Prime Environments; Vls Benefits - HP StorageWorks 12000 - Virtual Library System EVA Gateway Manual

libraries as physical libraries on the SAN. Because you can create many more virtual libraries and
drives than you have physical tape drives, many more SAN-based backups can run concurrently from
the application servers, reducing the aggregate backup window. After the backups are complete, the
automigration feature or the data protection software can migrate backup data from the virtual media
to physical tape, for off-site disaster protection or long-term archival. This migration to physical tape
can happen outside of the backup window at whatever time you determine will work optimally with
your backup environment. The deduplication-enabled replication feature also provides the ability to
create a second off-site copy in another VLS via a TCP/IP link.

Prime Environments

VLS is particularly suited to environments in which:
• The backup targets are in a SAN or LAN and are backed up to a SAN device via a media server.
• The VLS12000 Gateway has eight or more servers; the VLS6000–series and the VLS9000–series
have four or more servers.
• The servers are slower than the tape drives.
• Backup performance is a necessity because backup windows are currently strained.
• Many restores are expected for the data set being backed up.
• Enhanced reliability is desired.
• Low impact, seamless integration is important because the virtual library looks to the backup ap-
plication like a physical library and retooling of the backup jobs is not necessary.
• There is rapid growth, so quick and easy provisioning of data protection services is frequently
needed.
• There is a need or wish to reduce the amount of physical media being consumed.
• There are blade servers installed in your environment.

VLS Benefits

• Integrates seamlessly into existing backup applications and processes.
• Easy to manage.
• Accelerates backup performance in complex SAN environments while improving overall reliability.
Because it can receive many data streams at the same time, the VLS maximizes the number of
backup jobs occurring simultaneously, reducing backup window duration. (Note that this applies
to slower SAN hosts. Faster SAN hosts bypass this issue.) Migration to tape then happens outside
the backup window.
• Fast single-file restore and recovery - recent backups kept on disk for restore and recovery, fast
single-file restore without the need for media loading or positioning.
• Adaptable to environmental changes. As storage requirements grow, the VLS can match your en-
vironment by scaling both capacity and performance.
• Utilizes LUN masking and mapping to protect backup and recovery jobs from disruptions caused
by SAN events.
• Optimizes bandwidth use of the backup environment.
• Removes tape errors from the critical backup window.
• Less expensive than buying more fiber channel arrays.
• Can require fewer tape drives than other solutions and get better utilization of the tape
drives/libraries you have.
The benefits of specific VLS models:
• Because the VLS12000 is a Gateway to an EVA, it can take advantage of Instant Support Enterprise
Edition – if a data pool fails, the "phone-home" service activates.
102 Virtual Library Systems