| Q1. |
Does the HP StorageWorks VLS12000 EVA Gateway require dedicated arrays and switches? |
| A1. |
No. The VLS12000 EVA Gateway can utilize a partition of an HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) and existing switches. Best practice is to fully dedicate an individual EVA array to the VLS12000 EVA Gateway as there may be performance conflicts when both are running together. Existing SAN switches may also be used. It is best practice to utilize zoning to isolate the connections serving the VLS12000 EVA Gateway. For more information see the solutions guide at http://h71028.www7.hp.com/ERC/downloads/4AA1-7075ENW.pdf |
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| Q2. |
Does the HP StorageWorks 12000 Virtual Library System EVA Gateway support multi-path to the EVAs? |
| A2. |
Yes. Multi-path is supported and required for the VLS12000 EVA Gateway. |
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| Q3. |
Can I configure the HP StorageWorks 12000 Virtual Library System EVA Gateway base system with less than 50 TB? Can the HP StorageWorks 12000 Virtual Library System EVA Gateway add additional storage without adding additional nodes? |
| A3. |
Yes. The base system comes with 50 TB of licenses (25 LUNs) enabled. You may choose to utilize as many of those LUNs as you wish. Yes. Additional storage may be added in 2 TB increments (1 LUN) by purchasing the capacity license. |
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| Q4. |
What is Accelerated Deduplication? |
| A4. |
Accelerated deduplication is an object-level differencing data deduplication technology that has the following characteristics. It is a “content aware” technology where an understanding of the backup application is required. It can then recognize the tape cartridge format, remove the tape headers and actually compare at an object-level the same files and objects from different backups. It identifies the files and objects that have changed and then does a byte-level comparison between the old and new file and only stores the unique data that has changed. Accelerated deduplication is a post-process application so the deduplication process does not start until the backup has completed writing to disk. This provides the fastest possible backups. Accelerated deduplication uses pointer chains pointing backwards so that the most recent backup is always kept in tact. This provides the fastest possible restores for the most recent backups (which typically are around 60% of customer restores). |
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| Q5. |
How does the HP StorageWorks 12000 Virtual Library System EVA Gateway capacity licensing work? |
| A5. |
The licensing is based on the number of LUNs presented to the VLS12000 EVA Gateway. Capacities are specified assuming that each LUN is 2 TB. |
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| Q6. |
Is there additional support required for the Accelerated deduplication feature? |
| A6. |
Yes, an optional service care pack is available and recommended to provide additional support for the Accelerated deduplication feature |
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| Q7. |
How do I know what backup ISV’s are supported with Accelerated deduplication? |
| A7. |
Since Accelerated deduplication is an object-level differencing solution it must be tested and support the backup application in order to deduplicate data. Check the EBS website for the latest Accelerated deduplication supported backup ISVs and data types http://www.hp.com/go/ebs |
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| Q8. |
What is "Automigration”? |
| A8. |
Automigration is a separate tab in the VLS GUI that allows you to copy cartridge data (under the control of VLS policy management) from VLS to another VLS or tape library. There are two types of automigration – “echo copy” and “smart copy”. Echo copy is a mirror copy between VLS and another VLS or tape drive. In this case the cartridge bar codes are the same – the copy is made under the control of the VLS, not the backup copy. It is made in native tape format so that a restore can be done from tape on any tape drive that the backup application has visibility to. Since the control of the copy is done through VLS – there is no licensing of the target device required by the backup application. However, if the copy process fails, the backup application has no visibility to it and therefore action must be taken through the VLS GUI. Smart copy is the same as echo copy with one key difference. Echo copy takes advantage of the SMI-S 1.3 industry standard and therefore the backup application can manage the copy process (even though VLS implements the actual copy). Unique bar codes are created for the duplicate copy and therefore the backup application is able to track the move. Automigration will be further enhanced to support low bandwidth replication when it becomes available in late 2008. |
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| Q9. |
What steps are required to update my VLS12000 to support accelerated deduplication? |
| A9. |
First, the ProLiant server must be upgraded from 4 GB to 16 GB (detailed information in sku). Second, the configuration need to be validated to make sure that it is a supported configuration and that the backup application is supported. Third, VLS firmware 3.0 must be downloaded over the web. The EBS website and a VLS sizing and firmware download website need to be accessed (http://www.hp.com/go/ebs.). |
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