Features - Storage Innovations:

TOSHIBA, UNITRENDS DEVELOP SMALL FORM FACTOR DATA PROTECTION

Unitrends Corporation and Toshiba's Computer Systems Group (CSG) have announced a new version of Unitrends' Data Protection Unit (DPU) to the market. The new all-in-one hardware and software DPU will be sold by Toshiba's nationwide network of resellers, as well as Unitrends' reseller network throughout North America.

The small form factor DPU, which includes Unitrends' DPS software suite preloaded on the Toshiba Magnia Z310 server, is a compact package, taking up no more space than a standalone tape drive. It comes equipped with two hard disks installed with storage choices of 40 GB, 80 GB and 120 GB. The bundle also includes a third hard drive and carrying case for rotating offsite data backup. With a suggested retail price starting at $5,000 for the entire bundle, the new Toshiba/Unitrends DPU solution enables small and medium firms to economically use advanced disk-to-disk (D2D) technology. It also lets them take advantage of the DPU's hot-swappable hard disks, giving them the ability to protect corporate-critical data faster and more efficiently than with tape, while still providing for offsite protection. In addition, the unit is designed to serve as an ideal backup and crash recovery node for departmental and remote locations of companies of all sizes, when coupled with Unitrends' forthcoming block-based synchronization software.

"In less than a year on the market, the DPU has changed the way people think about backup and disaster recovery utilizing disk to disk based storage," said Jacques McCormack, Unitrends' President. "We've made data protection more affordable, easier to use and more complete in its ability to help businesses protect the information that keeps them in business. Joining with Toshiba gives us the opportunity to partner with a trusted name in the industry, and to vastly expand our reach."

The new DPU is bundled with Unitrends' DPS software suite, and Toshiba's Magnia Z310 server hardware. The software is installed on the server at the factory and preconfigured to enable users to back up to disk across more than 20 client operating systems, including virtually all of today's most popular business platforms. In the event of a crash, its bare metal recovery feature lets systems operators fully restore the client operating system in as little as 20 minutes, instead of the hours or days normally required, thereby saving companies significant time and money. They can also use the DPU to safeguard data residing on individual computers across the network.

"Toshiba CSG's mission is to bring products to market that deliver superior consumer value and enable mobility," said Bill Greenlund, Toshiba CSG's vice president of server product marketing. "The Magnia Z310, featuring the Unitrends data protection software suite, offers people an elegant solution that enables them to safeguard their data and their systems very economically and efficiently."