| As Robert Frost makes clear in his famous | | | | Intelligent Tape[TM] (AIT) data storage |
| poem, "The Road Not Taken," picking one path | | | | solutions from Sony provide a broader range |
| over another can make all the difference. | | | | of capacities, increased performance, better |
| While Frost had other topics in mind at the | | | | reliability, easier maintenance and a more |
| time, his point is nonetheless applicable to | | | | strategic path to the future than the |
| today's companies that are using or | | | | AITernatives. Organizations choosing the AIT |
| considering linear tape formats such as DLT, | | | | path will find themselves with a more |
| S-DLT and LTO as their data storage solution. | | | | flexible and integrated tape storage format |
| | | | that can span backup needs from individual |
| Legacy formats such as Digital Linear Tape | | | | PCs, to workgroups, to the enterprise. |
| (DLT) were a reasonable data storage | | | | |
| AITernative in the past, but a combination of | | | | AIT is a proven storage technology with years |
| new business challenges and new technology | | | | of successful enterprise deployments behind |
| choices are driving many companies to rethink | | | | it. First appearing in 1996, AIT is a |
| their tape storage path. For example, | | | | compact, helical scan 8MM tape format in a |
| conventional DLT systems are approaching the | | | | 3.5-in., half-height form factor. With its |
| end of their useful life cycle, with no | | | | high capacity (up to 100GB per cassette), |
| well-defined way to add capacity without | | | | speed and reliability, AIT is emerging as a |
| upgrading to a new format. While Super DLT | | | | more strategic tape storage path compared |
| (SOLT) and Linear Tape Open (LTO) systems do | | | | with linear formats such as DLT, S-DLT and |
| have roadmaps to the future, neither format | | | | LTO. Consider the following advantages of |
| offers a compatible solution that can span | | | | AIT: |
| the gamut of storage needs, from the entry or | | | | |
| workstation level up to the "Super Drive" | | | | * Reliability -- Consistent operation and |
| level. In addition, upgrades require a media | | | | assured reliability are two critical |
| change, making long-term use of linear | | | | components for a tape storage system. AIT-3 |
| solutions more cumbersome and less flexible. | | | | drives are designed for a mean time between |
| | | | failure (MTBF) of up to 400,000 hours |
| Perhaps, as Frost suggests, it's time to | | | | (compared with DLT's 250,000 MTBF rating) and |
| consider a different path. Advanced | | | | a 100% duty cycle. |