ExaGrid Systems, a provider of scalable disk-based backup solutions with byte-level data de-duplication, has announced that Gardner Trucking has chosen the ExaGrid system to achieve faster backups and restores, and reduce the hassles of tape backup.
Based in Chino, Calif., Gardner Trucking operates a fleet of trucks throughout 11 Western states. Gardner Trucking offers a full range of services, including linehaul, dedicated and full-service logistics, and its large fleet of trailing equipment includes dry vans, roller vans, curtain vans, flatbeds and double flatbeds. Gardner Trucking also has a second terminal in Tracy, Calif., and operates 42 dedicated fleets onsite at various customer locations.
“We were impressed with ExaGrid’s approach to data de-duplication, and we liked the fact that the system was scalable so that we could easily expand it as our data grew,” says Gary Larson, chief information officer for Gardner Trucking. “With ExaGrid, the speed of our backups has been amazing. We are now able to complete full backups in less than two hours instead of the 13 it took with tape.”
The ExaGrid system works alongside Gardner Trucking’s existing backup application, Symantec Backup Exec, and also backs up the company’s VMware server images. ExaGrid says its disk-based backup system is highly scalable, with a virtualized GRID architecture designed to enable organizations to start with an appropriate initial capacity and add additional capacity in 1TB to 5TB increments as needed.
ExaGrid says its byte-level data de-duplication technology stores changes from backup to backup instead of storing full file copies; this approach reduces the disk space required by 10:1 to 50:1 or more. ExaGrid says it delivers fast backup performance because data is written directly to disk, and data de-duplication is performed post-process after the data is stored.
“ExaGrid is extremely cost-effective for organizations seeking to reduce or eliminate tape and significantly reduce backup windows,” says Bill Andrews, president and chief executive officer of Westborough, Mass-based ExaGrid. “The combination of high-quality SATA storage and our unique approach to byte-level data de-duplication makes ExaGrid a leader in performance and price.”
