---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash New High Capacity Tape Drive SunFLASH Vol 41 #22 May 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - New 5GB 8mm SCSI Tape Drive - New Multi-Tape Backup Tray for 690MP system and expansion cabinets Sun introduces significantly improved system backup capability for all SPARCstations and SPARCservers. The new 5-Gbyte 8mm tape drive offers customers twice the capacity and twice the data transfer rate performance as the current 2.3-Gbyte 8mm tape drive for the same price. With full 2.3-Gbyte format compatibility, customers can both read existing 8mm tapes and write tapes that can be read by existing 2.3-Gbyte 8mm tape drives. The new Multi-Tape Backup Tray holds up to four 5-Gbyte 8mm tape drives. Combined with the existing 8mm tape expansion slot in a data center rack, this tray allows customers to get up to 25-Gbytes of unattended backup capacity on a SPARCserver 690MP. Using Sun's advanced backup and restore software, Backup Copilot, multiple backup operations can be scheduled to run in parallel, increasing the effective throughput by the number of drives used and decreasing the time necessary to backup your filesystems. FEATURES AND BENEFITS --------------------- - Double the capacity on a single piece of media, gives customers twice the unattended backup capacity of the current 2.3-Gbyte drive. - Twice the data transfer rate allows customers to perform system backups in half the time than with the current 2.3-Gbyte drive. Over 14 Gbytes can be backed up in an 8 hour period using a single tape drive. - Backward read and write compatibility with the existing 2.3-Gbyte tape format allows customers to read existing 8mm tapes and write tapes that can be read by existing 2.3-Gbyte tape drives. - Priced the same as the current 2.3-Gbyte drive means customers get more than twice the price/performance. 2.3-Gbyte 5-Gbyte ----------- ------- Formatted Capacity 2.3-Gbyte 5-Gbyte Data Transfer Rate 246 KB/s 500 KB/s Form Factor 5.25-inch 5.25-inch Tape Speed .5 ips .5 ips Buffer Size 256KB 1MB Recording Format 8mm 8mm Price internal tape $4,000 $4,000 Price Desktop Storage Module $4,200 $4,200 Price Multi-Tape Backup Tray N/A $9,000 with two tape drives HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ The new 5-Gbyte 8mm tape requires SunOS 4.1.2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS --------------------- Q. Does the 5-Gbyte 8mm tape require different media than the 2.3-Gbyte drive? A: No, the 5-Gbyte tape drive uses the same media as the the 2.3-Gbyte drive. Q: Will the 5-Gbyte 8mm tape drive be supported on SPARCserver 470 and 490 systems? A: Yes. The 5-Gbyte tape drive is supported on both the 470 and 490. When running 4.1.2 on these systems the drive can only read 2.3-Gbyte tapes, it will not write the 2.3-Gbyte format. This will be fixed in a later OS release. The following compatibility matrix explains the software support for the 5-Gbyte tape drive. Pre- 4.1.2 4.1.2 Next OS Release ------------------------------------------------- Desktop | | Full | Full | SPARCstations | None | Read & Write | Read & Write | -------------------------------------------------- SPARCserver | | Backward | Full | 470/490 | None | Read Only | Read & Write | -------------------------------------------------- SPARCsystem | | Full | Full | 600MP Series | None | Read & Write | Read & Write | -------------------------------------------------- Q: Will the 5-Gbyte 8mm tape drive be bundled with any systems? A: Yes. The 5-Gbyte tape drive will be bundled with the same Desktop Server Option Packs and 670MP and 690MP server packages with which the 2.3-Gbyte tape is currently bundled. Q: Is Backup CoPilot supported on the 5-Gbyte 8mm tape? A: Yes, Backup CoPilot is supported on the 5-Gbyte tape drive. Q: Where does the Multi-Tape Backup Tray fit? A: The Multi-Tape Backup Tray fits in the same slot where the 1/2-inch Front Load Tape can be configured. One tray is supported per system, in either the 690MP system cabinet or in the expansion cabinet. Q: Is the Multi-Tape Backup Tray supported on the 4/490? A: No. The tray is only supported on SPARCserver 690MP and expansion cabinets attached to 690MP systems. PRICING AND ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS --------------------------------- The following appear on the End User and Reseller price lists Order List Disc. Same Day Description Number Price Cat. Service ============================================================================ 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape Desktop Storage Module X814A $4,200 B $65 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape Internal Backup Drive X812L $4,000 B $65 for SPARCserver 670MP and SCSI Expansion Pedestal 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape Internal Backup Drive X811A $4,000 B $65 for SPARCserver 690MP and Multi-Tape Backup Tray Multi-Tape Backup Tray with 2 x X816A $9,000 B $130 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drives SCSI Expansion Pedestal with Four X758A $25,495 B $265 1.3-Gbyte SCSI disks, 1 disk tray, 5-Gbyte 8mm tape drive File Server Option Pack: X2013A $8,495 B $135 1.3-Gbyte Disk Desktop Storage Module, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape Desktop Storage Module, Desktop SunCD Pack Database Server Option Pack, 2.6-Gbyte: X2014A $17,995 B $190 2 x 1.3-Gbyte SCSI disk (1 tray) with SunCD and 5-Gbyte 8mm tape in SCSI Expansion Pedestal, SBus SCSI host adapter Database Server Option Pack, 5.2-Gbyte: X2016A $25,495 B $290 4 x 1.3-Gbyte SCSI disk (1 tray) with SunCD and 5-Gbyte 8mm tape in SCSI Expansion Pedestal, SBus SCSI host adapter High-End Office Servers: SPARCserver 670MP S670-120-64-P53 $64,000 A $535 Model 120 with Two SPARC Processors, 64-Mbytes, 2 x 1.3-Gbyte Internal SCSI Disks, 644-Mbyte Internal SunCD, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drive SPARCserver 670MP S670-120-128-P53 $69,200 A $535 Model 120 with Two SPARC Processors, 128-Mbytes, 2 x 1.3-Gbyte Internal SCSI Disks, 644-Mbyte Internal SunCD, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drive SPARCserver 670MP S670-140-128-P53 $79,200 A $585 Model 140 with Four SPARC Processors, 128-Mbytes, 2 x 1.3-Gbyte Internal SCSI Disks, 644-Mbyte Internal SunCD, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drive High Performance Data Center Servers: SPARCserver 690MP S690-120-128-P63 $105,600 A $770 Model 120 with Two SPARC Processors, 128-Mbytes, 6 x 1.3-Gbyte Internal IPI Disks, 644-Mbyte Internal SunCD, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drive SPARCserver 690MP S690-140-128-P63 $115,600 A $820 Model 140 with Four SPARC Processors, 128-Mbytes, 6 x 1.3-Gbyte Internal IPI Disks, 644-Mbyte Internal SunCD, 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape drive See actual price lists for specific product notes. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au 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. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.