ATL Enters NAS Arena with LANvault - Product Announcement

Computer Technology Review, Oct, 1999 by Robert Amatruda

ATL is embarking on a new course in the development of tape data storage solutions. LANvault is not a point product offering but represents a new class of tape-based NAS appliance. In the past, ATL has been traditionally a hardware-focused company that has developed and refined DLT tape libraries for backup and restore functions. However, the explosive growth of widely dispersed mission-critical data represents a sea change in the way organizations protect and manage data. LANvault represents a new approach for ATL to provide a solution for protecting higher value data that is typically dispersed in remote locations. ATL is offering a complete tape storage solution making integration into an existing network much less problematic.

The Highlights

LANvault is based on ATL's L200 Series autoloader that can accommodate one DLT4000 or one DLT7000 with 8 DLT cartridges providing 160GB or 280GB of native or uncompressed capacity, respectively. The L200 employs a 6 cartridge removable magazine with two additional tape cartridges housed inside the autoloader.

The autoloader coupled with a dedicated NT server attaches directly to the network through an Ethernet port. LANvault will come loaded with Veritas Backup Exec and Computer Associates ARCserveIT storage software packages.

LANvault provides single point administration through the LANvault Central Management Console. It enables centralized command and control of remote sites via a web-based application that runs on any NT workstation that is connected to the network. A single administrator can remotely manage backup software, OS and firmware of multiple LANvault appliances enterprise wide.

Further, ATL Products provides a customer service WEB portal called LANvault Customer Service Web for online registration, configuration management and communication. The portal allows remote site administrators to be notified via email of software, OS or firmware updates and upgrades. Users will be able to make online purchases as well.

The specs

LANvault will be offered in two configurations. An entry or value line with a DLT 4000 tape drive will be available immediately for $9,999. A performance version with a DLT 7000 tape drive will be $13,999. The entry LANvault will have a maximum native capacity of 160GB while the performance version will have 280GB of native capacity.

IDC has discovered the protection of growing mission-critical distributed data assets is a primary concern of IT managers in large Fortune 1000 companies. In addition, the cost of managing and maintaining end user data will continue to grow with increased labor costs, lack of skilled workers, and the difficulty retaining trained IT staff. In addition, the challenge for IT managers will be to provide continuous operation and access to end users in their organizations. LANvault will provide users with the ability to have a cost effective, plug and play tool to protect distributed data assets.

LANvault, by acting as a headless server, will provide increased functionality. LANvault will decrease the need for a server relegated for backups or an existing server will not have to be taken offline to attach a secondary storage device. In addition, LANvault will facilitate the aggregation of tape storage resources at remote and secondary locations. Instead of stand alone tape drives scattered across the organization a LANvault can serve as a storage repository with all benefits that removable media offers.

We believe LANvault will be particularly attractive to system integrators and Value Added Resellers (VARs). Both will spend less time on the deployment and integration of separate hardware components and more time on higher value added functions. ATL provides an optimized hardware and software solution.

The unique feature set that ATL builds into LANvault makes it an attractive solution for large Fortune 1000 customers. The LANvault Central Management Console provides centralized control and management. It insures that LANvault will not violate any network administration protocols. A single administrator can remotely manage backup software, OS and firmware of one or multiple LANvaults across the enterprise. The LANvault Customer Service Web Portal will allow ATL to have direct, real-time contact with their customers. The portal will allow ATL to deliver software and firmware upgrades as well as gain useful insights of LANvault customers. More importantly the WEB Portal will allow LANvault to be serviced and maintained remotely. This feature will help reduce additional man-hours.

The concept of coupling storage devices with servers and adding storage management software is not new. However existing solutions are focused on high end applications. We believe LANvault will answer a growing need for a NT based, easy to deploy, low cost storage solution in enterprise environments.

Robert Amatruda is senior analyst, tape and removable storage, at IDC (Framingham, MA).