Quantum has launched the first disk-based enhanced backup product, the DX30. The company is positioning it as a box that can hold data for fast restoration while constantly feeding a tape library for long-term backup. The enhanced backup technology emulates a tape library and uses tape-based systems for archiving.

The product can emulate two to six virtual tape drives and transfer files in block mode, speeding up backup with a data transfer rate of 80 Mbps. It offers storage capacity of 3 TB. This is Quantum’s first venture into disk-based backup.

As the DX30 integrates with the existing storage infrastructure, the user company does not require to change its backup procedures or policies.

“Quantum is planning to sell two units by December and 10 units by next year in India which means a $ 4-5 million business in India,” said Mike Sparkes, Quantum’s product marketing manager for the APAC region. “Tape is still the cheapest medium available for archiving, as it can be removed easily and has a longer life. This may well turn out to be the fastest growing sector in the coming year,” he added.

The company will target medium to large enterprises with the DX30. Key verticals include banking and finance, telecommunications and software development houses. Presently, Quantum has UTI, Citibank, Hutchinson, Tata Teleservices, Intel, Cisco, Infosys, Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor and GE in the BPO segment, as customers in India.

Wipro and Apara are Quantum’s major distributors in India. “We are also in talks with HCL for selling our product in Northern India,” said Sparkes.

“When customers see this technology, they might think that it may demand a change in the company’s existing way of archiving. But as it doesn’t require a change in the existing infrastructure or the backup environment, the customer has to be educated on this concept. To achieve this we are planning to conduct a training programme in partnership with our partners, Wipro and Apara,” he added.

An industry consortium named Enhanced Backup Systems Initiative (EBSI) has been formed for providing complete information and solutions on the technology, along with Atempo, Legato, Network Appliance (NetApp).