What is Multi-Site Sync for LTO?
Multi-Site Sync for LTO is a cloud-based synchronization service that creates a single globally accessible file system for multiple LTO active archives. It allows an individual user or a local network to access one or more XenData LTO archives from anywhere.
Can it be used with existing XenData LTO archives?
Yes, XenData archive systems under a support contract may be upgraded to be part of a distributed network of archives. Files already archived to LTO may be easily included in the globally synchronized file system. And those files do not need to be restored from LTO to be included.
How does the synchronization appear to users?
As soon as a file is archived to LTO data tape at one location, it becomes available as a stub file within the global file system. When a user makes a change by writing, overwriting or deleting a file, that change is propagated to all locations. This provides a consistent up-to-date set of files across the entire distributed organization.
How does the synchronization work?
The XenData sync services used a cloud-based low-latency database to immediately synchronize stub files in all locations.
How do you restore files stored in another location?
An application simply reads the file and it will be restored via a direct transfer that uses peer to peer multi-threaded HTTPS. This delivers secure fast file transfers.
Can you write files to an LTO archive located elsewhere?
Yes, if the system is configured with permissions to write files to a remote LTO archive. Both writing files to and reading files from a remote archive use peer to peer multi-threaded HTTPS.
Are files ever stored in the cloud?
No. Although the Multi-Site Sync service uses a cloud database, the files themselves are never stored in cloud object storage, avoiding cloud storage and egress fees.
Is an Internet connection required at each archive location?
Yes. However, the Multi-Site Sync service requires minimal bandwidth because only file system metadata is being transferred. When files are written to or read from an LTO archive located elsewhere, the speed of transfer will typically be limited by the available Internet bandwidth.
What else is required at each archive location in addition to an Internet connection?
The XenData LTO archive software must be upgraded to add an S3 interface. And to use HTTPS, an SSL certificate must be installed on the XenData archive appliance. Note that SSL, more recently called TLS, is a protocol for encrypting Internet traffic and verifying server identity.
Can I access the LTO archives from a location without an on-premises archive?
Yes, you have two options to access the global archive file system: you may use a certified cloud storage browser such as Cloudberry Explorer PRO to access one of the synchronized LTO archives; or via XenData gateway software that runs on a Windows 10 machine or a Windows server.
PBS
XenData’s fully supported clustered server meets all the requirements for our disaster recovery site. We have been very pleased with the SX-525 product and XenData’s technical team who have provided system design and integration services above and beyond expectations.
Crew Cuts
I did my research, and the best archive solution was from XenData which manages a robotic LTO library behind the scenes. This helps to minimize our total costs and allows us to focus on producing great content for our customers.
Ideal Systems Singapore
We partnered with XenData for the GlobeCast Broadcast facility rollout, because it offers one of the most cost effective, robust digital video archives on the market and a great migration alternative to some of the more expensive digital video archive vendor offerings.
North Shore Automation
Having completed over 25 joint installations of XenData archive systems, we have found everyone on the XenData team to be both highly professional and super responsive and their technology to be rock solid. They are truly a pleasure to work with.
This is Just a Test
With over 558 TB of content and growing, conventional backup solutions just don’t work for us. Our XenData system allows us to maintain an ongoing mirrored copy of our shared storage while creating replica LTO copies for offsite storage.
Excelencia
We have now installed over 170 XenData archive systems across Mexico and they have proven to be very reliable. In addition, the technical support from XenData has been outstanding.
