Enterprise Storage Solutions For Data & Document Management Solving storage management issues for today's open, networked computing environment By Vicki Vollmar Product Marketing Manager, Storage Systems Division Software IBM The '90s data explosion and open systems revolution have spread mission-critical data across the enterprise in a heterogeneous, networked computer environment. As businesses increasingly rely on information as a competitive advantage, the storage demand for non-mainframe, network-based systems is escalating and is expected to grow more than 30% in '96 to $6.1 billion, according to Client Server Computing (July, 1996). This, combined with the emergence of data warehousing, data mining and the reliance on intranet and Internet-type networks has forced companies to consider the lifetime costs of different storage media in order to provide comprehensive, industrial-strength protection from data loss. This dilemma requires an economical network storage management solution, preferably a network-attached solution rather than the traditional storage server. The network-attached solution connects directly to the network and does not require a separate server or network operating system. As a result, the network-attached solution delivers: * optimized performance with easy, non-disruptive installation * pre-configured and pre-tested components in one box supporting multiple environments * simplified maintenance This compares favorably to the storage server that must connect to the network through a general purpose server and share resources with other applications, resulting in streamlined connectivity with fewer components to administer. Network storage solution essentials According to Strategic Research, network-attached storage will grow to $5 billion by the year 2000. When evaluating network storage management solutions, network and IS managers should look for the following: Open, multi-platform support. With distributed data across multiple platforms, companies need a complete, integrated solution for managing and protecting their data. Companies should seek offerings that support all major computing platforms in a low-cost, easy-to-install device, avoiding multiple, platform-specific user-dependent solutions. At a minimum, network storage management offerings should support all major platforms and network computing environments including Sun, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Apple and SGI. Reliable disaster recovery planning across multi-vendor platforms. To protect data running on desktop, midrange, Unix and mainframe platforms, full network disaster recovery must back up both the distributed client data repository and the meta data (index or database) that describes that information. Although most backup products protect against hardware/ media failure or total disaster with the ability to recover to the most recent state, a true network management solution must also provide recovery from a logical error that causes data corruption or application contamination. Because continual access is a definite prerequisite, level 2 insurance, which protects a company's entire storage management environment rather than just backing up distributed clients (as in level 1 insurance) must be non-disruptive (on-line), automated and centrally managed. A full enterprise storage management disaster recovery enables companies to recover data to a specific point in time, not just at its most recent state. Security features. True disaster recovery management provides advanced security to further protect mission-critical data. The network management solution should provide client-server authentication to ensure that only valid clients are communicating with an authorized server. Storage hierarchy. Storage hierarchy rules govern the way data is managed within the storage environment. The hierarchy is a pyramid with the most expensive, highest-performing storage medium, disk drives, on the top. Each successive layer is a less-expensive, slower-performing media, like tape or optical. Server hierarchical storage management (HSM) migrates data automatically based on administrator-defined rules to the most appropriate medium. HSM maximizes the trade-off between cost and availability. Reduced administrative costs. A network storage management solution that integrates reliable, scalable backup, recovery, HSM and disaster recovery of distributed multiplatform data will save time and money. Products that pre-configure and pre-test all components greatly reduce evaluation time. Plus, using a single, comprehensive solution to replace multiple platform-specific products reduces administrative time on installation and on-going maintenance. Intranet applications change the playing field To support so many emerging Internet and intranet applications, a network management solution should utilize familiar Web-browser interfaces to integrate the described functionality across multi-vendor platforms. With a fully integrated Java-enabled Web browser interface, a comprehensive network storage solution provides administrators and users with an intuitive interface for automating storage management across the enterprise. By employing browsers such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, users can back up and restore their own files and validate operations, thus freeing the system administrator to perform other important tasks. With a Web-browser interface, telecommuters and remote offices can be linked to a company's main storage facility to back up data and query status without administrator assistance. Alternatively, systems administrators can download code and establish remote help desks to provide administrative assistance as required. Future technology and applications in the networked computing environment As the industry continues to move to the open, networked computing model, demand for storage management solutions will further escalate. New technologies such as intranet applications, the network computer, Windows NT 5.0, and server clustering will prevail in this environment. Vendors who can deliver self-contained, fully configured hardware and software products with browser interfaces for the automated backup, management and recovery of mission-critical data will be able to respond to the storage management challenges of these pervasive networked computing environments. Vicki Vollmar is product marketing manager of IBM's Storage Systems Division Software products and is responsible for IBM's distributed storage management.
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