EMC Data Domain Global Deduplication Array Up to 26TB/Hour

EMC Corporation announced the most significant array of disk-based backup advancements in the history of the company.

Taken in sum, these new products, system enhancements, integration initiatives and performance gains substantially alter the existing landscape for backup and recovery. The new EMC Data Domain Global Deduplication Array (GDA) incorporates two of the new EMC Data Domain DD890 controllers, making the GDA the world’s fastest deduplication storage system.

EMC also announced that the GDA now supports the EMC Data Domain Virtual Tape Library software option, which expands the number of supported backup applications including IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM).

New high-end Data Domain DD890 and DD860 single controller systems also eclipse the throughput of competing solutions by up to a factor of 8. In addition, Data Domain systems now natively support and can protect IBM Power systems using the IBM i operating environment as yet another shared work load across the majority of the product line. Finally, EMC also announced the EMC Data Domain Archiver, a long term retention system for backup and archive (see separate press release).

Background and Market Landscape
Within a fixed backup window, throughput performance dictates a backup deduplication storage system’s useable capacity. Regardless of how much raw storage a disk-based backup system may provide, its actual usable capacity correlates to the amount of data the system can ingest within the available backup window. With its latest announcement, EMC has proven its ability to extend the performance characteristics of its backup systems and deliver a balance of performance and capacity that is suited to solve customer problems.

EMC’s new products and expansion of support for additional application environments create opportunities for users to holistically address the range of their data protection initiatives. Enterprise environments typically have a variety of system and workload types to protect, which often lead to multiple backup approaches. EMC’s scope of integrated disk-based backup systems eliminates silos of redundant processes as well as associated cost and management complexities.

Product Highlights and Performance

• Data Domain Global Deduplication Array (GDA) – Faster throughput of up to 26.3 TB/hr (7,300 MB/s) gives the GDA an ingest rate that is more than 7 times faster than its dual-controller competitor. Logical capacity of up to 28.5 PB and new VTL over Fibre Channel support extends the application of the GDA to a broader set of large enterprise environments.
• Data Domain DD890 and DD860 Systems – With throughput of up to 14.7 and 9.8 TB/hr respectively, the new DD890 and DD860 systems are the fastest single controller deduplication storage systems available in their respective classes. Logical capacity for the DD890 is up to 14.2 PB, and up to 7.1 PB for the DD860.
• Native Data Domain Support for IBM i Operating Environments – With up to 8.1 TB/hr of throughput, EMC delivers inline deduplication storage for IBM i operating environments. Seamless integration for the IBM Power product line enables network-based disaster recovery and simultaneous protection for IBM i and open systems environments on a single Data Domain system.

"If there was ever a question that inline data deduplication storage systems could scale to meet the needs of the largest enterprises, the new Data Domain Global Deduplication Array should conclusively put those doubts to rest. In fact, the entire high end of the EMC Data Domain line just massively scaled in both performance and capacity. In terms of overall backup throughput and breadth of enterprise market applications, it seems EMC has clearly pulled away from the pack," said David A. Chapa, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group.

"With this announcement, EMC is clearly executing on its product development strategies while continuing to drive the agenda for the backup market on behalf of its customers. The breadth of offerings and level of product integration in EMC’s disk-based backup portfolio offers an unmatched set of capabilities and enables users of EMC backup and recovery solutions to transform their legacy infrastructure and further minimize the use of tape. Today, nearly all of those offerings took another giant step forward in terms of both scale and scope, further separating EMC from its competition," said Shane Jackson, Vice President of Marketing, EMC Backup Recovery Systems Division.

Availability
New Data Domain GDA, DD890 and DD860 deduplication storage systems are available immediately. VTL support for the GDA and IBM i support are also available via the EMC Data Domain Virtual Tape Library software option.