Data Backup Digest

The BlackPearl Deep Storage Gateway, based on a mass tape physical architecture, is a cost-effective and efficient way of ensuring long-term data storage and retention in the 21st century. Capable of storing exabytes of data, users of Spectra Logic’s BlackPearl Deep Storage Gateway are able to enjoy unlimited data storage and access for mere pennies per gigabyte.

While the basic features of BlackPearl Deep Storage Gateway are attractive enough, the service is also backed by a dedicated team of IT engineers, researchers and developers. Evidence of this can be seen in the recent upgrade to their service, which adds increased restoration options, full tape eject support, automatic backups of object databases, support for TS1150 tape drives, a doubling of tape cache capacity and number of support hard drives and increased throughput performance across the board.

BlackPearl’s new features, combined with the implementation of HTTP commands for data management, make for an incredibly comprehensive and multifaceted solution for managing long-term, tape-based data archives. Using the command set of DS3, an extension of S3, users are now seeing increased options for the transfer of massive amounts of data, greater workflow efficiency and more.

Spectra Logic’s DS3 Browser, which is also an open source project, is available for free. The program mimics FTP functionality by giving users the option of dragging and dropping files between their local machines and BlackPearl’s remote servers. Moreover, the DS3 Browser’s source code is available to all of their customers, thereby allowing for specific customization and development. As such, IT managers and officials are given much more control of their company’s data archival strategies than ever before.

Jeff Braunstein, developer evangelist with Spectra Logic, spoke about the increased accessibility and user-friendliness of the recent improvements. He was quoted as saying: “Spectra Logic has entered a new phase in our company’s long history of deep storage expertise. We are now making it easier to store data on our hardware by providing this free and open software interface to everyone.”

To complement the new technology, Spectra Logic has also made their APIs and software development kits available to the open source community. Available in numerous different programming languages, the recent move aims to put more control into the hands of API and software developers.

Chief technology officer with Spectra Logic, Matt Star, highlighted the new functionality of BlackPearl. He was quoted as saying: “BlackPearl empowers users to deploy a tier of deep storage that is cost effective, easy to manage and scalable to Exabytes of data. With the new enhancements and BlackPearl’s simple RESTful HTTP DS3 interface and embedded tape management software, organizations will be able to confidently store all of their data forever at costs as low as pennies per gigabyte.”

For more information on Spectra Logic, their BlackPearl Deep Storage Gateway or any of their other products or services, interested parties are invited to visit their website at www.spectralogic.com. Here you’ll be able to find a comprehensive listing of Spectra Logic’s IT solutions, invaluable online resources, partnership information, technical support and even a company blog.