The company behind the Cache-A line of archive appliances will stop supporting of most of those products at the end of 2017.
The ProMAX Solutions announcement applies to the following:
• All Cache-A Pro-Cache Models
• All Cache-A Prime-Cache Models
• All Cache-A Power-Cache Models
• ProMAX Pro-Cache running Cache-A Software 3.4.4 and below
• ProMAX Power-Cache running Cache-A Software 3.4.4 and below
(This will affect ALL units running Linux CentOS based Cache-A software version 3.4.4 and lower)
This end-of-support announcement means ProMAX will discontinue troubleshooting, hardware service and support assistance; cease software and security updates; and remote activation and updates for these models effective January 1, 2018.
The sale of new support plans and extension of existing support plans will end on January 1, 2017. However, single incident support will be available until the January 1, 2018 end-of-support date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What can I do with my Cache-A?
The Cache-A end-of-support is almost 18 months out, so you don’t have to do anything if it’s working properly. Z Systems suggests you renew your Support plan prior to January 1, 2017. Contact us for assistance.
ProMAX has created a program to trade in or upgrade your archive appliance, depending upon the version. Most ProMAX-manufactured Pro-Cache and Power-Cache systems built and shipped after October 2014 can be upgraded via software to current specifications.
Q: What is the future of the Cache-A appliance?
The ProMAX Platform Pro-Cache stand-alone archive device will be produced with upgraded software. These appliances will be fully integrated with the Platform line of Workflow Server products for networks.
Q: What will happen to the data I’ve archived on Cache-A LTO tapes?
Your existing Cache-A tapes and catalogs will be compatible with the new Platform Pro-Cache AND all Platform LTO configurations. The ProMAX Platform product line will be able to reach TAR and LTFS tapes, and import the catalogs created by discontinued Cache-A appliances.
Q: Which similar LTO tape archive product should I use now that Cache-A support is ending?
A lot of our customers are finding that a simple LTO drive is a very efficient and reliable way to archive your data. Our favorite is the mLogic Mtape- it comes with some basic software that lets you use LTFS (which allows the tape drive to communicate with your computer) and is easy to use.
For those who want more sophisticated software on the front end, the next step up would be to add imagine software’s PreRoll Post, which solves lots of problems behind the scenes, in addition to giving you indexes and reports.
