A major challenge in the area of batch processing and backup is the growth of information throughout the enterprise.  As the volume of data continues to increase 60% on average per year in every aspect of an organization’s business and operation, this becomes a critical issue with information technology executives.  These factors result in increased data storage costs and significant data management issues.  Proactive storage management is a strategic element in achieving operational success.  To service the organization’s growing data needs, information technology must increase the availability of data while decreasing “backup windows” and ensure data recovery.  Mainframe Tape virtualization technology can be applied to solve these issues.
Mainframe Tape Virtualization runs at a storage array level, enabling hardware and current tape management software technologies to work together.  Without tape virtualization, operating system management can be cumbersome.  In a virtualized environment, it is not necessary for the host and application(s) to know where the data resides physically.  Logical tape devices are emulated within the storage array and represented to host as physical drive(s).  This enables current tape management tools to dynamically map these tape volsers on to the target physical devices.  Mainframe Tape virtualization allows an organization to add new storage, dynamically reassign existing storage, use media more efficiently, and migrate and secure data in various locations without modification to the host server or backup software application.

The benefits would be the following:

• Reduces tape storage costs and total cost of ownership
• Exceed all Recovery Objectives(RTO,RPO,RGO)
• Improves backup / restore performance
• Supports business continuity

Most mainframe data centers are highly dependent on tape systems for protection of their production and development data.  These tape systems often use tens of thousands of cartridges that require a considerable amount of administration, management, and storage/floor space.  Tape provides protection for production data but retrieval and/or recovery of the data stored on those tape can be time-consuming and unreliable
EMC Disk Library for Mainframe offers IBM zSeries Mainframe customers the ability to replace their current libraries with a dynamic tape virtual solution.  EMC Disk Library for Mainframe enables customers to reduce cost, improve performance, deliver high availability and remote vaulting capabilities.  Eastern Computer has the knowledge and first-hand experience to help customers realize the benefits of utilizing EMC Disk Library for Mainframe.

EMC Disk Library for Mainframe Benefits

• Tape-based applications often can’t meet service levels and exceed back-up windows;  EMC D.L.M. offers performance and parallel access which shrinks back-up windows by 50-90% typically.
• Fully transparent to end-user applications without changes to JCL.
• EMC D.L.M. provides automated e-vaulting; versus expensive copying and vaulting of tapes.
• Higher reliability utilizing RAID protection eliminating the need for tape duplexing.
• EMC D.L.M. is designed with no single point of failure for continuous availability.  This compliments EMC offering as the most reliable storage products in the world; Tape is problematic, Tapes fail from contaminants, physical damage, and physical handling. 
• Native and Virtual Tape systems consume extensive floor space and power requirements;  EMC D.L.M. can scale over 3PB. Eastern has recovered thousands of footprint square footage with the EMC Disk Library for Mainframe.
• 100,000 plus tapes require many tape librarians;  EMC D.L.M. provides unlimited tape cartridge creation.
• Integration of current tape management systems from CA, BMC, and IBM;  No additional software.
• Reduce tape software sharing expenditure(MIM,HSC).  EMC D.L.M.  scales to over 1,500 tape drives.

Business Drivers for EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

• How much tape infrastructure is needed to justify a EMC D.L.M solution:  full, progressive, or partial replacement?
• Are service levels being met with current tape-based applications?
• Are BC/DR plans tape-based and inadequate to meet today’s business continuance requirements?
• Are all Recovery Objectives being met? (RPO,RTO,RGO)