Hierarchical storage management: leveraging new capabilities

E-commerce has created new problems in data management as mission-critical data swells a business´ database into the terabytes. IT shops must efficiently manage data and still provide a rock-solid system with guaranteed 24/7 access. Finding a way to effectively fulfil this mission requires rethinking traditional data management methods. Among the many tools already available, hierarchical storage management (HSM) is an effective data management solution for this demanding new environment. HSM enables centralized data management across a variety of storage platforms, such as servers, RAID (redundant arrays of inexpensive disks), magneto-optical jukeboxes, and tape libraries. It maintains data through a three-level management system. Level one is online data maintained in an online server volume or RAID. Level two is infrequently accessed data; so HSM maintains it in slower storage platforms. Level three is offline data stored in a tape library or on shelved media. The business rarely accesses such data, basically keeping it to comply with record retention rules