Hybrid Cloud Backup for IBM i/AIX Systems
Protect IBM i, AIX, and Linux Systems On-Premises, then Replicate to PowerVS for Archive and DR
StorSafe VTL offers a hybrid cloud solution where customers leverage the cloud for long-term archival or disaster recovery with a secondary backup to IBM Power Systems Virtual Server (PowerVS).
For over 20 years, FalconStor has provided a virtual tape library (VTL) disk-based solution to IBM customers that reduces storage costs and now greatly simplifies migration to PowerVS. For Hybrid Cloud Backup, StorSafe VTL for On-Prem runs on-premises at each customer site to protect IBM i, AIX, and/or Linux workloads. A twin instance of StorSafe VTL can then run in IBM PowerVS. Continuous replication between StorSafe VTL instances ensures that data is safely protected offsite for archive or disaster recovery purposes.
KEY BENEFITS
Backup IBM i/AIX/Linux workloads on-premises at up to 40TB/hour to Cloud Object Storage, VTL, physical tape
- 100% compatible with any open systems and backup software
- Up to 95% deduplication of backups reduces the storage required over time
Easily scale by adding compute and storage as needs grow
- Start at a Terabyte and scale to Petabytes
- Share across multiple environments
- Scale from just a single VM to several servers
Custom fit to meet IT requirements, with ability to use preferred hardware
- Hardware choice so customers and MSPs can use their preferred brands
- Offsite protection built-in to transmit a copy of each backup offsite
Disaster recovery and long-term retention for compliance requirements
- Replicate backup data to a twin StorSafe VTL in PowerVS
- Create offsite storage solution without the hassle of moving physical tapes and storing and managing them
Hybrid Cloud Backup
Below is an overview of the process for backup of workloads residing on-premises.
In this use case the IBM Power Systems at the customer sites directs its backups to a StorSafe VTL that also resides at the customer site. Because StorSafe VTL is software, it can be run on the appropriate number of compute servers, and it can be given the appropriate amount of block or object storage. The backup data is deduplicated by StorSafe VTL at the customer site and a copy is transmitted to PowerVS for secure offsite protection. StorSafe VTL is 100% compatible with enterprise backup and restore software from leading vendors including BRMS, Veeam, NetBackup, Commvault, TSM, Arcserve, and more.
Power
Is FalconStor software proven to work with IBM i, AIX, Linux, and Windows systems?
When it comes to IBM i systems, the administrator may be using the Save 21 command, BRMS, or other native IBM i backup tools. In the case of Linux systems or Windows systems, industry standard backup software from leaders such as Veeam, NetBackup, Commvault, Arcserve, Tivoli and other popular backup and restore software packages can be used.
Are there Managed Service Providers that can help me?
Yes. FalconStor or has been working with leading IBM i Managed Service Providers worldwide to protect mission critical IBM i servers that reside within the MSP datacenter, the IBM cloud, or on-premises at customer sites.
How do MSPs deliver Backup as a Service?
MSPs have a choice in how they construct their business model using FalconStor, sometimes referred to as “Asset Heavy” or “Asset Light” models. And customers can be outfitted with the perfect hardware for any SLA or situation.
In the Asset Heavy model, the MSP stands up its own cloud including FalconStor StorSafe and StorSight running in its datacenters on industry-standard compute servers and block and object storage from its vendors of choice.
In the Asset Light model, the MSP instead uses the IBM cloud as the target destination for the offsite copy of the customer’s backup data. While the MSP retains full control and visibility of the data and processes through the FalconStor portfolio, they can also utilize a twin copy of StorSafe residing in Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google, or IBM Cloud.
What have the IBM i MSPs experiences been?
Meet three IBM i Savvy Managed Service Providers that are servicing IBM i customers with StorSafe and StorSight software world-wide today.
IBM Champion
“40+ Years of IBM Experience”
Co-President of ilnTheCloud LLC
Chief i-entist at Frankeni
Technology Consulting, LLC
Consulting IBM Champion
IBM i Power Systems
A leading worldwide MSP
“FalconStor was the easiest to deploy, the most scalable, flexible and product that gave us fantastic dedupe ratios.”
Technical Lead
Service Express
A prominent Swiss MSP
“I needed a trustworthy, proven solution and that’s why FalconStor was on top of the list.”
Senior IT Solutions Architect
Wagner AG
Larry Bolhuis is well-known in the IBM i ecosystem. He is the Co-President at iInTheCloud LLC, Chief i-entist at Frankeni Technology Consulting, LLC, and an IBM i and Power Systems Consulting IBM Champion.
Mike Boreham is the Technical Lead at Service Express where he uses StorSafe heavily and reports that “FalconStor was the easiest to deploy, the most scalable, flexible and product that gave us fantastic dedupe ratios.”
Martin Meier is the Senior IT Solutions Architect at Wagner AG and was recently quoted saying that “I needed a trustworthy, proven solution and that’s why FalconStor was on top of the list.”
How does StorSafe deduplication technology reduce storage costs by up to 95%?
When the backups are received by the StorSafe VTL it uses FalconStor’s patented deduplication technology to discover any redundant information which can be eliminated to reduce the size of the backups. Typically, every Friday the backup administrator does a full backup of the mission-critical application servers. Because the backup data received over time is highly redundant, StorSafe can deliver up to 95% deduplication rates.
What hardware is required to run StorSafe?
Every customer site is going to be different. With StorSafe is software you can use the hardware of your choice, and it stores the backup data on block or object storage.
StorSafe can run in something as small as a single VM or up to nine industry-standard servers to deliver blazing throughput of 160 TB per hour. StorSafe stores backups on disk, which of course is much faster than storing them on tapes.
What is the best way to manage instances of StorSafe across sites and clouds?
StorSight delivers management simplicity to StorSafe. Management of all the instances of StorSafe that are being run by all the customers of an MSP is easily achieved.
StorSight provides a central console across all copies of StorSafe and StorGuard that are running across sites and clouds.
StorSight provides real-time visibility into status health and the integrity of backup operations. StorSight provides smarter rules, analytics, reports, and forecasts.
Secure multi-tenancy ensures the highest level of security and Role-Based Administration allows teams to work together without everyone having full administrative power.
Each company or department that is using the StorSafe VTL can be charged for what they use, making StorSight and StorSafe perfect for MSPs wishing to offer migration services for IBM i systems to the MSP or IBM cloud.
What are all 4 use cases for FalconStor software and IBM i systems?
There are four primary use cases for StorSafe VTL:
1. Migrate From On-premises to PowerVS
Migrate workloads and legacy tapes to IBM PowerVS
2. Hybrid Cloud Backup
Backup on-prem, deduplicate, and send a copy to PowerVS
3. PowerVS-Resident Backup
Back up IBM i, AIX, and Linux workloads in PowerVS via StorSafe VTL for PowerVS
4. PowerVS Disaster Recovery
Replicate workloads in PowerVS to another cloud location for recovery in the event of disaster
StorSafe VTL for Power and PowerVS are available from the IBM Cloud Catalog.
- CLOUD-RESIDENT BACKUP AS A SERVICE
Cloud-resident IBM i are backed up to the Cloud-resident StorSafe Virtual Tape Library - CLOUD MIGRATION AS A SERVICE
Migrate customer IBM i application servers entirely to the MSP or IBM PowerVS Cloud - HYBRID CLOUD BACKUP AS A SERVICE
Backup IBM i at customer site, deduplicate, and send a copy to the MSP or IBM Cloud for safety
Contact Us
StorSafe VTL migrates and protects Power Systems on-premises and PowerVS-Resident IBM i/AIX systems running mission-critical applications by providing a backup to disk target that looks like a standard tape library. StorSafe VTL has been the go-to virtual tape library for IBM i/AIX environments and has proven itself worldwide for over 20 years!
StorSafe VTL powers DSI appliances – so you may already be using it.
Contact us and we will have a representative explain the details of our solutions.