From: gertjan@west.nl (Gertjan van Oosten)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.large
Subject: Re: Archiving on large systems
Date: 13 Apr 92 09:45:38 GMT
Organization: West Consulting bv, Delft, The Netherlands

CSYSPCN@mvs.oac.ucla.edu (CSYSPCN) writes:
> What are you using for archiving, and are you happy with it?

We sell an archiving tool, called CenDar (stands for: centralised
data archiving):

  CenDar is a reliable data archiving system for use in a heterogeneous
  network with various UNIX- and VMS-based computer systems, inter-
  connected by a local area network using the TCP/IP protocol suite.
    The aim of CenDar is to provide users with a reliable tool that
  enables them to archive sets of related files (grouped in so-called
  `projects') from various computers in the network (the clients, or
  `archive nodes') to an archive device attached to the server, or
  `CenDar node'.
    During the archive process, Cendar stores meta-data on the archived
  files in a database on the server.  Thus, users can easily retrieve
  files and generate reports on the contents of the database.
    CenDar uses a consistent, powerful, easy-to-use user interface.  All
  operations are controlled via this interface.


Russell Fulton (russell@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz) writes:
> What do you mean by archiving?
> 
> To *me* archiving means saving files in some system where I can be
> confident that they will be looked after for as long as I have asked
> them to be. Once I have 'archived' the file I should be able to delete
> the file from my account. It also implies that I should be able to get
> the file back with a minimum of fuss at anytime. Although there may be
> a delay before the file appears. You need to be able to specify how long
> the file is to be kept.

This is what CenDar was designed to do.  Users can specify per `project'
how long the meta-data on the archived files should stay in the database
(the `expiration time').

> Here are some comments about the system in the order that I think of them.
> 
> 1/ It will be based on a client/server model. Server running on a UNIX
>   system. Clients will be Unix, PC, Mac, VMS implemented in that order.

The server runs under SunOS and HP-UX.  CenDar currently supports SunOS,
HP-UX and VMS as clients, with ports to ULTRIX and AIX planned.

> 2/ Use TCP/IP a protocol based on ftp. We intend to  hack existing ftp
>    clients on PCs and Macs as a first shot at implementing clients 
>    for those platforms.

CenDar uses TCP/IP, and currently uses the FTP protocol suite to
transfer the files from the clients to the server.

> 3/ the system will use a commercial indexed file system to maintain
>    a database of information about files and users of the archive.

CenDar support a wide range of commercial databases, amongst which are:
C-ISAM, Sybase, ORACLE, Ingres, Informix.

> 4/ Security will be similar to unix password system with the possibility
>    of having trusted hosts where user athentification is not required.

CenDar recognises three types of users:  administrators, project
managers and normal users.
  Administrators can archive and retrieve any file.  Project managers
can archive and retrieve only files normally accessible (via the
standard protection-based access mechanism of the operating system).
Normal users cannot archive, they can only retrieve files normally
accessible.

> 5/ full directory structures (from the users home directory for  Unix
>    and VMS or from root for PCs and macs) will be saved.

A project definition can specify any set of files to be archived (these
can be on different clients!).  If a specified file happens to be a
directory, the whole directory hierarchy is archived.

> 6/ initial implementation will archive to a large disk area.

CenDar uses an optical disk juke-box as its archive device.

> 7/ When fully operational (i.e. when we get the tape stuff implemented)
>    the system will always maintain two copies of all files.

CenDar archives only one copy of any file.  It is trivial to copy the
archive medium currently used by CenDar, and store the copy off-line.

> 8/ We will be happy to distribute this software under a GNU type license.

CenDar is NOT in the public domain.  It is a product of West Solutions.

> 9/ expected time frame -- early next year.

Available NOW.

> 10/ Afterthought, It will allow you to keep multiple versions of a file
>     a la VMS. (you can specify how many generations to keep for a given
>     file.)

CenDar will NEVER delete a file from the archive.  Users can retrieve
any version of the file that was archived.


As you can see, we already have the product you are looking for.  The
only practical problem will be the support of this product in your
area.
  Our sales area is the Benelux (Europe), with possible sales in
England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.  We would gladly help you by
providing you with the code necessary to run the product, but support
should be done via E-mail or telephone.

The price of the product depends on the size of the juke-box connected
to the Cendar node.  Juke-boxes supported are the HP juke-boxes (10GB,
20GB, 60GB, 100GB).

If you want any further information, please do not hesitate to contact:

  Coen van den Heuvel
  Sales and Marketing director
  West Solutions
  E-mail: coen@west.nl


Regards,
--
-- Gertjan van Oosten, gertjan@west.nl
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