Storage Vendors Partner For Midsize CustomersStorage Vendors Partner For Midsize Customers

Businesses store data on a variety of devices. The type of device used is often determined by how quickly and how often the data needs to be accessed. Eventually, the data moves to long-term storage, usually on inexpensive tapes. Two storage vendors Monday will reveal a partnership to help businesses move data from storage appliances to tape libraries.

StorServer Inc., which makes a storage appliance for backup and recovery, is teaming with Spectra Logic Corp. to make it easier to move data to long-term storage and still make it available if it's needed for regulatory, legal, or other reasons. The combination of the StorServer S series backup appliance and the Spectra Logic tape library is designed to make it simple to design a protected, high-performing system.

Both systems will sit on the IP network. StorServer's appliance will handle the files as they come off servers. Business-technology managers can determine how long the files sit on the appliance. Eventually, the data is moved to Spectra Logic's tapes. StorServer S series, with an integrated Spectra Logic tape library, starts at $20,900. Together, they can process 30 terabytes of data.

The package should appeal to midsize companies, says Mike Karp, an analyst at Enterprise Management Associates. Large companies don't worry much about price, while small companies focus on price a lot, he says. Midsize customers care about price and performance. "This has play in the midrange where people want to drop in an app," Karp says. "The Spectra Logic box gives good performance to the appliance that needs something it can hand data off to."