VERTICES LOGS REMOVABLE TAPES AND MEDIA FROM VERITAS NETBACKUP ENVIRONMENTS
NEEDHAM, Mass. - March 19, 2001 - B&L Associates, Inc., a leader in open systems media/tape management, today announced that its Vertices® media management system now integrates with VERITAS' NetBackup DataCenter backup and recovery solution to provide seamless control of removable media through automatic tape logging. This new logging capability enables system administrators to manage the data on hundreds to thousands of tapes across the enterprise on all major platforms and databases.
B&L, which is a VERITAS Vplus development partner, has designed a Vertices Automation Agent™ to leverage NetBackup's data protection capabilities and extend them to include Vertices' comprehensive removable media management environment. Vertices support for NetBackup follows recent similar announcements for Legato NetWorker, Hewlett-Packard Omniback II, VERITAS Backup Exec and Computer Associates ARCserve. By working with these backup applications, Vertices maximizes business continuity, enabling customers to implement complete disaster recovery solutions.
"NetBackup addresses the challenge of internal data protection and backup in mixed operating system environments," said Michael Kramer, vice president of sales and marketing at B&L. "Vertices extends this safety and control to the tapes once they are removed from online and near online devices. By building a Vertices Automation Agent for NetBackup, Vertices creates a unified environment that gives system administrators ultimate control of vault and retention management throughout the tapes' lifecycle."
Tape Management for Mission-Critical Applications
Due to massive growth in the amount of data produced today, companies experience grave difficulties managing their storage media (primarily tape). In addition, while data management requirements are increasing, fewer people are available to manage such workloads. Vertices provides the security and efficiency needed to manage such demands and control an organization's entire media library. Vertices also satisfies stringent disaster recovery requirements, and minimizes demands on staff resources while maximizing control.
Vertices comprehensively addresses all media management issues, including vault management, inventory control, retention management and media tracking throughout the media's life cycle. Vertices indicates what servers are being backed up and notifies the administrator if any backups have failed, which helps prevent potentially catastrophic missed backups, regardless of the number or type of backup servers being used. With two-tiered security and full audit capabilities, a system manager can install one Vertices database and use it throughout the entire organization creating a true enterprise-wide application.
Vertices also provides organizations with complete inventory control. A user can take snapshots of the Vertices database at any particular date and time, then scan remote tapes with a batch scanner and upload the information to the Vertices system. Vertices' reports alert users when media are sent inappropriately to a site or have been mis-filed. The system also provides a detailed Journal of all activities, simplifying both internal and external audits.
Other features include parent/child relationships, replace lists, scratchpool support, comprehensive reporting capabilities, label modules, and more. All Vertices information can be found on the product's website at www.vertices.net.
The Vertices Software Suite
Vertices delivers a complete suite of solutions that addresses the media management needs of today's ever-changing IT environment. In addition, Vertices extends data protection beyond traditional backup applications. Vertices' modules are grouped strategically into solution areas to offer maximum flexibility in customizing a media management solution that meets the specific needs of the environment.
- Vertices Core Module provides essential media management for the open-system enterprise. Features include flexible retention periods and optional movement specifications, vault control and inventory management, two-tiered security and comprehensive reporting.
- Vertices Automation Module™ interfaces with commonly used backup applications including Backup Exec, NetWorker, Omniback II, ARCserve and now, NetBackup to automatically log and then track backup media.
- Vertices Bar Code Scanning Module simplifies media logging onsite as well as at remote storage areas. Scanning media bar codes ensures accurate input for the Vertices database, speeds the logging process, and enables operators to quickly reconcile database information with the physical media.
- Vertices LabelWriter Module allows users to print whatever information the tape labels require for quick access to media information.
About B&L Associates, Inc.
B&L Associates, established in 1975, is a global leader in data center solutions. The company offers a full suite of data center operations automation products and storage management solutions for open and legacy environments. B&L, with installations in 26 countries, serves some of the world's leading organizations, including Arthur Andersen, Qualcomm, and Weyerhauser Company. For further information, contact B&L at 877-VERTICES (877-837-8423), the corporate website at www.bandl.com, or the Vertices website located at www.vertices.net.
B&L and Vertices are trademarks of B&L Associates, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Editors - for further information contact:
L.J. DiCarlo
B&L Associates, Inc.
781/444-1404
ljdicarlo@bandl.com
Sandy McLaughlin
Soucy Communications Group
978/266-1700
sandym@scg-pr.com
