Acronis ArchiveConnect
Extend File System Archive Solutions to Your Macs

Overview:

Are you using a file system archiving solution such as Symantec Enterprise Vault or CommVault Simpana to free your files servers of infrequently used files?  Are the Mac computers in your organization keeping you from deploying a file system archiving solution?

This happens because when Mac computers are used to browse files, they commonly cause all archived files to be unintentionally brought online, consuming valuable server storage space and negating the advantages of file archiving. Until now, mixed Mac / Windows file server archiving deployments were simply not an option -- which may have stopped you from deploying a file archiving solution all together. With ArchiveConnect, Mac users can browse archived files without triggering unintended mass recalls of offline files. ArchiveConnect is the perfect solution for deploying a file system archiving solution in a mixed Mac / Windows environment.

Use ArchiveConnect to

• Enable Mac users to browse archived files and bring online only the files they need
• Provide trouble-free access to file archive volumes from both Mac and Windows platforms
• Remove the Mac-imposed performance roadblock to file archiving system deployments

Why ArchiveConnect

1. Prevent the unintentional recall of offline files by the Mac Finder utility
2. Provide Mac users with an easy way to bring only needed files online
3. Enable Mac users to bring multiple files and folders online simultaneously, using the Finder utility
4. Display offline files with a custom color label for easy identification

With ArchiveConnect, a member of the Extend family, customers rely on our solution to enable Mac clients to access Windows-based file archives. In cross-platform environments, Macs experience incompatibilities with a variety of today’s FSA (File System Archiving) solutions, which causes performance and availability issues for both Mac and Windows users. This ultimately results in Mac users being barred from using Windows-based FSA solutions - until now. ArchiveConnect is the only solution that effectively integrates Macs with FSA systems. Companies who have already made a large investment in an FSA infrastructure can extend their existing solution to include Macs in their archiving strategy and reap additional ROI benefi ts.

Challenges

Companies make large investments in FSA infrastructures without the knowledge that they will be unable to perform well in a mixed Mac and Windows environment. Macs are unable to access archived files without causing issues because of their unique features such as Quick Look and Cover Flow, which can cause unintended mass file recalls. These recalls put tremendous strain on both file servers and file archiving systems, while leaving many more files online than necessary. The result is wasted storage capacity and a workfl ow issue for end-users as well as IT administrators. These issues can be avoided by using ArchiveConnect.

Challenges Addressed with ArchiveConnect

• Corporate File System Archiving (FSA) solutions are not always compatible or friendly with Mac clients
• Macs typically trigger the unintended recall of any archived files by simply browsing a folder
• These unintended recalls result in countless large files being transferred to local storage and negate the benefi ts of a file archiving
• Macs tend to generate a large amount of data. By not incorporating Macs, companies can not capture the entire ROI an FSA system offers
• When not able to access archived files directly, Mac users frequently call IT to help recall an archived file

Benefits

ArchiveConnect offers benefits to the Windows System Administrator, as well as the Mac end-user, making everyone happy. Examples include:

Windows Administrators:

• Reduce the administrative costs of deploying and maintaining Mac access to file archives
• Reduce hardware costs by taking full advantage of your File System Archiving system
• Reduce requests to the help desk for access to archived files
• Reduce server storage usage and network downtime by preventing the unintended recall of files

Mac Users:

• Save time with simple, Finder-based access to archived files
• Improve collaboration with PC users accessing the same files

Key Product Capabilities and Features

With ArchiveConnect, you can:

• Fully exploit File System Archiving infrastructures, even if you have a mixed Mac / Windows environment
• Increase Mac user productivity through fast, self-service access to archived files
• Reduce unnecessary network bandwidth and storage consumption

With ArchiveConnect, Mac users can:

• Ensure the Mac Finder doesn’t access archived files during routine browsing
• Bring archived files back online without IT’s help - just simply double-click on the file
• Quickly differentiate between online and archived files with intuitive color-coding (when used with ExtremeZ-IP)
• Recall multiple files and folders at the same time
• Be prompted to confi rm their request to recall files
• Recall files without locking up their desktop