By Kevin Komiega
-- Data Domain today released a new version of its platform operating software, Data Domain operating system (DD OS) 4.6, which increases the performance across the company's line of de-duplicating disk-based backup systems by as much as 100%.
The Data Domain operating system uses a proprietary technology called Stream Informed Segment Layout (SISL) to achieve high throughput while minimizing system and disk hardware. The software is CPU-centric and can be used to upgrade system speeds without adding controllers, compression hardware or extra disks.
According to company officials, the new software will increase the performance of all of its systems across all protocols, but large data centers using the flagship DD690 system with Symantec NetBackup OpenStorage (OST) and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) will see the best results. Using DD OS 4.6, the DD690 can now support accelerated backup throughput of up to 760MBps, or 2.7TB per hour. The upgrade raises the DD690's throughput by 90% over its initial release.
The new benchmark was established with a minimum DD690 configuration of two disk shelves and some extra tuning and parallelism possible with this combination of fabric and software.
Data Domain's systems typically get a performance upgrade as processor speeds increase. This time, however, the extra speed is based entirely on software.
"The way we do data de-duplication is CPU-centric, but this release is all about software," says Data Domain's vice president of product management, Brian Biles.
The benefits of upgrading to the new OS, he says, are shorter backup windows on existing infrastructure.
Customers using Data Domain's products with current standard system support agreements can move to DD OS 4.6 free of charge via a software download.