CommVault Systems Completes New Storage Management Architecture to Meet Current and Future Enterprise Data Protection Requirements - software for management storage area networks - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Jan 31, 2000

CommVault Systems, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise storage management solutions for client/server environments, Thursday announced completion of a unique architecture that is a clear advancement over early storage management solutions by viewing data logically, rather than physically. By focusing on the type of data being protected, rather than only on where that data is stored, CommVault's architecture inherently supports any storage model, including storage area networks (SANs), network attached storage (NAS), or existing LAN-based infrastructures. As a result, the architecture offers unprecedented flexibility and scalability, providing enterprises with an easy way to leverage existing storage media investments while offering a path to seamlessly migrate to future storage models--without needing to "bolt on" any additional solutions.

"Built from the ground up over the last 18 months, CommVault's new architecture raises the bar for the entire storage management industry," says Bob Hammer, the company's Chairman, president, and CEO. "With its unique approach to data management, this architecture empowers CommVault to create easily installed and managed, heterogeneous storage management software solutions enterprises need now and into the future."

All other storage management architectures today take a hardware-centric view of storage and were originally designed to work only in LAN-based environments. As a result, to support new SAN and NAS models where data is not always linked to a specific storage device, they must rely on separate "add-on" products that increase complexity and make those solutions more difficult to manage. CommVault's new architecture, by comparison, was developed from a data-centric perspective, and views all data it protects logically so it streamlines overall management for all storage models through a unified, easy-to-use, java-based console. In short, this is the first architecture that provides all the functionality of a robust, enterprise class storage management solution while eliminating the need for users to understand the complexity of the hardware infrastructure that underlies this solution.

At the heart of the new architecture are three software modules. The first is a command and control module that houses the metadata catalog. It provides intelligence functions, like logical storage policies, and GUI services. The second module consists of intelligent indexing and data mover components. By distributing the data indexing and data mover components close to the storage it manages, this approach allows the architecture to scale to handle unprecedented data volumes. The third module interfaces with application data to ensure referential integrity during backup and restore and serves as the head end of the data stream. Together these modules create a storage management solution that is easily adaptable to changing storage models. The architecture makes it possible, for example, for an enterprise to add NAS or SAN to existing LAN-based storage systems without making any fundamental modifications to their storage management software. All three storage models can then be managed through a single software console to facilitate enterprise management of all storage resources.

The architecture was also designed to streamline implementation, supporting an out-of-the-box auto-configuration capability that lets the user begin protecting their data within minutes. The architecture will enable modifications to be made to this initial configuration simply, through a point-and-click interface that eliminates keyboard entry and the potential for human errors.

"CommVault's new architecture will be the foundation for a next generation storage management solution that will address both current and future storage management needs of all enterprises," Hammer says. "Look for an announcement about that product in the very near future."

CommVault Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in providing enterprise-wide storage management solutions for client/server environments. The company's singular focus is creating and implementing fast, reliable, and easy-to-use storage management solutions to meet customer's data management requirements. The company's software products seamlessly ensure the reliable, rapid restoration of files, business-critical applications, and today's most popular databases. Information on CommVault is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.commvault.com or by calling (732) 870-4000. CommVault's corporate headquarters is located in Oceanport, New Jersey in the United States.