A two-tier strategy divides archive data based on the probability of accessing that data. Archive data can be accessed online as one tier and a deep archive as another where access may be more involved.

An online archive has these characteristics:

• Data can be transparently and directly accessed by users or applications without other intervening processes.
• The time to access data is only nominally affected compared with primary storage, with no impact on users and applications.
• Typically NAS is used because the largest amount of archived data is in the form of files. There may also be support for objects depending on systems in use.
• The online archive has support for compliance requirements such as immutability with versioning of files, audit trails of access to data, and regular integrity checking of the data.
• The storage is much less expensive than primary storage.
• Only changed files are replicated for protection.
• Systems have built-in longevity with automatic, transparent migration to another platform. The migration is non-impacting to operations or staff.

A deep archive would have different characteristics than the online archive, including:

• Data moved to the deep archive is not expected to be needed again for any normal processing.
• Access from a deep archive may require greater time than applications than tolerate.
• Data may be stored in the form of objects with metadata about ownership and retention controls in order to permit massive scaling. The storage could be on local systems or in a cloud service.
• Longevity is handled automatically by the systems or service with transparent migrations.
• Compliance features are fully supported including digital data destruction.
• Protection is automatic with geographically separated replicated copies.

There is justification for a two-tier archive. You can gain large savings from moving data not expected to be used again to the lowest costing storage without compromising protection, integrity, or longevity. Economic models show the advantage and the compounding value over time as data is retained and more is added. Development of new systems and software that support object storage for very large scale of items in the archive and transparent migration for longevity are enabling wider usage.  For all of these reasons, a two-tier archive is a good fit for a storage strategy.

(Randy Kerns is Senior Strategist at Evaluator Group, an IT analyst firm).

ASTI was a Plasmon reseller before the U.K.-based archiving vendor went under after years of financial problems. ASTI picked up Plasmon’s assets for an undisclosed sum, leased Plasmon’s Colorado Springs manufacturing plant, hired many of its employees and is now stepping up marketing of Plasmon products. ASTI will keep the Plasmon brand name and is selling its UDO appliances, drives, libraries and media after rebuilding its channel with new VARs and integrators.

“It’s an identical product lineup as Plasmon’s,” said Bill Gallagher, a former Plasmon exec who is now ASTI’s director of strategic accounts and regional sales director. “I don’t think Plasmon’s failure was a failure of technology. The company suffered for years with restructuring and trying to get its financials in order. Alliance is profitable, and we haven’t seen any change in demand. Customers are happy, they wanted to see what would happen. ”

ASTI has sold optical storage for more than 10 years, carrying products from Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sony as well as Plasmon. ASTI CEO Chris Carr says the company is committed to the future of UDO. “Last year we caught wind of Plasmon’s financial difficulties and we saw an opportunity,” he said. “Specifically, we were looking for UDO technology.”

UDO discs hold up to 60 GB and are supposed to last for more than 50 years. Plasmon’s largest libraries have 638 slots and store 38.3 TB. ASTI execs claim Plasmon shipped over 17,000 libraries. ASTI will not honor service contracts for Plasmon customers but is offering discounts on new contracts, Carr said.