IBM ProtecTier Implementation and Best Practices Guide

Chapter 1. ProtecTIER basics 11

򐂰 Do not share LUNs with other applications or systems. Use zoning and LUN masking to

isolate the TS7650G from other systems.

򐂰 Avoid using SATA disks for metadata. Fibre Channel or SAS disks (15 K rpm) are wanted

and result in improved performance.

The general concept of a back-end disk storage configuration is described in IBM System

Storage TS7600 with ProtecTIER Version 3.1, SG24-7968. The best practices of how to get

the maximum performance from your ProtecTIER product with the existing disk storage

subsystem are described in Part 2, “Back-end storage subsystems” on page 101.

1.3 ProtecTIER models for open systems

In this section, we provide an overview of the existing models of ProtecTIER servers on the

market. We do not go in to all the technical details. For more technical details and

comprehensive information about each model, see IBM System Storage TS7600 with

ProtecTIER Version 3.1, SG24-7968 or go to:

http://www.ibm.com/systems/storage/tape/midrange/virtual.html

1.3.1 ProtecTIER appliances

The IBM System Storage TS7600 ProtecTIER Appliances are delivered to clients with

already attached and pre-configured disk storage subsystems with a specific capacity.

IBM System Storage TS7620 ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance

Express

Available in two configuration options, the IBM System Storage TS7620 ProtecTIER

Deduplication Appliance Express (model 3959-SM2) is an integrated server and storage

hardware platform that ships with IBM ProtecTIER deduplication software preinstalled. With

an available repository capacity 5.4 or 11 TB, the appliance is targeted at small or medium

business backup environments. Clients can choose between VTL configuration, OST, or the

newly available File System Interface (FSI), which supports Common Internet File System

(CIFS) as a backup target.

The ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance Express is shown in Figure 1-2.

Figure 1-2 TS7620 Appliance Express

12 IBM ProtecTIER Implementation and Best Practices Guide

The product features and hardware summary include:

򐂰 VTL, OST, or FSI-CIFS support

򐂰 A single 3U integrated appliance in 5.4 TB and 11 TB physical capacities

򐂰 For VTL/CIFS Performance up to:

– 145 MBps backup

– 190 MBps restore

򐂰 OST Performance up to:

– 130 MBps backup

– 170 MBps restore

򐂰 Plug and Play installation

򐂰 One LSI MegaRAID card and battery backup and six 8 GB memory DIMMs (a total of 48

GB of memory)

򐂰 One-to-One, Many-to-One, and Many-to-Many replication feature

IBM System Storage TS7650 ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance

The IBM System Storage TS7650 ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance (machine type

3958-AP1) is a preconfigured solution of IBM storage products, IBM servers, and the IBM

ProtecTIER data deduplication software designed to improve backup and recovery

operations, including remote replication with disaster recovery functions.

The solution is available in four configurations (7 TB, 18 TB, 36 TB, or 36 TB dual nodes

cluster) designed to meet the disk-based data protection needs of various organizations, from

mid-sized IT environments to enterprise data centers.

Upgrading your appliance: With ProtecTIER Version 3.2, the TS7620 Appliance Express

(SM2) can replace the IBM System Storage TS7610 ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance

Express (SM1). For a comparison of the two appliances, see IBM System Storage TS7610

and TS7620 ProtecTIER Deduplication Appliance Express V3.2, User and Maintenance

Guide, GA32-0916.

Chapter 1. ProtecTIER basics 13

Figure 1-3 shows a fully equipped TS7650 Appliance.

Figure 1-3 TS7650 Appliance

The TS7650 Appliance offers the following features:

򐂰 Emulation of up to 12 virtual libraries, 256 virtual drives, and 128,000 virtual cartridges

when in a cluster configuration.

򐂰 Up to 500 MBps or more inline data deduplication performance.

򐂰 VTL (IBM TS3500), OST, or FSI-CIFS support.

򐂰 One-to-One, Many-to-One, and Many-to-Many replication support disaster recovery.

򐂰 Preconfigured with an IBM System Storage DS5020 storage subsystem as a repository.

1.3.2 ProtecTIER deduplication gateways

IBM ProtecTIER Deduplication Gateway products offer clients the capability to use their

existing IBM or third-party disk storage subsystems and SAN infrastructure. For a list of

supported disk storage subsystems, see TS7650/TS7650G ISV and Interoperability Matrix at:

http://www.ibm.com/systems/storage/tape/resources.html

In this section, we provide a brief overview that describes the available gateways.