The forthcoming 2U-high, Linux-based appliance will integrate FalconStor's IPStor software, which provides a range of storage services over heterogeneous SAN environments, with StorageTek's BladeStore ATA-based storage arrays (see StorageTek to Punch Into Disk Backup). The in-band appliance will be able to replicate data -- either synchronously or asynchronously -- from one type of disk at the primary site to another type at secondary or disaster recovery sites.
"This gives customers the flexibility to have something outside of the proprietary solutions," says Jay Seifert, StorageTek's disk product marketing manager.
The StorageTek/FalconStor appliance will join a growing number of fabric-based data replication products, designed in part to allow enterprises to move data off high-end disks at a primary site to a cheaper medium like ATA-based disk arrays or tape at a secondary site.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) are among those offering appliances in this area; and Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: BRCD) and Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) are developing switch-based technologies that provide such advanced storage services (see IBM Plays With Self (Virtually), V-Switch Alliances Take Shape, HP Opens Doors to CASA, and Brocade Reupholsters Rhapsody).
StorageTek and FalconStor concede that some enterprises that need to replicate business-critical data are likely to continue using high-end solutions from the likes of EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) and Hitachi Data Systems (HDS). They're betting, however, that the majority of companies will opt for a little lower performance at a much lower cost.
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