BridgeHead Modified its BH FileStore File Archiving Software

BridgeHead Software has modified its BH FileStore file archiving software to enable resellers to offer it as an easy-to-install ‘front end’ for migrating data onto a variety of intelligent storage appliances. The list of appliances for which the product is certified includes EMC’s Centera, ProStor Systems’ InfiniVault, Plasmon’s UDO Archive Appliance and Data Domain’s DDOS release (Data Domain Operation system).

"There’s a growing number of intelligent storage appliances out there which help users store and manage data more efficiently, compliantly or securely. Resellers of these appliances need to give customers an easy way of migrating target data onto them and so we’ve customized BH FileStore to more effectively do the job. It can now be sold as a dedicated fast install, ‘front end’ for moving file data onto appliances," said Steve Matheson, Vice President of North American Sales, BridgeHead Software

"For users the product is an alternative to having to migrate data manually to appliances or to create software to redirect their applications to write data exclusively to them. For resellers it’s a way of offering a more rounded solution to customers when selling appliances – and an additional source of revenue," adds Matheson.

BH FileStore can be configured to select files from the storage attached to a network according to pre-defined policies and automatically move them onto a nominated appliance. BridgeHead has made this software product quicker to install by removing a number of features that are more suited to performing archiving and data management processes across a range of distinct storage media and devices within an organization. These features which benefit companies where different storage media is used across different departments are put back and made available in the enterprise version of the product.

All data is fully indexed by BH FileStore before it is moved onto an appliance and this new version of the product includes an updated web based user interface which provides a user friendly method of viewing and searching the data which has been placed in the appliance. Data is indexed and searchable by content and attribute.

"One of the advantages of indexing the data before it’s moved to an appliance is that it makes it easier to identify and recover your data if in the longer term you decide to move it elsewhere. In effect you’re not locked in to a specific appliance which may suit your needs now, but may not do in years to come," explained Matheson

BridgeHead’s software can also be configured to compress and encrypt data before passing it to an appliance. Data can be validated as authentic when it is recalled by using a unique file-specific digital finger print. These features are targeted at the increasing numbers of resellers and customers who need to address security and regulatory compliance issues.

BridgeHead is addressing the requirements of customers and its sales channel by developing a whole range of customized products for specific data types. These are being finalized for launch over the coming months. So in addition to BH FileStore which focuses on moving unstructured file data onto appliances, BridgeHead now provides BH PACStore for specialist PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications Systems) medical image data and SharePoint for ShareStore Data. An Email tailored data management product is soon to follow.