I agree with Jeff's comments.

One problem is that I have yet to hear anybody on this list say they
like the AvailHSM option for WIndowsNT, or that it is cost-effective.

Another problem is that I am VERY reluctant to get involved with a
product that has changed ownership (Avail, Wang, Eastman, etc...) three
times in the last 2 years.

And even if I was sure the vendor was stable, I don't really want to
bring another vendor into the picture.  All client-server applications
are somewhat labor intensive and require a lot of learning and debugging
effort.  I am already dealing with IBM for my software,  STK for my
hardware, Oracle for EBU support, and Seagate for BackupExec support.
While I am VERY PLEASED  with the support I have gotten from all four
vendors, enough already!  The learning curve is just too steep.  I don't
have time to learn yet another vendor's product, and it's cheaper to buy
disk than to clone me!


(And wasn't ADSM supposed to be an INTEGRATED storage management
solution, anyway?)


 =======================================================================
Wanda Prather
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
301-953-6000 X8769
wanda_prather AT jhuapl DOT edu

"My opinions, for what they are worth, are my own and not necessarily
those of the management.".
 =======================================================================



> ----------
> From:         Jeff Connor[SMTP:connorj AT nimo DOT com]
> Sent:         Wednesday, September 24, 1997 12:52 PM
> To:   ADSM-L AT vm.marist DOT edu
> Subject:      Re: HSM function with NT clients
>
> I've been watching this thread and would like to through in my opinion
> for
> any IBM'ers listening in.
>
> I feel that for ADSM to be the number one storage management product
> it
> must offer HSM support for Windows NT and Netware in the future.  I
> realize
> that with the broad number of platforms supported by ADSM, IBM can't
> expect
> to be everything to everbody.  It is also nice that they have at least
> partnered with another company so that HSM fuctionality can be
> provided
> today.  But, as many people pointed out on this list before, using
> AvailHSM
> with ADSM is an expensive option.    It may be cheaper just to buy
> more
> disk as one person pointed out.  I think what most ADSM customers
> would
> like to hear is that IBM has partnered with Eastman to bring HSM
> functionality to ADSM  today BUT it will be added to ADSM in the
> future.
> Running short on disk space is a common problem with Netware and
> Windows NT
> servers at many companies.  I think it's common enough that IBM should
> plan
> on offering HSM support for Windows NT and Netware in the future as
> competing products like Arcserve already have.  Dealing with another
> vendor, licensing, support, additional hardware, etc, is not the best
> long
> term Windows NT/Netware HSM solution for ADSM in my opinion.
> What do you other ADSM customers think?
>
>
>
>
>
> thompsod @ USAA.COM
> 09/23/97 04:44 PM
>
>
> Please respond to ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
>
> To:   ADSM-L @ VM.MARIST.EDU
> cc:    (bcc: Jeffrey P Connor)
> Subject:  Re: HSM function with NT clients
>
>
>
>
> Richard,
>   FYI before I began talking to Eastman I asked IBM if they forsee
> offering
> an HSM solution for NT and they said NO!
> Like you I do have any desire to make my life more complicated.
> However, I
> do not see an alternative yet.
> I have previously read other members of the forum stating that the
> cost of
> the OpenStor product preventing it from being an option at their site.
> I
> am going to keep a close eye out for the cost when 2.05 is available.
> Good luck,
>  Dan T.
> ----------
> > From: Sironi, Richard <Sironi.Richard AT MBCO DOT COM>
> > To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> > Subject: Re: HSM function with NT clients
> > Date: Tuesday, September 23, 1997 12:01 PM
> >
> > Hi Dan,
> >   Sounds like we're about in the same place.   I down loaded a trial
> > copy of OpenStore/NT about a month ago, but haven't taken the time
> to
> > install it yet.  Part of the problem is, I'm not overjoyed with this
> > option (another vendor's software to support).    I'll let you know
> what
> > I hear, hope you'll do the same.
> > Thanks,
> >
> >   Rick Sironi ext.2553
> >
>