MediaMerge for UNIX

 

MM/UNIX allows the user to do mainframe tape handling within the Sun/Unix Open Systems environment (mainframe to Unix conversion). It allows the Unix user to restore, convert and duplicate tape-based data via SCSI attached devices. The package can automatically detect, process and restore hundreds of different tape formats. Data can be Bit converted from ASCII to EBCDIC or visa-versa, and can optionally have Packed Decimal Fields decoded as well as other types of record based data manipulation. Simply stated, if you have a tape or a CD and you want to read or write data to or from your Unix system, THIS is the software you need. Likewise, if you currently do all your tape I/O in a Mainframe environment, and desire to migrate away from this, again THIS is the software you need.
Features Compatible with most leading SCSI tape drives Restore files and datasets from virtually any logical tape format - including many proprietary computer systems Automatic format recognition feature Writes most industry-standard backup formats Tape to tape duplication CD Writing from tape Tape initialization Media testing Scan and analyze unknown tapes Optical and removable magnetic drives supported Optional record-based manipulation facility Look & Feel The system is interactive and runs as a GUI from within its own XTerm, complete with drop down cascading menus, as well as, full on-line context sensitive help. Icons exist for the main functions. The software is very configurable, with plenty of user controllable run-time options. Scripts can be pre-configured to allow automatic running based on predefined file names, tape types, tape numbers etc. Tapes can be read, written, scanned and viewed or dumped. Files can be specifically requested for recall, negating the need to restore all files from a given tape. Search strings can also be entered, and if the string is found within a file on the tape, that specific file will be restored. Logging All actions are centrally logged, with the ability to bore down in detail and see every action that occurred when reading or writing a tape. This information is stored on a job basis, with each tape stream being assigned a unique job number. Options exist to allow automatic output of log files to a user defined location at the end of each job. Multiple instances of the program can run on the same server, with all logging being shared in a common file system - ensuring that job numbers are unique within the system. Processing Speed MM/UNIX is fast! Unix systems tend to operate a lot faster than PC's and consequently we find that we can usually drive the attached devices at their designated capacity. As you attach more hardware to each server, eventually the I/O bus tends to overload and this - not the processor speed - tends to be the limiting factor of how many instances of the package you can run concurrently Error Handling The software is exceptionally fault tolerant, and processes hard-to-read media very well. A full log is kept of all I/O errors. Operator prompts to the GUI are provided in case of problems. The software handles both Standard-Label and Non-Labeled media, and in the case of Standard Labeled tapes, will ensure that the media is processed in the correct order, issuing a warning message in case the Operator mounts a volume out of sequence. Support for new tape formats We are adding new tape formats at the rate of a couple per month. If you have an unsupported format, the software has a built-in function that allows you to duplicate the front of the tape and allows you to email it to us. It normally takes a few days and we will have a custom written tape handler for your special tape. This handler will then be available for others at the next general release. Supported UNIX Operating systems Current system requirements for MM/UNIX: Sun (SPARC) running Solaris 8 SCSI adapter with a SCSI tape drive 120MB free disk space for program 256MB or more RAM
The applications for MM/PC are almost limit less. If it involves moving data between computers on magnetic tape, MO, CD or hard disk, then MM/PC is the tool you need. Data interchange, data conversion, forensic analysis and restoring tape backups from any type of computer are all within a single software package.
Restore Tape Backups from any Source
With MediaMerge/PC any PC with a suitable tape drive and SCSI adapter can restore backup tapes from almost any source. It does not matter if the tape was generated using ArcServe, Sytos Plus, Mountain backup, NT Backup, Backup Express, Unix, VAX/VMS backup or any other formats. MM/PC will read the tapes, and the restore process is extremely simple. The type of tape is recognized automatically, and either a directory of the original files will be displayed or an option to restore the entire file may be given. Typically all subdirectories and full-length file names will be retained. Having a very simple standard interface and no knowledge of the original backup package is required. Many users and computers can only generate tapes (that are required for large data transfers) onto their standard backup device. With MM/PC you can accept tapes from any source.
Advanced Features and Benefits
Standard Features:
Standard 32-bit Windows interface Compatible with most leading tape drives Restore files and datasets from virtually any logical tape format, including proprietary computer Systems Scan and analyze unknown tapes Automatic format recognition feature Viewing and saving blocks from a tape Data conversion, including unpacking fields and ASCII to EBCDIC Tape to tape duplication
Optional Features:
Writes most industry-standard backup formats CD Writing from tape Tape and volume stacking Automatic Running Capability Tape Initialization Media testing Forensic Logging Optical and removable magnetic drives supported Optional record-based manipulation facility, Record Reformatter RR32