IBM launches virtual tape offensive

IBM is introducing new products to its virtual tape line for mainframe customers and enhancements to its virtual tape engine billed as low-power "green" alternatives for midrange and large businesses.

Virtualization engine gets more locations

The company's mainframe grid virtual-tape offering, Virtualization Engine TS7740, will receive an upgrade with the ability to automatically duplicate tape data across up to three data center sites while allowing the data to be tracked and accessed when needed. The current GRID configuration on the TS7740 allows for two sites.

Additional new features on the TS7740 include;

• On demand performance and cache capacity increments that allow the system to be scaled based on capacity and performance needs.
• A one-terabyte single-cache drawer configuration for smaller businesses that don't require as much capacity as larger businesses.
• A copy export function to allow data retrieval from a standalone or GRID TS7740 systems for disaster recovery
• Additional functions to improve management capabilities

Most of the revisions for the TS7750 will be available on Aug. 31. The 1TB single-cache drawer configuration and copy export for GRID configurations will be ready on Nov. 23.

Tape drive supports mainframe attachment

IBM's System Storage TS3400 Tape Library is also getting a lift courtesy of an upgraded tape drive. The library now supports IBM mainframe attachment through a controller for the TS1120 tape drive, allowing drive-based encryption capabilities in what the company claims will be a small footprint in the IBM mainframe environment.

System Storage TS1120 Tape Controller support for mainframe attachment will be available August 31.

Tape drive for mid-range open systems

IBM is introducing the System Storage TS2230 Tape Drive Express Model H3S LTO 4 Half Height (but clearly not half named). The tape drive is aimed at mid-sized customers seeking the capacity of LTO 3 tapes, but has a "slightly lower" performance that IBM says will cut the cost. The model uses LTO Ultrium 3 Serial Attached SCSI Half-High Tape Drives, and a 3Gbps single port SAS interface for connecting to servers.

The tape drive will be available on August 3.

Sturdy storage servers for telecoms

IBM is also rolling out new midrange storage servers designed for companies in the telecom or oil and gas business. The System Storage DS3000 DC Power Model 02T, DS3200 DC Power Model 22T and DS3400 DC Power Model 42T are disk systems that feature built-in support for DC power. The units are also compliant not only with NEBS Level 3 standards (safety guidelines for telecom equipment) for US clients, but NEBS Level 3 standards for the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

The three systems will be available on July 20. ®