2007-07-17: Archival – One For All: PoINT Archiver 2.0 Supports Hard Disk, Tape and Optical Media
Siegen/Köln. For the first time ever, the storage specialist PoINT Software & Systems GmbH attends the DMS Expo in Cologne. PoINT presents the new version 2.0 of PoINT Archiver on the Storage Forum, by which the DMS is expanded for the first time this year. PoINT Archiver archives files throughout the whole network with filters being determined by the user. Highlight of version 2.0 is Tiered Archive File System (PoINT TAFS). This will enable tiered archival using a variety of technologies and allowing a variety of configuration possibilities, e.g. the user can determine, how to proceed and which media to use. The user makes use of a very flexible technology by choosing the most adequate storage medium for the data to be stored – be it hard disk, tape or optical media. Safety is emphasized most: The software checks via a “digital fingerprint” whether data or storage media has been manipulated or not. An optional encrypting mechanism protects the archived against outside access. Thus, an optimum combination the advantages of removable media and the safety features of closed systems is offered.
PoINT Archiver offers the possibility of automated, secure and cost-effective archival even in times of steadily growing data volumes. By means of configurable filters the user defines which data is to be classified being relevant. The user even determines the media, on which the data shall be written. PoINT Archiver monitors directories network-wide and archives those file types on additional data systems (as archive images e.g. on NAS-hard disk), tape or optical which have been defined beforehand by specific filters. Replication on another storage medium protects the data additionally. The data archived on a file system can be replaced by a link (reparse point) on the primary system. This way, the occupied hard disk capacity as well as back-up and recovery times are reduced.
Defining Configurable Filters Identifying Those Files Which are to be Stored
Thanks to the filter feature, the user is in a position to define, which file types (e.g. office files) are to be stored during running mode and which are not (e.g. programme files). Basing on these parameters, PoINT Archiver periodically searches the network directories for relevant files, which are to be copied or migrated to the defined archive. Moreover, PoINT Archiver is able to identify modifications at files already archived in the source directory with defined criteria (e.g. archive bit, content) and afterwards archive an additional version of the file.
Revealing Manipulations
To find out whether storage media or files have been manipulated or not, PoINT Archiver examines them by implementing a “digital fingerprint”. It reveals the level of data integrity and it is stored in an encrypted form on each medium and in the database. Deleted or modified documents can be identified easily with this feature. An optional encrypting mechanism protects the archived data against outside access. By joining a system key and different archive keys it is ensured, that data on a storage medium is inaccessible for unauthorized persons outside the PoINT Archiver installation. By this, the advantages of removable media and the safety characteristics of closed systems are combined.
Research Archived Data
PoINT Archiver displays the structure of the archived data in the directory view similarly to the Windows Explorer. Information on files and name of the corresponding archive medium or image can be queried for every archived version. In case of retrieval or a file, a directory or a complete off-line archive, PoINT Archiver presents a list on the necessary media to be imported into the production system. Fully automatically, only the requested files will now be copied fully automatic into the specified target directory.
Available Versions
Especially for beginners, PoINT Software & Systems GmbH provides the option of “Archival Only” which already includes basic archival features. The version “Standard Archival and Retrieval” additionally allows reading data over CD/DVD/BD production systems and it supports implementation of hard disks. Even features, which proof data for their authenticity or encrypt them, respectively, can be licensed in addition from this level onwards.
Full functionality of the software will be provided when ordering the option “Tiered Archival”, which allows tiered archival with most different configurations by implementing PoINT Tiered Archive File System (PoINT TAFS). The user determines the level of security and availability per archive by the strategy and hardware applied. The configuration possibilities range from e.g. a simple USB-hard disk as archive medium up to mirrored volume sets in a jukebox with additional replication on a CD/DVD/BD production system. According to a recent study carried out by the market research institution Lünendonk, more than 69% of the major enterprises interviewed possess tiered storage systems. They benefit from low storage costs while simultaneously increasing data safety. PoINT Archiver offers them a strong software product which supports tiered archival reasonably.
About PoINT
PoINT Software & Systems GmbH, Siegen, is specialized in the development of software products and solutions for optical media (CD, DVD, MO, UDO, PDD, BD) and tape (z.B. AIT, LTO, DLT, StorageTek). Amongst complete solutions PoINT offers their know-how to companies in form of software-development-kits, which can be integrated effortless into other applications. Products made by PoINT are distributed worldwide in over 25 countries with the help of about 50 partners and they have proven well in more than 1,500,000 installations. The product portfolio ranges from writing and reproducing of CD/DVD/BDs with the help of professional audio- and video-recording to business critical network solutions, e.g. in the DMS-environment or in a complex storage environment, basing on automated systems (e.g. jukeboxes or CD/DVD/BD production systems) with optical media or magnetic tape.