Features - Storage Innovations:

StorageTek STRENGTHENS ITS VIRTUAL STORAGE MANAGER SYSTEM

Life in the data center is going to get a little easier and more cost effective with enhanced software from StorageTek.

StorageTek (Storage Technology Corp), a storage services and solutions expert, said the Expert Performance Reporter (ExPR) 4.1 software is a powerful tool designed to enhance its Virtual Storage Manager (VSM) virtual tape management system and optimize the value of customers' investments. With ExPR, StorageTek VSM customers are empowered with advanced performance reporting capabilities to monitor, to manage and to plan for all aspects of their MVS-based tape storage resources across the enterprise.

The ExPR software joins a strong lineup of best-in-class storage devices, enhanced management capabilities and replication solutions across online and off-line data storage environments. StorageTek's advanced VSM system helps companies manage and protect their critical data at a lowered cost of ownership with maximized tape utilization, automated data management, superior scalability and best-in-class reliability. Leveraging ExPR software with the VSM system enables customers to gather and analyze precise, timely information about tape usage and system performance.

Previously developed and supported by BRM and sold exclusively by StorageTek, ExPR software is an integral component to the comprehensive functionality delivered via StorageTek's VSM system. StorageTek purchased ExPR software from BRM in late 2001 and now independently develops and supports the product in-house. The acquisition of ExPR software has enabled StorageTek to engineer enhancements that fully unlock the power and value of ExPR software, ensuring that it meets StorageTek's stringent requirements for first-class reliability and performance.

As tape storage infrastructures grow increasingly complex and difficult to manage, administrators are often left to manage burgeoning data repositories reactively, identifying bottlenecks and resource allocation issues as they occur. With ExPR software, however, administrators can monitor and plan tape storage allocation to prevent bottlenecks and capacity shortages.

"This new and improved ExPR 4.1 is easier to install and more effective than ever before. VSM and ExPR working together are a tool that enables us to better monitor our VSM performance and make our capacity planning more efficient," said a representative of a large, U.S.-based retailer.

Providing real-time and historical tape performance reporting and trend analysis, ExPR software significantly simplifies tape storage management. Within the enterprise, the software is easy to use to manage virtual tape resources, Nearline and manual tape resources. ExPR software automatically collects performance data and generates standard and/or customizable reports for online viewing via a PC-based graphical user interface (GUI) or as hard copy, reducing the skill level and experience of the staff required to perform this key function.

Customers using ExPR software with their VSM systems can identify who is using what resources, when, and how efficiently. Administrators can identify peak utilization periods by storage component, pinpoint and alleviate bottlenecks before they become a problem. ExPR software automates the data management process and helps administrators plan and manage capacity requirements intelligently and reliably.

"With more than 850 customers using our industry-leading VSM system, we are committed to providing cost-effective, tape resource management solutions to help our customers control the chaos of data explosion," said Russell Kennedy, StorageTek director of software development. "ExPR software delivers the first-class reliability that customers have come to expect from StorageTek. The enhancements to the ExPR software for our VSM portfolio is an important milestone in our strategy to surpass customer expectations to enable seamless data protection at a lowered overall cost."

Pricing and Availability

The ExPR software for StorageTek's VSM system is available for MVS and starts at an Initial License Charge of $15,000 and a Monthly License Charge of $250 (base price). Price is listed in U.S. dollars.

About StorageTek

StorageTek, a $2 billion worldwide company with headquarters in Louisville, Colorado, delivers a broad range of storage solutions for digitized data. StorageTek solutions are easy to manage and allow universal access to data across servers, media types and storage networks. StorageTek is the innovator and global leader in virtual storage solutions for tape automation, disk storage systems and storage networking and is a voting member of the SNIA. Because of StorageTek, customers can manage and leverage their digital assets as their businesses grow and can maximiz e IT productivity to ensure enterprise-class business continuity. For more information, see www.storagetek.com, or call 800-786-7835.