Since 2005, Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822 has relied on two mirrored data centers to manage the growth of its file-based data as well as to provide a reliable disaster recovery strategy. Following this approach, the bank was able to achieve the security levels required by German compliance regulations. However, the bank still faced the challenge of managing its growing amounts of file data more efficiently and cost-effectively. After evaluating various options, Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822 realized that it would need an enterprise-wide file virtualization and management solution to improve the administration of its file data. As a result, Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822 decided to implement Brocade StorageX, a File Area Network (FAN) solution.

"Brocade StorageX has solved all major challenges in both the design and mirroring of our two data centers," said Joachim Tjaden, System Administrator at Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822. "By virtualizing the data paths, Brocade StorageX has enabled access security in connection with our Windows NT4 clients. In 2005, we installed our second data center and Brocade StorageX now mirrors access rights to that data center."

Brocade StorageX is an open software-based management solution for file data. The solution leverages and extends Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS) as a native service. With the combination of Brocade StorageX and Microsoft DFS, Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822 has been able to create an open global namespace. This flexible layer separates the physical and the logical view on the file paths. Brocade StorageX virtualization capabilities, in combination with the product's automated migration and consolidation policies, enable the bank's IT administrators to transparently move files to different storage devices without impacting user or application access. In addition, the bank utilizes the product's disaster recovery policies to seamlessly fail over users in the event of a server failure or outage.

"Brocade StorageX has enabled Frankfurter Sparkasse 1822 to manage its file data more efficiently and cost-effectively while decreasing downtime in the event of an outage or a disaster," concluded Tjaden. "In addition, we have reduced the time and effort required to manage our file data while dramatically increasing the overall security and availability of that data."