Spectra Logic emerges as high-performance leader; scaleability for "hot" restoration and backup of Oracle databases

Business Wire, Feb 5, 1997

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 1997--Based on published numbers from several backup software vendors, Spectra Logic Corp. has emerged as a clear performance leader in Oracle database backup and restoration.

In a series of demonstrations of both on-line and off-line backup, conducted at Digital Equipment's Database Technology Center in Palo Alto, Spectra Logic's Alexandria displayed consistently faster throughput and lower system resource utilization than any other participant.

Alexandria demonstrated the fastest on-line backup rate of 505 Gigabytes per hour, with less than 10% CPU utilization. Its restoration rate of 382 Gigabytes per hour at 30% CPU utilization was also the fastest published rate. These high-performance/low-CPU overhead numbers clearly demonstrate both backup and restoration of mission-critical, very-large databases can be achieved today -- making Alexandria an ideal solution for disaster recovery, as well as daily backup and recovery.

In addition to Spectra Logic's Alexandria, other software participants in the demonstration included OpenVision's Net*Backup, SCH's REELBackup and Legato's NetWorker. The results of the demonstration by each software provider are as follows: -0-

Backup:         Hot with EBU      Cold (offline)      solution

                GB/hour  CPU %    GB/hour  CPU %    GB/hour  CPU %

Spectra Logic     505    10%        542     3%        525     4%
OpenVision        504    44%        517    42%      -----  ----
SCH             ----- -----       ----- -----         497    11%
Legato            420    69%        367    63%      ----- -----


Hot Restore       2-Drives           4-Drives         12-Drives

                GB/hour  CPU %    GB/hour  CPU %    GB/hour  CPU %

Spectra Logic      78     4%        140     6%        382    30%
OpenVision         47    47%         52    64%      ----- -----
SCH                78*    4%*     ----- -----       ----- -----
Legato             40    10%        136    42%      ----- -----

* - proprietary, not EBU

--- = information not available or not applicable

Sources: Figures are public information published by the respective suppliers.

"More significant than just backing up data, is having the ability to quickly restore an enterprisewide database in a disaster recovery situation when every minute counts," said Rick Westerman, Program Director of Open Computing and Server Strategies with META Group, a recognized research firm in Stamford, Connecticut. "High- performance/low-CPU overhead restore and backup capabilities are among the important criteria that should be critically evaluated by customers when selecting a product."

Alexandria displayed unprecedented linear scaleability using one, two, four and twelve tape drives to perform the "hot" restoration of an Oracle7 database. Alexandria's low-CPU overhead leaves enough CPU headroom for restoration and backup throughput in excess of One- Terabyte-per-Hour in the demonstrated environment.

In addition to "hot" Oracle database backup through Alexandria's EBU support, Spectra Logic's COBRA (Comprehensive Online Backup and Recovery Agent) for Oracle option demonstrated 525 Gigabytes-per-hour throughput with only 4% CPU utilization. Customers have the flexibility to select the Alexandria/Oracle backup solution best suited for their operations.

"Alexandria's performance surpasses all previously measured benchmarks for backup and restoration of Oracle databases," said Nathan C. Thompson, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Spectra Logic. "Customers can use Alexandria today with the confidence it will meet their needs today and into the future."

A white paper with complete data and configuration information is available from Spectra Logic (www.spectralogic.com).

Spectra Logic Corporation is a leading provider of high-performance, enterprisewide backup and archival software for UNIX filesystems, database environments, and Internet Web Servers. Used by Fortune 1000 companies worldwide, Alexandria provides automated backup, sophisticated backup management, and complete reliability. In addition to Digital UNIX, Alexandria is available as a client and a server on more than 20 UNIX platforms and available through Spectra Partners or OEM partners (Sequent, Pyramid, and Encore).

Alexandria, the Alexandria logo and Spectra Logic logo are trademarks of Spectra Logic Corporation.

All other marks are property of their respective owners

CONTACT: Spetra Logic Corp., Boulder

John Kranz, 303/449-6400

jk@spectralogic.com

or

Metzger Associates, Boulder

John Metzger, 303/786-7000

jpm@metzger.com