Electronic Storage Corporation Expands Deployment Options for IBM i Systems with iSCSI Connectivity
News related to:Electronic Storage Corporation · 2 min read
Electronic Storage Corporation has expanded the deployment options for IBM i systems by introducing iSCSI connectivity for its LaserVault ViTL virtual tape library. This new feature allows IBM i systems to connect to the ViTL virtual tape library over standard Ethernet networks, simplifying cloud and hybrid environments and preserving familiar IBM i backup and recovery workflows.
LaserVault ViTL is a virtual tape library specifically designed for IBM i environments. It replaces physical tape with virtual tape while allowing IBM i backup applications and commands to continue working with a familiar tape library interface. Virtual tapes can be stored on disk, NAS, SAN, deduplication systems, or cloud storage, providing organizations with more flexibility in how they protect and recover their IBM i data.
The new iSCSI connectivity is particularly significant for organizations moving toward cloud or virtualized infrastructure. ViTL can be deployed in a Windows virtual machine without requiring a Fibre Channel or SAS HBA, using standard network connectivity instead. This flexibility is crucial for businesses looking to streamline their data management processes without the need for specialized hardware.
In initial testing, ViTL achieved approximately 380-400 MB/s over a single 10 Gigabit Ethernet connection. Performance can also scale through parallel operations. Testing with two virtual tape drives performing simultaneous save operations achieved approximately 600 MB/s aggregate throughput, with each drive delivering roughly 300 MB/s. Actual performance will vary based on network, server, storage, and workload configuration.
The iSCSI implementation in ViTL is designed to coexist with existing Fibre Channel connectivity. Customers are not required to choose between Fibre Channel and iSCSI. ViTL can support both connectivity mechanisms, allowing organizations to use the transport mechanism that best fits each IBM i environment.
For organizations moving toward cloud or virtualized infrastructure, iSCSI provides additional deployment flexibility. ViTL can be deployed in a Windows virtual machine without requiring a Fibre Channel or SAS HBA, using standard network connectivity instead. This capability is particularly useful for businesses that are looking to integrate their data management processes with cloud services.
Existing backup workflows remain intact with ViTL's iSCSI implementation. Customers can continue using familiar IBM i backup applications and commands. ViTL presents itself to IBM i as a tape library and tape drive, allowing customers to continue using established backup and recovery processes. ViTL supports native IBM i SAV/RST commands as well as Backup, Recovery and Media Services (BRMS), Robot Save, and GO SAVE.
Existing ViTL customers using Fibre Channel or SAS can also add iSCSI connectivity without converting their existing virtual tapes. Virtual tapes created through existing ViTL deployments can be restored using an iSCSI-connected ViTL environment.