Data Domain sends de-duped files into unalterable state

Mommy, Wow! Feds are happy now

By Austin Modine • Get more from this author

Posted in Storage, 23rd June 2008 22:17 GMT

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Data Domain is teaching its de-duplication boxes a new storage retention trick to satisfy those picky government regulatory-types when they come sniffing the machinery.

It's adding a Storage Lock option to all its de-duplication systems. The software lets administrators keep de-duplicated files in an unalterable state for fixed periods of times.

That's essentially WORM (write once, read many) for de-duplicated archive storage. And it's another push by the vendor to move beyond vanilla backup solutions to more exotic storage tiers such as — ooh — nearline storage.

Data Domain reckons its the first software to allow file locking for IT regulatory mandates using high throughput inline deduplication.

Retention Lock can bolt down data on a per-file basis, with adjustable limits for how long it's kept under key. During that period, users can't change or delete the files — but admins still can move them about and change the data's security and retention settings.

That's good news if security requirements or policies up and change on a customer, or if some files must be deleted (under court order, of course).

The lock can be applied to any file on Data Domain's boxes regardless of the application or data tier they come from. Locked files can also be replicated for disaster recovery.

Retention Lock works on current archiving tools from EMC, CommVault, Symantec, AXS-One and DataGlobal.

The software is available now to customers running Data Domain OS 4.5. Pricing starts at $500 for its branch-office DD120 de-dupe appliance, and $24,000 for its enterprise DD690g box. ®

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