| Q1. |
What is the storage array? Can I use my own array with the HP StorageWorks 6000 Virtual Library System? |
| A1. |
The HP StorageWorks 6000 Virtual Library System utilizes the HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array 20 Enclosure for its storage. Each shelf holds twelve 500 GB or 750 GB SATA HDDs. No, you can't use your own array. The VLS6000 has been specifically tuned for the sequential reads and writes that are the backbone of backup and recovery. Additionally, the virtualization is tied to the LUN configuration to ensure that there are no “hot spots” in the array.
If you have additional HP Modular Smart Array 20 (MSA20) enclosures with 250, 500 or 750 GB hard disk drives on site, it is possible to purchase an upgrade license to attach those MSA20 units to the VLS6000.
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| Q2. |
What is Accelerated Deduplication? |
| A2. |
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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| Q3. |
Can I partially populate the HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array 20 Enclosure (MSA20)? |
| A3. |
No. The VLS6000 Virtual Library System requires 12 drives per shelf. It automatically configures the LUNs and RAID sets based on a full enclosure to optimize performance and reliability. |
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| Q4. |
Will enabling compression affect the performance of my HP StorageWorks 6000 Virtual Library System? |
| A4. |
Yes on the VLS6200, like all virtual tape products that use software compression, enabling this feature will reduce the performance of the VLS6200 by up to 50%. The VLS6600 uses a hardware compression card that allows the data to be compressed without affecting the performance. |
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| Q5. |
How does my backup software vendor license the HP StorageWorks 6000 Virtual Library System? |
| A5. |
Each backup software package is licensed differently. Some vendors have chosen to license on a “per TB” basis while others license as if the virtual devices were real. For details, contact your backup software vendor. |
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| Q6. |
Does the HP StorageWorks 6000 Virtual Library System emulate non-HP devices? |
| A6. |
The VLS6000 emulates HP tape libraries, HP Ultrium tape drives, and Quantum DLT/SDLT tape drives. These libraries and drives are supported by all major backup software packages. |
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| Q7. |
What is Automigration? |
| A7. |
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 anther 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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| Q8. |
Is there additional support required for the Accelerated deduplication software feature? |
| A8. |
Yes, an optional service care pack is available and recommended to provide additional support for the Accelerated deduplication feature. |
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| Q9. |
How do I know what backup ISV’s are supported with Accelerated deduplication? |
| A9. |
Since Accelerated deduplication is an object-level differencing solution each backup application must be tested order to have support for deduplicated 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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| Q10. |
How does the VLS6000 attach to my hosts? |
| A10. |
The VLS6000 is a Fibre Channel device. It may be attached to hosts either through a SAN or directly connected to the Fibre Channel HBA in the back of the server. At this time, the HP 6000 Virtual Library System does not support iSCSI. |
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