MDL Technical Highlights
- Storage Class Support
- Master Console Support
- Intelligent FICON Adapters
- Scalability
- Data Encryption
- Advanced Alert Notification
- Mainframe compatibility
- High Availability Features
Storage Class Support
Allows you to control cost by using the appropriate storage class, based on application requirements.
The MDL offers concurrent support for multiple storage classes. This is accomplished through tape pooling which can segregate data onto the appropriate storage for each of your data types, such as:
- Deduplication storage
- Compliant storage
- High performance/availability storage
This feature also can also be utilized to segregate data for replication to a DR site.
Master Console Support
z/OS master console support allows you to monitor and manage the MDL from the master console. This offers a single point of management in a format that operators are accustomed to.
Intelligent/integrated FICON Adapter provides
- High-Performance – shortens your batch windows and reduces the number of FICON ports needed on the mainframe
- Data Integrity – CRC checking is done on all write operations to insure the accuracy of your data.
- Supportability – internal tracing runs constantly to quickly identify the cause of a problem should one occur.
Our adapters have full featured FICON implementation including support for cascading FICON directors and are available with either single-mode or multi-mode connectors.
Scalability
The MDL comes in a variety of models to satisfy your unique tape processing needs.
The MDL is highly scalable in both the number of FICON/ESCON channel adapters and the amount of storage used to store “tape” images. If your tape processing requirements increase, additional controllers and storage can be added without interrupting your ongoing tape operations. The MDL scales form the single FICON MDL-1000 up to the MDL-6000 which supports up to 12 FICON interfaces. There is also a model that combines your mainframe backup into your open system VTL and one that has self-contained RAID protected disk storage for smaller tape requirements.
Data Encryption
Gives you peace of mind that you critical data is protected from unauthorized access.
AES 256 bit, FIPS-140-2 certified data encryption; including support for RSA key management offers the ultimate in data protection for data both at rest and during transmission to a secondary (DR) site. The MDL is pre-loaded with RSA client software and is ready to add to your existing or new RSA key manager.
Advanced Alert Notification
Provides flexible options for alert notification of hardware monitoring and application performance.
The MDL forwards alerts to your SNMP reporting system, designated email recipients and/or master console. It also forwards notification to Bus-Tech support for selected hardware components that are found to be operating in a degraded condition such as one of the redundant fans or power supplies were are not operating within acceptable ranges. Bus-Tech support will pro-actively arrange for parts to be replaced.
Mainframe compatibility
The MDL offers support for the most complex and demanding mainframe operating environments.
The MDL supports Multi Image Facility and Autoswitching to meet the needs for a parallel sysplex installation.
Alternate Pathing on our FICON and ESCON adapters provides load-balancing and failover of the channel. With this feature a failure of one path does not interrupt tape operations.
Dynamic Path Recognition allows the MDL to automatically “learn” up to 64 paths per emulated tape drive and simplifies the configuration process. All that needs to be defined are the device types and associated addresses.
Complete 3480, 3490 and 3590 device emulation support including 256 K block size. By using the larger block size, throughput performance is maximized.
High-performance hardware-based data compression reduces the amount of data written to disk with no overhead to the CPU.
Support for physical tape for out-of-band data exchange. This feature writes the tape in standard IBM format and is primarily targeted for exchanging data with other divisions or third parties.
MDL High Availability Features
MDL-4000 and 6000 models boast no single point of failure. Multiple MDL-2000s and 1000s can be coupled to deliver similar functionality.
All MDL nodes have redundant load-sharing power supplies and multiple auto-adjusting fans.
Alternate Pathing on our FICON and ESCON adapters provides load-balancing and failover of the channel. A failure of one path does not interrupt tape operations.
SNMP-based error reporting will pro-actively notify Bus-Tech support that a selected hardware component is operating outside of acceptable ranges, such as a power supply, adapter or fan.
Ethernet failover – In a NAS environment dual Ethernet ports are paired to provide failover in the event one of the adapters is lost.
Shared SAN Support – In a SAN environment the MDL nodes are configured so that if one node fails the surviving nodes will have complete access to the tape files on the disk library.
Support for non-disruptive upgrades. Emulation nodes and/or storage capacity can be added to the configuration without interruption to your ongoing tape operations. In a maintenance situation, each node can be varied offline individually for the purpose of updating software or firmware during which normal tape processing can continue uninterrupted.
A dual FICON MDL node is capable of achieving up to 300MB/s throughput.
A fully configured MDL-6000 (consisting of 6 FICON nodes) is capable of achieving up to 1.5GB/s throughput.
10Gb Ethernet coming in 2010.