sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sun/NC/north-carolina sunflash-Send requests, problems to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SMCC Introduces High Performance 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader SunFLASH Vol 62 #16 February 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62.16 SMCC Introduces High Performance 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader (DataCenter Version) o New Sun 4mm Auto Loader provides up to 20 GB of unattended backup storage in the space required for Sun's 5-GB 8mm tape o Incorporates the same high performance 4mm drive Sun introduced in April 1993 o Provides four times the storage capacity previously offered for our data centers o A data transfer rate almost double Sun's current 8mm tape drive make this the fastest backup solution offered by Sun (237 lines) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The new 4mm Tape Auto Loader provides the highest capacity and highest performance backup solution ever offered by Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC). This new high capacity backup solution is available as an internal option for the SPARCcenter(TM) 2000 system and in a tape tray for use in an expansion rack. The system cabinet can accomodate up to three of these auto loaders providing up to 60 GB of backup capacity internal to the system. The expansion rack tray can house up to four of the auto loaders which provides up to 80 GB of backup capacity in a single tape tray. The new auto loader incorporates the same highly reliable 5-GB 4mm tape drive introduced in April 1993. With a data transfer rate over 80% faster than Sun's 5-GB 8mm tape drive, customers can backup over 25 GB in a single eight hour shift. Sun's 4mm tape drive has built-in data compression which automatically and transparently compresses data sent by the host system to the device. In native or non-compressed mode, this drive can store up to 2 GB on a standard 90 meter 4mm tape, or 8-GB per stacker cartridge. The drive also features a data transfer rate of 366 KB/sec., twice as fast as most 4mm drives available in the market. With data compression, customers can get 2 to 4 times the native capacity on a single piece of 4mm media. Typical user data compresses at a ratio of 2.5:1, the data transfer rate of the drive scales with the compression ratio. With a compression ratio of 2.5:1 the new auto stacker will provide 20 GB of storage. With Sun's 20-GB 4mm auto loader, customers can get four times the capacity as with the 5-GB 8mm tape drive and much faster throughput. The 5.25-in. form factor allows this auto loader to be packaged in the same enclosures used for Sun's 8mm tape drives. Sun's 20-GB 4mm tape auto loader has been fully qualified and tested by Sun engineers for optimum performance and reliability when used with Sun SPARCstation(TM) and SPARCserver(TM) systems. Sun has verfied the 80,000 hour MTBF rating of the drive and the greater than 50,000 cartridge insertion specification so customers can rest assured they are getting the reliability they expect. This device is certified by all regulatory agencies to meet the most demanding environmental specifications. Priced to compete with any third party 4mm stacker solutions, customers can not find a better value for tape storage in the market. FEATURES AND BENEFITS --------------------- Features Benefits -------- -------- o Over 80% faster than Sun's 8mm tape o Backup data in roughly half the time o Built-in data compression o Store 2-4 times the data on a single piece of media, swap tape less often and use less media o 80,000 hours MTBF and greater o Customers do not have to worry about than 50,000 cartridge insertions the reliability of their backup system HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ The 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader requires Solaris(R) 2.3 or later operating environment. AVAILABILITY ------------ The 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader can be ordered and is shipping immediately. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS --------------------- Q. On what systems is the 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader supported? A. Currently the 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader is supported only on the SPARCcenter 2000 (internal or expansion rack) and SPARCserver 1000 systems (expansion rack only). Q. Are new SPARCcenter 2000 configurations incorporating this device planned? A. Currently the 20-GB 4mm Tape Auto Loader will be sold as an internal or external option only. Q. Can a customer mix the new Auto Loader in systems with 8mm drives? A. Yes. There are no technical issues and since this device is available as an x-option, customers are free to mix them in system or expansion cabinets with 8mm devices. Q. Will Sun continue to support 1/4 inch and 8mm tape? A. Yes. Sun will continue to sell both existing 1/4 inch and 8mm tape drive solutions as long as there is significant customer demand. Q. Why is Sun introducing a 20-GB 4mm auto loader rather than a 10-GB 8mm tape drive? A. 4mm tape is quickly gaining popularity in the industry given its low cost and high reliability. Recent improvements in 4mm tape performance and capacity make this an attractive solution for the most demanding backup applications. With shipments of 4mm tape drives now exceeding those of 8mm, it is clear customers are demanding 4mm tape. Q. What are the interchange standards for 4mm tape? A. Most 4mm tape drives sold today conform with the Digital Data Storage (DDS) manufacturers group standards. These standards specify formatting for drives without data compression (DDS), those with data compression (DDS-DC) as well as for different media lengths. Strict interchange testing is required by all drives conforming to DDS and DDS-DC specifications which are approved by both ANSI and ECMA standards organizations. Q. Where do I buy 4mm media? A. 4mm media is available from SunExpress and 4mm media is widely available from most retail computer products stores where other computer grade media is sold. Sun will ship a full cartridge (4 tapes) along with a cleaning kit with each rack mountable autoloader. Q. How expensive is 4mm media? A. Computer grade 4mm media cost roughly the same as computer grade 8mm media. Sun recommends that only computer grade media be used in this drive to ensure optimal ongoing reliability. Q. How often do these drives require cleaning? A. Sun recommends the drive is cleaned at least once after every 30 hours of actual tape operation. COLLATERAL ---------- Your Sun representative can obtain for you copies of the following documents: Title Description ---------- ------------ 5-GB 4mm Tape Product Brief Product description with detailed performance and physical specifications (SunWIN token# 23850) 4mm Tape Technnology Overview Comparative technology review of 4mm tape versus other tape technologies (SunWIN token# 23848) Sun's Peripheral Quality White paper describing steps Sun takes to Difference qualify a mass storage peripheral (SunWIN token# 11294) Sun Supplied Peripheral Customer-ready presentation highlighting Guarantee main points of Sun's Peripheral Quality Difference white paper (SunWIN token# 11293) U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- THESE PRODUCTS APPEAR IN BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LIST Internal Mass Storage X-Options: Order List Disc SunSpectrum Description Number Price Cat Silver Price ================================================================================ 20-GB 4mm Auto Loader Internal Backup Tape 825A*# $5,000 A N/C 20-GB 4mm Auto Loader 826A*@ $6,000 A N/C Data Center Tray * Add "X" before the order number (e.g., X825A or X825AR5) to order as a standalone option for existing systems. # Append "R4" to the order number (e.g., 825AR4) for factory installation in the system cabinet. Append "R5" to the order number (e.g., 825AR5) for factory installation in an expansion cabinet. @ Append "R5" to the order number (e.g., 826AR5V3) for factory installation in an expansion cabinet. Append "V3" to the order number (e.g., 826AR5V3) for 230V operation or "V4" (e.g., 826AR5V4) for 240V operation. (c) 1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCcenter, SPARCstation, SPARCserver and are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on draco.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au For last month's digest, send email to flashadm@sun.com with a Subject line of 61.00 For Gopher and WAIS access: sunsite.unc.edu. (Login as 'gopher' for a simple gopher client, 'swais' for a simple WAIS client (over 500 databases). All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. 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