GreenTapeTM Virtual Tape Subsystem

GreenTape is a virtual tape subsystem (VTS) developed and supported by Reliable Computer that enables small and midsize mainframe data centers to enjoy the benefits of disk-based virtual tape that were formerly only practical for very large mainframe data centers.  GreenTape plugs into mainframe ESCON or bus-and-tag channels.  It replaces 8, 16 or 24 IBM 3480, 3490 or 3590 type transports, improves performance and uses only a fraction of the heat-producing power of older tape transports and controllers.

GreenTape includes dual controllers based on state-of-the-art Intel-powered servers and best-of-breed RAID disk subsystems to provide a virtual tape library with a total capacity of up to 4 TB.  This can be enough capacity to store ten years of complete backup tape images.  GreenTape eliminates physical tape handling along with physical tape, although it does offer the option of backing data up on DVD or LTO tape for offsite archival storage.

Compared to traditional tape, GreenTape is so energy efficient that the savings in power and cooling alone can pay for half the cost of the system.  A 16-transport 3490 E installation with a typical dual controller uses 6.8 KVA, all of which turns into heat in your glass house and may add another 3 to 6 KVA in power for air circulation and cooling to keep the data center environment within the proper range, for a total energy requirement of 10 to 13 KVA.  By contrast, a 2 TB GreenTape system uses about 0.6 KVA plus another 0.35 to 0.6 KVA for cooling.  In a 16-transport setting, the total of about 1 KVA (depending on your HVAC system) comes to less than 10 percent of the power needed for using and cooling standard IBM physical tape.  IBM's Magstar VTS systems are excellent technical choices but even in the small configurations they consume much more power than GreenTape.

The performance of virtual tape is outstanding.  Using ESCON channels, virtual tape running at disk speeds compared to tape speeds allows data to be backed up at ESCON speeds.  IBM says ESCON can hit transfer rates of 200 MB/sec but practical experience suggests planning for a third that rate.  Even so, IBM 3590 tape can write at 6 - 12 MB/sec (assuming 3:1 compression).  We are happy to run tests so you can properly plan for a reduced backup window.

While magnetic tape is a very reliable medium and the IBM 3480 and 3490 technologies provide excellent redundancy and error correction, GreenTape offers full RAID 5 or RAID 10 recording technology.  GreenTape can lose a drive and keep running as if nothing has gone wrong.  Our disks are all mounted in hot plug cases.  When our RAID controller senses a failure, it switches in a spare drive already configured into our system, and rebuilds the missing volume automatically.  But a major failure would be a very rare event, because our disk controller uses error detection and failure prediction technology to signal possible problems before they become severe.  GreenTape will also phone home so we can dispatch a technician to replace the faulty drive that has been logically removed from our device by the RAID supervisory software or to review the state of a GreenTape subsystem if it seems to be accumulating soft errors.

GreenTape is fully compatible with all IBM mainframe operating systems including z/VSE, z/VM, OS/390, z/OS and many older versions of IBM mainframe software.  Your computer acts exactly the way it would if you used physical tape transports instead of GreenTape; our hardware and software take it from there.  The compatibility is fully two-way.  It works perfectly when you do a backup.  It works perfectly when you do a restore.

There's only one catch:  We won't sell you GreenTape.  We will only rent it to you for terms of 1 to 3 years.  We will maintain the hardware and software on a 4-hour response basis.  We provide overnight replacement in the unlikely event of a major catastrophic failure.  And we offer remote data mirroring at our data center in the suburbs of Chicago, so even if you have a disaster that cuts power to your entire data center your GreenTape backup will remain available in a secure facility with its own emergency power generator.

You don't have to take our word for it, you can read our case study of the largest high school district in Illinois.  The school system graduated from IBM 3490 technology to GreenTape to back up its IBM mainframe.

Or you can learn about a mainframe services company in Texas that uses one GreenTape as its strategic backup system and a replica Greentape as part of its own disaster recovery facility.  Data Dallas says the machines paid for themselves!

It boils down to this:  GreenTape is more energy efficient, less costly, faster, more reliable and more versatile than any traditional tape solution.  It's fully compatible with IBM operating environments.  Your computer won't ever know GreenTape is there.  But your chief financial officer will.

Want to learn more?  Here's a simple form you can use to help us provide specific information on the GreenTape configuration that will best meet your requirements.