What are Disk-Based Backups?

In disk-based backups, the backup target is a disk device. It is one of two primary means of electronic data backup and storage solutions; the other is tape backup.

Why do you need it?

The principal reasons for data backup solutions are data restoration, disaster recovery and compliance with government regulations.

Backup to disks has several advantages over tape for data backup:

• Writing to disk is significantly faster than writing to a tape.
• Disks do not suffer media failures, are less fragile than tapes and last longer.
• Disks are simpler to manage; an IT employee can configure settings and check status from anywhere.
• When you factor in the initial investment in a tape drive, the tapes, and the lifespan of each type of media plus administrative overhead, disk-based backup may be more cost-effective than tape.

A relatively new type of data backup is nearline storage. Nearline drives are a component of a three-tiered backup strategy to store large amounts of data before moving them to tape backup. Nearline drives are a less expensive but reliable way to minimize downtime for tape backups.

What are the difficulties?

Disk-based backups have traditionally had some disadvantages:

• Backup to a SAN disk array can be faster than tape, but is not optimized for backup data performance and can be complex to manage as a backup target.
• Disks are subject to fragmentation, which further degrades performance.
• Some backup software products don't back up to file systems as well as they back up to tapes.
• Software-based compression can slow performance by as much as 50%.
• Backup to a NAS disk can be simpler but is much slower and costs more.

How can we help?

Overland offers two disk-based backup solutions. The REO SERIES® disk-based backup and recovery appliances provides the ultimate in speed, flexibility, features and value for small to midsized organizations. While our ULTAMUS® RAID nearline storage arrays deliver enterprise-class features, built-in data protection, and simplified capacity management.

Overland Storage's REO SERIES Disk Backup and Recovery Appliances, and data backup solutions solve the challenges of storage management by providing fast, reliable data backup and recovery:

• Backup performance is optimized through flexible configuration as a virtual tape library (VTL), stand-alone virtual tape drive and/or disk volumes (LUN).
• The REO SERIES is compatible with all popular open systems or Windows-based backup software, physical tape drives or tape libraries, and is easy to connect to Ethernet (iSCSI) or Fibre Channel networks for seamless integration into existing backup environments.
• Configuration as virtual tape, where data is written sequentially and in large blocks, provides fast, reliable disk backup and recovery operations.
• Patented (pending) Dynamic Virtual Tape (DVT) technology automatically sizes virtual tape cartridges to match the capacity of the backup operation.
• Virtual tape library (VTL) provides user-definable virtual tape library drives, cartridges and partitions.
• REO® Protection OS™ embeds data protection intelligence to deliver a core set of volume and device virtualization, management and connectivity features.
• REO® Multi-SitePAC™ software automates remote backup and centralizes data management and monitoring.

Overland Storage's ULTAMUS RAID nearline storage arrays are a new breed of storage solutions that provide the advanced features, performance and flexibility to make IT department’s as efficient and dynamic as the businesses they support:

• Enterprise-class features, built-in data protection, and simplified capacity management
• Configuration flexibility through Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) architecture plus continuous availability through dual active/active controllers, fully redundant critical components and a cableless design
• Scalability from 3TB up to drives and 96TB, making it practical to start small and add capacity as your storage capacity requirements grow

Overland Storage products provide excellent data backup and storage solutions, such as disk based backups.

Get more information

Get more information on how Overland Storage can help your Disk-Based Backup needs. Request Product Information or Contact a Product Specialist