Bus-Tech Mainframe VTL Available Through HDS

Bus-Tech, Inc. announced their Mainframe Data Library (MDL) controller is now available through Hitachi Data Systems. The addition of the Bus-Tech MDL solution increases Hitachi’s ability to address the problem of storing mainframe tape data on disk. Customers can purchase complete Bus-Tech mainframe tape-on-disk solutions designed for the Hitachi High-performance NAS Platform and Hitachi Content Archive Platform directly from Hitachi Data Systems.

   Bus-Tech controller

The partnership provides customers with a single source to deploy an end-to-end Mainframe VTL solution. The combined solution set will provide enterprise data centers with lower tape processing costs, faster backups and restores, improved business continuity and disaster recovery and the ability to include compliant storage in their mainframe environment.

Hitachi Data Systems will offer Bus-Tech’s Mainframe Data Library (MDL) which uses a modular approach for scalability and high-availability. Additional capacity can be easily added to handle unexpected changes in a customer’s tape processing requirements. This provides an integrated solution to satisfy the most demanding mainframe tape environments.
Bus-Tech’s MDL combined with Hitachi’s Network Attached Storage (HNAS) can help customers reduce their dependence on large-scale tape subsystems by providing low-cost disk-based backup solutions utilizing state-of-the-art disk storage to replace aging mainframe tape / optical storage.

Bus-Tech’s MDL combined with Hitachi’s Content Archive Platform (HCAP) provides an online enterprise archive environment for mainframe applications requiring long-term archival. Customers with applications that write to standard mainframe tapes are able to take full advantage of the Bus-Tech/HNAS or Bus-Tech/HCAP integration.

"We are pleased to offer Bus-Tech’s Mainframe VTLs to customers via this partnership," said John Mansfield, senior vice president, global solutions strategy and development, Hitachi Data Systems. "Mainframe customers can now build tape-on-disk backup and archiving environments utilizing the Bus-Tech VTL family to provide consistent fast access to data, reduce batch processing times, provide superior availability and scalability, satisfy new regulatory requirements and enhance overall operational efficiency."

The Hitachi High-performance NAS Platform and Hitachi Content Archive Platform provide file and content storage services that complement Hitachi Data Systems’ services-oriented storage approach. Hitachi Data Systems’ Services Oriented Storage Solutions are built on a market-proven storage platform, which when combined with Hitachi’s controller-based storage Virtualization technology, can be easily deployed to externally attached, multi-vendor storage devices. Customers gain many measurable benefits including storage consolidation, improved utilization of assets, reduced TCO and a lower environmental footprint, across the enterprise.

The Bus-Tech MDL contains multiple independently operating tape-on-disk controllers that attach directly to the mainframe FICON or ESCON input/output channels. They use standard Gigabit Ethernet IP to attach to the Hitachi High-performance NAS and HTTP to Hitachi Content Archive Platform storage systems. To the mainframe they emulate 3480/3490/3590 tape drives, allowing mainframe-based applications to transparently store data by writing files to an emulated tape device.

"We are extremely pleased to be entering into this agreement with Hitachi Data Systems whose exceptional engineering, customer service and end-user reputation are well respected in the enterprise data center," stated Al Brandt, Bus-Tech’s President. "This agreement with Hitachi Data Systems further positions Bus-Tech as the industry standard for Virtual Tape Libraries in the mainframe environment."

With HNAS and HCAP, customers are able to complete batch processing in less time because physical tape handling is eliminated. Deploying backup and archive data locally or remotely on high availability storage arrays enhances business continuance and disaster recovery. Regulatory compliance requirements are satisfied with HCAP, enabling the replacement of aging optical and WORM tape technologies. Dramatically reduced footprints, elimination of cartridge consumption, lower maintenance costs, reduced electrical expenses and significantly reduced operator intervention combine to deliver unparalleled operational efficiencies.