A+UniTree Storage Manager

A+UniTree
Powerful storage management of distributed data
With the proliferation of critical data across extensive networks of workstations, PCs, and servers, organizations have growing concerns: Make distributed data safe. Keep it accessible. Bring down escalating storage and administration costs.
A+UniTree(TM) Storage Manager from Amdahl meets these needs.
A+UniTree Storage Manager is a powerful hierarchical storage management system for networked multivendor computing environments. A key component of Amdahl's Enterprise File Manager(TM) integrated data and storage management solution, A+UniTree Storage Manager offers enhanced reliability, capacity, and performance for large computing enterprises. Furthermore, its modular design, with independent disk and tape management services, offers versatile implementation in growing client/server environments.
A+UniTree Storage Manager provides many competitive advantages to organizations: storage is optimized, overall data administration costs are dramatically reduced, and data access is reliable across the entire enterprise.
A+UniTree manages the storage hierarchy
A+UniTree software manages the complete storage hierarchy, from LAN server disk storage to automated tape cartridge systems in the data center. A+UniTree Storage Manager automatically stages work-in-progress files to their most cost- and performance-effective storage locations. All storage devices in the enterprise are used to optimal capacity and throughput.
Using these hierarchical storage management techniques, A+UniTree Storage Manager supports workstation and PC environments connected by way of NFS and FTP networking protocols.
A+UniTree protects backup data
A+UniTree storage manager is a powerful management tool when used as the repository for backed-up data from a distributed environment with large numbers of servers, workstations, and PCs. Files located on distributed systems can be automatically backed up and stored using A+USER Access(TM) Backup Manager along with A+UniTree storage manager.
The procedures are automatic and transparent to users, providing reliable, accessible, and cost-effective file backup. With an automated tape cartridge system, A+UniTree Storage Manager can further reduce operating costs and file restoration time.
A+UniTree combines strengths of distributed and centralized architectures
With A+UniTree Storage Manager, disk and tape management services are independent of each other. This modular design means that file management functions can be located where they are most efficiently performed, taking advantage of inexpensive processing on local servers and the economies of scale of centralized tape devices and silos.
Central tape services
Tape management functions, such as tape repacking, vault migration, and tape cataloging, belong on a central server for several reasons. The central server has full bandwidth access to the tape storage devices. Tape-to-tape transfers for repacking and vault migration stay off the network, reducing traffic. And storage media can be housed together in a highly secure, available environment with expert operations staff close at hand.
Distributed disk services
A+UniTree Storage Manager locates active files close to users where the files are most quickly accessed.
Departments and work groups can install disk services and their own disk staging area on their local server. Multiple servers can be used for increased capacity and throughput. Distributed disk services may be connected to central tape services over an enterprise-wide WAN.
Distributed disk services provide significant advantages. Because distributed disk services stage data to local disk, a copy of the most recently backed up data is kept near the end-user, reducing traffic across the corporate backbone and improving response times. Processing power, too, remains near the client, reducing the load on the central server.
Integrated centralized file management
When a completely centralized file management solution is required, A+UniTree disk and tape management services can be integrated on a single server. A single A+UniTree server is suitable for geographically centralized organizations or ones with a high-speed network. Advantages include simplified administration and a universal name space.
Choice of platforms
A+UniTree Storage Manager is supported both in the Solaris(TM) operating environment and on the Amdahl UTS(R) operating system, and their disk and tape services interoperate.
A+UniTree operations are automatic and transparent
Through simple interactions and automatic operations, A+UniTree Storage Manager gives all users access to an enormous repository of data. No changes to the client system or to the way in which users access their files are required.
Virtually unlimited storage
Conceptually, A+UniTree Storage Manager presents a seamless storage environment to the user, combining disk with manual and robotic tape devices to form virtually unlimited storage capacity.
A+UniTree manages file location in this storage environment. Master copies of all files are written to tapeÑthe most cost-effective storage medium enterprises can use. More expensive local storage is used for staging the files accessed most often so they are immediately available to the user.
When local disk storage fills, the least recently accessed files are purged from the disk, leaving the tape copy intact. If a user accesses a purged file again, the system automatically and transparently restores the file to the local disk. From a userÕs perspective, A+UniTree offers a virtually unlimited number of files of unlimited sizeÑall online.
Familiar environment for users
The A+UniTree storage environment is accessed via standard networking protocols, such as NFS and FTP. Users access files as they would through any remote UNIX(R) system. A+UniTree maintains standard UNIX file system naming conventions, directory structures, and file permission procedures. Because the environment uses industry-standard interfaces, applications require no changes to access files.
A+UniTree optimizes data storage
A+UniTree optimizes storage use and performance and reduces data administration costs.
Automatic hierarchical storage management
A primary benefit of A+UniTree Storage Manager is its capability to optimize the use of storage devices. It transparently migrates files to tape to reduce usage of online disk storage in favor of less expensive offline media. It improves system performance by maintaining ample space for system operations and current data.
A+UniTree maintains the location of migrated files, so migrated files can be immediately staged back to disk for use when they are referenced.
Simultaneous use of multiple devices
A+UniTree provides unsurpassed capacity and throughput for the movement of files by employing multiple storage devices in parallel. A+UniTree can access up to 32 storage drives simultaneously.
Reduced file fragmentation and advanced tape repacking
A+UniTree packs files contiguously onto tapes to efficiently use the available space.
Physical volumes managed by A+UniTree storage manager are monitored for fragmentation and automatically repacked when fragmentation reaches a specified level. Repacking keeps tape utilization as close to 100 percent as possible. It reduces total number of tapes needed and the number of tape mount requests made for retrieval because more data can be stored on each tape.
Family of files
A+UniTree Storage Manager allows files to be identified as part of a group or Òfamily of filesÓ and stored together on the same tape. By keeping together files that are likely to be accessed concurrently, A+UniTree shortens access time and simplifies management.
A+UniTree increases data safety
A+UniTree substantially increases the reliability of enterprise data by moving it to the safest physical location in the organization. A+UniTree protects data by maintaining masters of all files, automating enterprise data management procedures, and tracking the location of all file copies.
Multiple file copies
To provide a prudent disaster recovery capability, A+UniTree Storage Manager can create multiple copies of filesÑup to 15Ñwithin the active enterprise data storage media.
Failure recovery mechanism
When media or device errors occur, A+UniTree acts to protect and restore data without disrupting enterprise computing operations. Internal databases, such as tape server and name server databases, are backed up to protect their integrity, and in the event of disk failures they can be recovered.
After a sudden disk crash, files that have been migrated to tape can be automatically restored to online status from the master tape copy. Files that reside on a failing disk or other device are migrated to alternate storage so that the faulty device can be taken offline for repair. When the repaired device is reconnected, A+UniTree Storage Manager migrates files back to it and reincorporates the device into the storage base.
Protection against accidental deletion
A+UniTree software protects files from accidental deletion by retaining deleted files, for a site-specified time, where users can retrieve them.
A+UniTree comes with Amdahl service and support
Around the clock support
Amdahl Customer Services provides service for A+UniTree Storage Manager 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Professional services
Amdahl offers many professional and consulting services to meet a wide range of customer needs.
Amdahl can help your data center establish a complete file backup and recovery service that can be offered to end-user departments and business units throughout the enterprise. Amdahl can provide everything you need to set up in business quickly to satisfy users who are seeking relief from the burdens of data administration.
To help you realize the full benefit of A+UniTree and Amdahl's A+USER Access, Amdahl offers the Enterprise File Manager Implementation service. This comprehensive service includes site and readiness planning for environmentals, power, and floor setup. It includes network configuration and communications assistance as well as scheduling for conversion of current backup systems to the Enterprise File Manager solution. And it includes testing of pilot applications and complete acceptance testing. To deliver this service, Amdahl coordinates with all third-party suppliers involved.
Amdahl also offers an Enterprise File Manager Easy Pilot program at a low-cost fixed fee. Amdahl will integrate Enterprise File Manager components at your site for a limited trial program and charge for the service only when a full production system is installed.
For more information
If you would like to know more about how A+UniTree Storage Manager and the Enterprise File Manager solution can help you protect and manage your distributed data cost-effectively, contact your local Amdahl representative.
A+UniTree features
- Automatically optimizes use of storage media
- Extends storage capacity while reducing costs
- Stores data centrally for safety
- Stages data locally for rapid access
- Eliminates UNIX constraints on size and number of files
Enterprise File Manager integrated data and storage management solution
The Amdahl Enterprise File Manager solutionÑincorporating A+UniTree storage manager and A+USER Access backup managerÑcentralizes and automates the critical task of data and storage management for large distributed computing environments. Enterprise File Manager:
- Protects critical enterprise data
- Automates file backup procedures
- Enables effective disaster recovery
- Provides hierarchical storage management for the whole enterprise
- Drives down the cost of local storage
- Relieves individual departments from the burden of data administration
- Provides enterprisewide access to terabytes of data
Amdahl and UTS are registered trademarks and A+UniTree, A+USER Access and Enterprise File Manager are trademarks of Amdahl Corporation. USER-Access is a trademark of Network Systems Corporation. UniTree is a trademark of UniTree Software Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited. Solaris is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The information in this document may be superseded by subsequent documents. For details regarding delivery of specific products, features , and services, contact your local Amdahl representative.
© Copyright 1994 by Amdahl Corporation. All rights reserved. MM001866-002