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Figure 1-3 shows the IBM TS7700D and TS7700 with DS8000 Object Storage TVC processing. 

<img src='content_image/972393.jpg'>

Another benefit of tape virtualization is the data replication functions. Up to eight IBM TS7700 devices can be interconnected to form a grid. The connections can be through one of the following sets of links: 

GLYPH<SM590000> Two or Four 1-gigabit (Gb) Ethernet links (copper) 

GLYPH<SM590000> Two or Four 10-gigabit per second (Gb) Ethernet links (longwave (LW) fiber) 

These sets of links form a multi-cluster grid configuration . Adapter types cannot be mixed in a cluster, but they can  vary within a grid, depending on your network infrastructure. Logical volume attributes and data are replicated across the clusters in a grid. Any data that exists somewhere in the grid is accessible through any other cluster in the grid configuration. 

Through remote volume access, you can reach any virtual volume through any virtual device. You can reach volumes, even if a replication is not yet made. When two or more cluster types exist in the same grid, such as a TS7700D and TS7700T, it is referred to as a HybridGrid . 

Setting replication policies on the TS7700 determines how many copies are made, where you want copies to occur, and how you want copies to occur. Each policy can be set at logical volume granularity, which allows flexibility for workloads. For example, some workloads can require synchronous replication while others can use asynchronous replication. Also, some might require no copies while other require many copies. 

You can group clusters within a grid into families . Grouping enables the TS7700 to make improved decisions for tasks, such as replication or TVC selection. 

Depending on the configuration, multiple TS7700 tape products that form a grid provide the following benefits: 

GLYPH<SM590000> High availability (HA) 

