HP Pushes Automated Netware

John McDonough

HP worked with Legato Systems, Novell, and Palindrome to develop HP LABS (Low Admin Backup for Servers), a specification for automated backup under NetWare using auto-loading magazines and ``intelligent'' data management software. As long as the data on your LAN will fit on a single cartridge, a six-cartridge auto-loader can hold five weeks of data administrator-free.

To become LABS-compliant, backup software must meet eight criteria involving installation, configuration, automation, performance, and the upgrade strategy. LABS software must include the following features:

-- Predefined installation and configuration routines
-- Completely un
attended backup procedures
-- Automatic error recovery
-- Self-monitoring and status communication
-- End-user restore
    The hardware component to LABS must include the following features:
-- Read-after-write verification
-- Three levels of error correction
-- Random access for data recovery
-- A sustained data transfer rate of 1 MBps (compressed)
-- A high-capacity auto-loader with a minimum of six cartridge slots

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HP LABS Tape-Rotation Strategy

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A schematic representation of the HP LABS system. The server performs full backups one day a week and incremental backups on the other days. Cleaning occurs as scheduled or as needed.