Crossroads Shrinks its SPHiNX VTL

Crossroads' SPHiNX is a line of disk-based backup devices that protect data on IBM i, Windows, and Linux servers, as then as PCs. The offering functions as a VTL that emulates LTO tape drives and libraries, and connects to Power Systems and System i servers via SCSI, Fibre Channel, and now SAS connections. The devices can as well be used to IPL an IBM i server environment on new IBM i hardware, giving the product valuable disaster recovery capabilities. Data replication and encryption capabilities are as well available.

The 1U device offers full host connectivity

The 1U device offers full host connectivity, the capability to connect to third-party disk-array controllers, and as well gives the customer the option to buy the encryption or the new wide area network acceleration option. Nevertheless Crossroads limits the other functionality available on the new 1U offering. If clients want to get features just as compression, data replication, and the capability to send "stacked exports" to physical tape drives connected on the back end, at the time they need to purchase one of the larger 2U or 3U appliances, Haley says. As well, clustering is not supported on the 1U, since it is a feature of the 3U-n offering.

Crossroads obtained its WAN acceleration research through a deal with Aspera. Haley says the research maximizes data transfer rates, and will provide clients with the performance, scalability, and bandwidth control they need to roll-out large-scale data replication for the purposes of business resilience, data center consolidation, or cloud computing.

The new lineup helps both large

Haley says the new lineup helps both large and small organizations protect their data. "This latest expansion for SPHiNX underscores Crossroads' commitment to listening to its users and answering their business demands with additional platforms and capacity options," he states in a press release.