Easy Deployment

FalconStor FDS offers non-disruptive, seamless integration with LAN-based file interface (CIFS or NFS) disk-to-disk (D2D) applications and Symantec OpenStorage (OST) for NetBackup or Backup Exec 2010 media servers. Support for all major backup software, database utilities, archiving applications, virtual machine data, Symantec OST and mainframe backup applications provides a centralized repository for all data protection applications.

Flexible Deployment Models

FalconStor FDS technology can be deployed in four different modes: 1) as an integrated self-contained storage appliance containing processing and disk resources, 2) as a virtual appliance running on a VMware ESX server using internal or DAS disk, 3) as a standalone or high availability gateway appliance connecting to any third-party SAN array and 4) as a high-performance, HA cluster that eliminates the proliferation of deduplication silos while offering ease of deployment and management.

Reliable, Scalable Architecture

FalconStor FDS is the industry’s first LAN-based (CIFS/NFS/OST) deduplication solution that scales HA target compute nodes independent of HA cluster deduplication nodes. FalconStor FDS scales up to 8 target nodes (4 HA nodes) to handle larger data sets or to meet tight backup windows, while independently scaling up to 4 cluster deduplication nodes in an N+1 architecture for faster performance. All data (file and block) is written to a common shared data repository, so that redundant data segments are eliminated across all data sets regardless of the original source, optimizing storage resources. The solution scales to 1PB of usable storage, allowing longer data retention to meet stringent SLAs.

High-performance Deduplication and Restore

FalconStor FDS technology is optimized for high-performance data ingest supporting multiple 1GbE (up to 8 with bonding support) ports and two 10GbE ports per target node, achieving single-node target speeds of 1.5 GB per second, over 5.4 TB per hour per node, while simultaneously sustaining deduplication rates of 800MB per second (over 2.8 TB per hour) for standalone appliances; and scaling in performance to over 10TB per hour for fully configured HA cluster solutions. Unique read-ahead technology provides fast data restore at over 80% of write performance. Data blocks are striped across the load balanced deduplication repository to optimize read performance.

Flexible Deduplication Processes

Through a centralized management GUI, users can define policies such as concurrent or scheduled deduplication and exclusion of whole directories, specific file types, small files, or files based on when they were last modified or accessed. These policies can be applied to deduplication, replication, and data integrity monitoring based on application and business needs, for maximum flexibility.

WAN-optimized Replication for Multi-site DR

Built-in WAN-optimized replication ensures that only globally unique blocks of data are transmitted across the WAN. FalconStor FDS supports efficient block-level deduplication at the remote site for local capacity optimization and fast restore while supporting replication with global deduplication at the data center. A wizard-based management console enables real time visibility, performance monitoring, and management of over 90 remote sites simultaneously. Various policies and schedules can be applied to replication with folder and file-level granularity, defining a flexible data retention model for fast restore and DR. In addition, data can be throttled and encrypted during the replication process to minimize risks and enhance security.

Enhanced Data Resiliency

FalconStor FDS includes advanced data verification and user-defined, customizable data integrity checks to ensure data resiliency, long-term data retention, availability, and recoverability.

Symantec Open Storage (OST) Support

FalconStor FDS includes Symantec OST protocol support for NetBackup and Backup Exec 2010 media servers and enables transparent operations, including single-pane-of-glass management, high performance, and catalog consistency during Symantec duplication (replication). Additionally, FalconStor FDS can operate in a mixed mode with Symantec OST logical storage units and file data from other CIFS/NFS applications.

Hosted Backup

Hosted Backup allows certified backup applications to be installed directly onto the FalconStor FDS server, increasing performance by accelerating the transfer of backup data to shared files by eliminating the data path between a physical backup server and FalconStor FDS.