North American Systems
International
Where Innovation
Meets Solutions
North American Systems
International
Where Innovation
Meets Solutions
Providing fast data synchronization of storage volumes over IP networks eliminates the distance limitations required from traditional fibre-based methods of remote off-site data replication. This automated FRDS (fast remote data synchronization) feature enables off-site data replication for applications like disaster recovery, site migration, and electronic vaulting.
Working with the Snapshot Group feature, you can allow drives to be group for snapshot synchronization, and with the Snapshot Agents, ensure transactional integrity. The integrity and usability of the replicated data from the virtual or physical disk is ensured by taking only the replicated data and placing it onto a reserved area, and only committing it after all the data from the primary IPStor appliance has been received.
In addition, this feature utilizes incremental backup technology to save on bandwidth usage and reduce data backup synchronization times. This works by setting up the replication channel between the main and remote IPStor servers, and doing an initial data synchronization prior to the scheduled synchronization. You can choose to synchronize the primary and replica disks as soon as the initial replication configuration is complete. Or, for large data sets, scan both the primary and replica disks to determine the amount of data (block-level differences) to be synchronized. These methods of synchronization allows for peak-time data backups, with no additional load to the application server, eliminating the backup window altogether, and allowing for the immediate recovery of files and records.
As part of a Continuous Nearline Backup solution, the Remote Replication Option works in concert with the TimeMark Option to deliver disaster-protected full, incremental, or differential policy-driven backups to low-cost disk, without backup software. The Remote Replication Option provides this extra layer of protection by enabling delta snapshots to be taken of replica data at a remote site (centralized data center or disaster recovery site). There is no impact to application servers, making “on-peak” backups of live data possible; the issue of the backup window is altogether eliminated and recovery of individual files/records or volumes is immediate.
This policy-based replication agent can be scheduled to synchronize based on time of day, or in time increments, or based on the amount of data that has changed. So, if one of these “watermarks” is reached, the snapshot isolated the data to be replicated, ensuring data validity for a period of time rather than copying data as changes are being made, and further loading your application servers with “write” commands. This is particularily useful for DataBases or Messaging Systems replication.
If a storage failure does occur, the off-site replica volumes can instantly be accessed via IP, drastically reducing downtime, and allows for easy re-synching of data when the primary storage is brought back online, allowing for seamless return to normal replication patterns.
The costs of replication add up quickly when you have to buy multiple replication agents and HBAs to convert FC to IP. The IPStor storage servers are independent of application servers, networking protocols, and operating system platforms. You don't need to have matching file and application servers at the remote site, unless you are creating a hot standby scenario. This approach to remote replication of your important data simplifies and consolidates the process.
North American Systems has been providing IT solutions, sevices and hardware for over 15 years.
If you want learn more about what we can do for your IT, please contact us at 800-927-7474, or send us an email at sales@nasi.com to get in touch with one of our experienced account executives.
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