Hitachi launches VTL product suite

Storage vendor Hitachi Data Systems has introduced three Virtual Tape Library (VTL) appliances to the channel directed at medium-sized business and enterprise.

The launch of the product portfolio comes weeks after Hitachi closed its CE division due to global restructuring.

Hitachi's VTL Appliance Model 500M, 1000L and 1000E provide disk-based data protection storage services.

Simon Elisha, head solutions architect A/NZ, Hitachi claimed that de-duplication technology assists IT managers in tackling challenges such as increased compliance regulations and rising data protection requirements.

"Obviously A/NZ organisations don't have the same storage requirements as US company's, however Hitachi has financial services customers who need to maintain and store data for longer at a lower cost, while making it accessible for a longer period of time," said Elisha.

"We believe these appliances will meet our customers’ requirements for greater application availability, robust data protection, and long-term retention and protection of business-critical data assets.”

Elisha claimed de-duplication is a significant innovation in storage and welcomes the comparison to storage virtualisation.

"It's a radically different technology where you can store information for longer and it will be accessible for longer," said Elisha. "It’s innovative, it’s another kind of virtualisation."

According to Elisha, the VTL portfolio can also address issues such as long and inefficient backup operations as well as the high cost associated with storing vast quantities of data.

"Data de-duplication is all about the capacity you can offer and the price of that capacity," he explained. "With this technology it's cost effective to store information on disk."

Scott Robinson, chief technology officer, Datalink commented: "With the announcement of Hitachi Data Systems' new VTL appliances, customers now have a simplified way of optimising their existing storage environment and reducing their physical storage requirements."

With the backing of company's like Datalink, Hitachi VTL solutions appear set to make an impact on the storage market.