POWER SAVING MAID-VTL Solutions

What is MAID (Massive Array of Idle Disks)

The basic concept of MAID or Massive Array of Idle Disks is to use a very large number of disk drives that provide large capacity, high volumetric density, and to spin the discs down when idle for a predetermined time. MAID technology is ideally suited to cost effectively address long-term data storage requirements and operates on the principle that when long-term is stored on disk, all disks need to spin all the time. Instead, disks are powered on only when needed. MAID combines the reliablity and performance of disk with the scale and affordability of tape.  

What is VTL (Virtual Tape Library)

A VTL, or Virtual Tape Library, is an archival backup solution that combines traditional tape backup methodology with low-cost disk technology to create an optimized backup and recovery solution.  It is an intelligent disk-based library that emulates traditional tape devices and tape formats. Acting like a tape library with the performance of modern disk drives, data is deposited onto disk drives just as it would onto a tape library, only faster. Virtual tape backup solutions can be used as a secondary backup stage on the way to tape, or as their own standalone tape library solution. A VTL generally consists of a Virtual Tape appliance or server and software which emulates traditionaltape devices and formats.

Itiso Combine the Best of Both Worlds - MAID and VTL

Itiso's MAID VTL storage offerings integrates both MAID and a virtual tape library interface. In a virtual tape library environment with MAID, faster restore time, significantly reduction in backup time, significant savings in power and large reductions in generated heat can be achieved. This is a concept that makes common sense because most typical full backup jobs execute on an average of 5-10 hours within 24 hours period of time. This concept operates under the premise that when long-term data is stored on disks control by virtual tape library software, it is not practical to reduce the service lifetime of those disks by spinning all of them all the time because on most situation the data is only written once, and seldom or rarely accessed. 

In summary, Itiso's MAID-VTL concept is very straigthtforward and that is to turn on only those particular disks that are needed for a specific action, and then turn them off again when they are not needed. In that sense, it is similar to how you use your car. It is turned off when not needed, which extends the service life of the engine and tires, plus saves on gasoline.   
       
Itiso currently offers a Standard and Enterprise edition running MAID VTL architecture.