Imation, a worldwide leader in removable data storage is set to unveil StorSentry at the Business Continuity Expo on 15-16th March 2006, ExCel in London. Designed to monitor data storage media, StorSentry allows IT and data centre managers to get more out of their drives by managing media replacements in a scientific manner and developing a retirement strategy for their media.

Media Lifecycle Management is now a necessity for businesses and current tools do not provide enough visibility in terms of why drives fail, they are simply replaced. Many disaster recovery failures are due to inaccurate data but this data needs to be 100 per cent recoverable in the event of a disaster. StorSentry is a real-time monitoring tool that provides at-a-glance, precise information indicating when media should be changed to ensure that data is not at risk. The software also checks that the drive and media combination of the library is working at an optimal level as well as establishing if data integration from one type of media to another is required.

"Today's twenty-four-seven services leave little time for backup but media lifecycle management and compliance is now at the top of the IT manager's agenda" said Sally Firth, Solutions Consultant at Imation. "If there is a problem with your media, StorSentry can establish whether the fault lies with the tape or the drive. In essence, it predicts the root cause of the problem by alerting IT managers to potential failures before they happen, thereby facilitating the removal of corrupted media and reducing risk to business operations", she added.

StorSentry is easy to install via a simple download and is compatible with HP. The software is non-intrusive and is installed on the server that controls the backup solutions. It then collects all required information on the storage system and no system modification is required. It also provides important media information including checking if cartridges have reached the pre-set age or usage limit, and the pre-set error threshold. Confirming a comprehensive cartridge inventory, StorSentry also establishes the number of mounting operations, duration of use, average read/write error rate, read/write deterioration rate and the frequency of use.

Building on Imation's expertise, the software enables the end user to maximise investment in media and apply best practices for business continuity, thus minimising downtime.

StorSentry has been developed by Imation partner Hi-Stor Technologies, and Imation has exclusive distribution rights to the software.

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About Hi-Stor Technologies
Hi-Stor Technologies was established in 1997 by a group of engineers specialised in data storage on magnetic tapes and optical discs. The company initially focused on developing systems for a few major players in the data storage industry. Those projects gave rise to some exciting innovations in tape drive technologies. In 1999, Hi-Stor Technologies diversified by creating a consulting and storage system integration division, quickly becoming one of the leading VARs in France. The combination of those two activities gives the company a global view of the needs of the storage industry, from manufacturers to end users. Its customers include the largest data storage device manufacturers as well as key public-sector and industrial players. For further information, visit the sites http://www.histor.fr and http://www.storsentry.com.

About Imation

Imation Corp. is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of magnetic and optical removable data storage media. With one of the broadest product lines in the industry, spanning from a few megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes of capacity in each piece of media, Imation serves customers in more than 60 countries, in both business and consumer markets. From large data centres to distributed networks, Imation’s tape cartridges are used in data processing, security, business continuity, backup and archiving applications. Customer needs for reliability, convenience and portability to store and manage business data, photos, video, images and music on professional and home desktops and increasingly in consumer electronics devices, drive demand for Imation’s optical and diskette products. As a 3M spin off, Imation benefits from 50 years of tape experience and 20 years of optical experience. As an independent company for the last 10 years, Imation’s objective has always been to deliver future technology today. With more than 300 technology scientists and nearly 300 patents in the US alone, Imation continue to pioneer today’s proven magnetic and optical media technologies. Imation Corp. is located in Oakdale, Minnesota, USA. The European Headquarters is based in Schiphol, The Netherlands. Imation UK is based in Bracknell, Berkshire.