ATL storage appliance to offer remote management

ATL Products Inc. next week will introduce a network-attached storage appliance that backs up data over a network to tape libraries.

LANvault can be attached anywhere on the local area network and managed from a single Web-based console. The NAS appliance, which promises a backup speed of up to 180 GB per hour, uses DLT tape and supports either Veritas Corp.'s Backup Exec or Computer Associates International Inc.'s ARC Serve software, said Shaun Walsh, ATL's director of Network Storage .

"We view this as something that will be used at the edges of the enterprise and for server workgroups," Walsh said. "Backup is one of those mundane tasks you don't want to do but it is absolutely critical."

LANvault is equipped with a CPU, memory and network interface cards. The Window NT-based device can be connected on the LAN behind the firewall through Ethernet or Fibre Channel. One box services 100 users.

"We are trying to do for backup what laser did for printing, making it a simple plug-and-play process, " Walsh said. "Wherever you would sprinkle lasers across your network, you can basically sprinkle these."

Walsh said LANvault is preloaded, preconfigured and can be installed in minutes. IT administrators can manage the backup devices through the Web console and a customer service portal. The service portal registers the devices and creates a "My LANvault" Web site that notifies managers of any particular system that needs correcting after the product has been turned on.

"The Web console automates a lot of the management for you,' Walsh said. "For example, if there was an update required for 10 of the 50 systems, the Web portal directs the IT manager to just the systems that need updating."

ATL, of Irvine, Calif., will debut LANvault on Sept. 28 at an event in San Francisco. It will be available immediately priced at $10,000.

ATL is at atlp.com