PoINT Archiver: Archiving Compliance Disaster Recovery

PoINT Archiver V3.0 is a Windows server application which provides centralized administration of network data storage management, with a specific focus on the process of data archival and retrieval. It is intended for use in applications where large volumes of information must be preserved for extended periods of time, be accessible upon demand, and which also require that the accuracy and integrity of that information is assured.

PoINT Archiver is unique in its ability to use multiple storage devices and all types of media in order to meet any combination of retention, recovery, security and access requirements. PoINT Archiver uses an intuitive user interface to create Archive Jobs which provide monitoring, protection, migration and recovery of data files.

User defined Policies determine what data to move or copy, which device(s) should be used and when to perform each operation.

Once configured, PoINT Archiver creates a managed data storage environment where specified folders and the data within them is protected from alteration or destruction, automatically written on to specified devices and media and organized for easy access or retrieval. This ensures that virtually every compliance and business continuity requirement relating to data storage and access can be satisfied.

PoINT Archiver offers three levels of Licensing which provide solutions for applications from a simple data archive on optical disc to a complete enterprise wide data storage management and data archival package.

PoINT Archiver is designed to provide support for every type of data storage device in order to meet any combination of retention, recovery security and access requirements. It allows the user to decide the best combination of storage devices and media types.

In all Archiver License levels the user may specify up to 2 “Archive Devices” for each Archive Job, and can also specify multiple copies when producing optical discs.

In addition to using magnetic storage devices (HD, NAS, RAID and SAN), PoINT Archiver supports virtually every optical media type (CD, DVD, BD, MO, ODO and UDO-2). And with Version 3.0, LTO-2, LTO-3 and LTO-4 tape drives and autoloaders may also be used.

PoINT Archiver employs a network-wide process of Policy Based Data Archiving. PoINT Archiver operates by the creation and execution of Archive Jobs, The user may create as many jobs as needed. An intuitive wizard guides the user through the process, whereby the Archive Job is first named and then the source folder which contains the data files to be archived is specified.

Multiple source folders can be specified for a single Archive job, and subfolders may be included or excluded. The user is then able to define specific “Policies” which determine the Conditions for when the files contained within the monitored folders are Scheduled for the defined Action(s) to be taken.

Archive Jobs are run according to a Schedule. After defining the policies, the user then defines the Archiving Schedule by setting Trigger Settings. Archive Jobs can be run on a daily schedule, or when a specific data volume threshold has been reached. An either-or combination of triggers may also be used. Jobs may also be triggered manually.

Finally, the user specifies the target device or devices that the Archive Job is to be written to, and the setup is complete. After completion of the setup, PoINT Archiver continually monitors the folders and automatically manages the data archival process according to the specified Policies and Schedules.

Data Protection applies PoINT Secure File System to Archive Volumes as they are written, using a 128 bit encryption method. This prevents unauthorized access to the archive data both in transit and at rest. Removable media may not be accessed outside of the specific PoINT Archiver system, and may be safely stored off premises with no risk of information theft. Volumes stored on other media cannot be read or restored outside of the Archiver system. Additional password protection prevents users from logging on without authorization.

Data Authentication monitors Archive Volumes for changes and alterations to data, and creates a series of reports of such changes. For additional security, digital ‘fingerprints’ of the archived files are stored within the database, as well as within the Archive so that they may be compared for consistency, assuring the accuracy and authenticity of data.

Standard Archival is specifically designed to work together with Automated Disc Publishing Systems and offers a simple, cost effective method of creating and storing a permanent write once Archive copy of any data source throughout the network.

Archive Jobs are created to monitor selected folders and subfolders. User defined “Policies” are created and jobs are scheduled to automatically copy or move selected files into Archive Volumes.

These Archive Volumes are then written to optical media (CD/DVD, BD) and labelled using standard disc publishing systems. Multiple discs may be produced automatically.

Multiple CD/DVD/BD disc production systems can be used in parallel, and some may be connected remotely for off sight production and storage

PoINT Archiver provides logging, indexing and database search functions. The use of standardized media and file systems (UDF) assures that the data written to the Archive Volumes will be readable and accessible, yet permanent and unalterable.

Archival and Retrieval provides the features of Standard Archiving PLUS an integrated module for automated data retrieval and restoration. A database of all archived files is presented in an Explorer like view where individual files, directories and the entire Archive Job can be searched and retrieved as needed. Files can be retrieved to their original location, or to a new location. Automated retrieval of archive data from optical media is possible using the disc publishing system, and retrieval from all other media and devices is done via the file system and is completely transparent.

With Archival and Retrieval any supported device may be used as an Archive Device. Archiver can store the Archive Volumes on multiple devices, in multiple locations. Devices can be “On Line” magnetic storage such as a NAS hard disk, as well as “Off Line” optical media which are produced using automated CD/DVD/BD disc production systems.

Secondary storage devices such as optical and tape libraries may also be used as On Line Archive Volume storage devices. Most devices can be connected either locally or remotely; providing off sight storage and added security.

When configured to monitor folders on a local storage device, TAFS provides settings & controls for access management of files within these folders, allowing existing or new data shares to be secured as Write Once Volumes. RAID, SAN and local Hard Disc drives are transformed into secure, compliant storage vaults.

Using Standard Archival Jobs and Policies files are migrated into Archive Volumes which are written according to the Schedule to any On Line Archive Device. They may additionally be replicated to a second Archive Device, which may be On-Line or Off-line. TAFS creates a logical storage file system structure with data physically located on multiple, tiered storage devices.

The Policies menu allows TAFS to specify independent conditions for the Archival of data and for Purging, which allows archived files located in the monitored source folders to be deleted and replaced by links, freeing up valuable server space while the TAFS provides transparent read access to the data contained in the Archive Volumes via the Windows file system.

Thus, storage capacity of file servers can grow virtually, managing tiered archival storage of data in excess of their physical capacity.

The solution offers transparent file system archiving and retrieval to and from optical jukeboxes by using the TAFS module in combination with the PoINT Jukebox Connector. This combines the advantages of both storage technologies. High performance hard disks are configured to keep current data with links to an optical jukebox as Archive Device for long term archiving with transparent file system access.

Archiver 3.0 now includes a powerful search engine for Data Retrieval, allowing users to easily locate and restore individual files and folders or entire Archive Jobs. Search Results are displayed in a separate folder, in an intuitive interface which identifies the specific media which contain the requested files.

In addition to its automated archival and retrieval capabilities PoINT Archiver now adds a unique Data Migration Tool. Customers using multiple Archive Devices can migrate individual Archive discs, jobs or entire Archive Volumes directly from device to device. With new storage technologies on the horizon, migrating from DVD to BD to the Holographic storage systems of the future can be managed easily.

The Data Migration Tool also provides the ability to easily reproduce, including labelling, a media or device that is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed. The Data Migration Tool is available with all PoINT Archiver Licenses at NO ADDITIONAL COST!

All PoINT Archiver Licenses require purchase of a single Server license as well as at least one Archive Device license.

The Standard Archival Server license provides unlimited Archival to optical discs. Device licenses are either for CD/DVD or CD/DVD/BD (Blu-ray) and the list of supported devices includes models from Primera, Rimage and Teac.

The Archival and Retrieval License and the Tiered Archival File System License require the additional purchase of an Archive Data Volume Package. The Archival Data Volume Package provides support for a specific amount of Archive Data Capacity, or a specific number of Archive Database Objects (files). Additional Capacity or Objects may be purchased as needed. Any two supported devices may be licensed.

Windows 2000 SP4 (Professional, Server, Advanced Server, Data Center)
Windows XP Professional SP2
Windows 2003 Server (Standard and Enterprise Edition)
Windows Vista (Business, Enterprise, Ultimate Edition)

PoINT Archiver Software Version 3.0