The DXi3500 and DXi5500 are disk arrays designed for remote offices and data centers, respectively. They are capable of storing from 1.5TB to 11TB of data as well as replicating that data over a WAN. The arrays can act as network-attached storage (NAS) using Gigabit Ethernet for file-level data, or they can be used as part of a storage-area network (SAN) using either the iSCSI and Fibre Channel protocols for block-level data transfers.

The arrays are expected to be available toward the end of next month.

Data de-duplication, or data reduction, involves looking for redundant blocks of data within backup jobs and storing or replicating only the unique blocks so users can recover from disk for longer periods of time. The technology also creates efficiencies when moving larger volumes of backup data between sites over a WAN by reducing bandwidth requirements.

Both VTLs are able to replicate data over a WAN for disaster recovery purposes between distributed sites such as data centers and regional offices. Quantum acquired the data de-duplication technology for its arrays through its buyout of rival ADIC Corp. earlier this year (see "").

Other vendors of data de-duplication technology include EMC Corp. (through its recent buyout of Avamar Technologies), Data Domain Inc., Diligent Technologies, Exagrid Systems, FalconStor Software and Sepaton, as well as larger vendors such as Network Appliance Inc. and Symantec Corp.