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April 18, 2005
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Overview of Hitachi Data Systems TrueCopy


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This document provides an overview of the Hitachi Data Systems TrueCopy software
features for the TagmaStore USP and Lightning 9900 series of storage systems.
family (9900 and 9900 V). It is a component of the Hitachi Business Continuity Suite of

Competitive alternatives include the EMC SRDF, IBM Global Copy and Metro Copy,
and StorageTek Power PPRC products.

Product Highlights

Support for mainframe and open systems
Synchronous (TrueCopy Basic) and asynchronous (TrueCopy Asynchronous)
modes of operation
TrueCopy Asynchronous is a Hitachi Data Systems proprietary hardware only
asynchronous solutions
Support for IBMs Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS)

Product Overview

TrueCopy consists of a suite of remote copy products that are unique to the Hitachi
USP and 9900 series.

TrueCopy Basic (Synchronous)

TrueCopy Basic is a remote copy option that operates in synchronous mode. It
can duplicate any number and types of logical volume images from a primary
source to a secondary source at distances up to 43 kilometers. Both the primary
and secondary subsystems must be a USP or a 9900. TrueCopy Basic does not
require any software (or microcode) outside of that in the USP or 9900 system.

TrueCopy Asynchronous

Hitachi Data Systems offers two versions of asynchronous remote copy:
TrueCopy Asynchronous and Hitachi Extended Remote Copy (HXRC). The
HXRC product, which is fully compatible with the IBM XRC offering, is not part of
the TrueCopy suite and must be ordered separately.

TrueCopy Asynchronous is Hitachi Data Systems proprietary microcode based
asynchronous implementation with the algorithms and rules of the System Data
Mover incorporated into the system microcode. All records are time stamped to
allow it to reassemble data that is sequence sensitive. It also supports
consistency groups, but all volumes in a group must reside on the same
subsystem since it does not have the ability to communicate between
ES/OL
Evaluator Series On-Line
Product Information
Software
April 18, 2005
Page 2 of 2

Overview of Hitachi Data Systems TrueCopy


2000-2005 Evaluator Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is prohibited.
7720 E. Belleview Avenue Suite 210 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 221-7867 Fax (303) 221-1615 www.evaluatorgroup.com
subsystems. The NanoCopy feature is required to support consistency groups
across multiple subsystems.

With ESCON channels the primary and secondary subsystems can be separated
by up to 43 kilometers. Third party channel extender products (i.e. CNT
Channelink and UltraNet Director) can be used to extend the distance to
thousands of miles via communication lines.

Evaluator Group's Perception of Strengths and Weaknesses

Evaluator Group's perception of the strengths and weaknesses of the Hitachi
Data Systems TrueCopy feature are as follows.

Perceived Strengths

TrueCopy Asynchronous provides asynchronous mode of operation
without requirement for host based software (System Data Mover)
TrueCopy Asynchronous provides a cost effective means of providing
disaster recovery capabilities across extended distances
Remote copy support for IBMs Geographically Dispersed Parallel
Sysplex (GDPS) facility

The combination of TrueCopy Asynchronous and NanoCopy will provide a
relatively simple and cost effective means of implementing disaster
recovery across extended distances. Evaluator Group believes that with
these new products, Hitachi Data Systems has assumed the leadership
position in the area of disaster recovery.

Perceived Weaknesses

Performance impact in synchronous mode (same as any other synchronous
implementation)
Consistency groups with TrueCopy Asynchronous without NanoCopy are
limited to volumes within a single subsystem



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