No VTL required at the recovery site. VDR LE backups are created on native media in a non-proprietary format and can be read directly by applications or restored to other media.
Ensure data written to a tapeless VTL can be recovered in case of a VTL unit or DASD failure locally or at a recovery site.
Easily set up to replicate any data that has changed or selectively chosen by DSN mask.
Reduce vaulted media and handling costs by stacking the backups to high density media.
Exploit your tapeless VTL by directing application backups to the tapeless VTL.

VDR LE

VDR LE was developed especially to allow companies to take full advantage of the performance increases and Cost improvements available from tapeless VTL technology such as IBM’s TS7720, EMC’s DLM or Bus-Tech’s MDL while ensuring data recoverability. VDR LE provides a DR copy of the data to ensure recoverability in the event of a disaster. The DR copy also ensures total vendor independence and total portability. The risk of lost data due to a DASD failure is absolute when using DASD integrated into a tapeless VTL.

The advantages provided by tapeless VTL technology do not come without a potential risk of data loss due to DASD or unit failure. There is no tape back store from which to recover data lost as a result of a tapeless VTL DASD failure or a corruption of the data file. A DR copy is likely to be the least expensive component of your entire DR strategy and one you can depend upon to recover your business.

Device and Vendor Independence

Device and vendor independence as well as portability are major benefits of using VDR LE. VDR LE stacks data in native format so it can be read in place on a native tape drive by the application or the data can be restored to any vendor’s VTL (tapeless or tape based), ATL or native tape. And because the data is on tape it can be easily transported to an alternate recovery site should the primary site be unavailable for any reason.

Which virtual tape datasets to back up?

VDR LE can select virtual dataset candidates within the tapeless VTL and limit the backups using a number of criteria including dataset name or dataset name prefix and Volser range or pattern or make a copy of any new or changed dataset.

Duplex backup copies

VDR LE allows you to create one or two backups of the selected original datasets. One copy can be kept in the vault, and the other onsite for faster recovery or use in case of a lost original tape. Or both backups can be sent to separate vaults for safe-keeping.

Continuous auditing

VDR LE establishes a relationship between the original dataset and any backup copies created by VDR LE for that dataset. VDR LE monitors this relationship to ensure that all targeted datasets have a matching backup, and recognizes when an original dataset has expired so that the matching backup dataset can be expired as well.

Reduce backup window

Creating backups into your virtual tape library reduces the overall backup window. Multiple VDR LE backup jobs can be run simultaneously to ensure that your virtual tape data is backed up within the available window. VDR LE backup jobs are only limited by the number of output devices available. Because the VDR LE jobs can be managed by your job scheduling software, the entire backup process is automated and fast.

Vaulted media recycling

VDR LE provides the ability to “recycle” under utilized tape media without the risk of first returning the backup media to the data center. VDR LE can find the remaining, unexpired datasets on a backup tape and reselect the original dataset for backup. A new, better utilized backup tape is created and sent to the vault. The less-utilized tape is then expired and returned from the vault.

Robust recovery options

VDR LE allows you to recover automatically and quickly by restoring from the existing backup media (which requires no data movement), or copying the backup datasets to another virtual tape library or other tape media. If duplex VDR LE backups have been created, VDR LE can recover from either backup.