a very good option. Of course, if you are going tapeless, replication is very-much the recommended method. While the NFS Server itself could be off-site, having only a single copy of all backup data runs the risk of putting all the eggs in a single basket. Which is why tape backups have had a primary and duplex copy for decades. Putting both the primary and duplex copy into the same physical box kind of defeats the whole point of having 2 copies of the backup data. But these are just my opinions. Russell Witt CA 1 L2 Support Manager On 12/19/11, R.S.<[email protected]> wrote: W dniu 2011-12-19 23:02, Henke, George pisze: > Will CA VTAPE work on regular MF or does it need the DS8800. What??? CA VTAPE is from software being sold by CA. DS8800 is a DASD box being sold by IBM. CA VTAPE works on any mainframe DASD. I don't know what does it mean "work on regular MF". BTW: IMHO it is very expensive solution. It consumes CPU cycles, especially when compression is on (could be offloaded to zIIP), and consumes mainframe DASD, which is usually the most expensive DASD. Exception: FBA DASD connected using "magic box" like BusTech MDL or Luminex, or other. ...but then you don't need VTAPE - those boxes also emulate tape units. My €0.02 -- Radoslaw Skorupka Lodz, Poland ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
