ADIC Shipping Maximum Capacity Models of Scalar Libraries

Advanced Digital Information Corporation (ADIC), announced today that maximum-capacity models of its new Scalar(R) 10K enterprise storage library are now shipping for all of its supported tape technologies (LTO, SDLT, and AIT) in both single-media and mixed-media configurations.

Maximum capacity Scalar 10K models provide overall library capacities of up 15,885 cartridges and can support hundreds of tape drives to provide IT departments a single, easily managed resource for centralizing enterprise data protection in storage network environments.

The Scalar 10K maximum capacity models use ADIC’s tower storage units to provide up to 13.2 TB of native capacity per square foot (141.8 TB per square meter), the highest storage density of any tape-based storage system in the industry. These rotating storage cells also provide the industry’s fastest access to stored media — each tower can present the library’s robotics with up to 900 tapes per hour, performance designed to support dual high-speed robotic configurations. For IT managers faced with growing data but budget pressure, the new high-density libraries mean that IT departments will be able to store more data in smaller areas and access it more rapidly. Maximum native library capacities are 958.2 TB for LTO technology, 881.5 for Super DLT, and 1,588.5 TB for AIT-3 technology.

“The Scalar 10K continues to set new industry benchmarks for capacity, scalability, and flexibility,” said Bill Britts, ADIC executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. “But just as important as delivering the highest capacity and fastest access is providing the high-availability architecture and integrated storage networking tools to support large-scale data consolidation and reduce administrative overhead. The Scalar 10K is the first enterprise storage platform to offer significant advances on all these fronts.”

Several innovative design features are included in the Scalar 10K to increase overall system reliability and availability. These include storage network management tools that proactively test and report the status of individual components and data paths during inactive periods to make sure that the entire system is ready to complete data transfer operations. It also includes full redundant power to all components, including robotic controls, drives, and tower storage units, as well as sectional isolation that allows a single storage module to be taken off-line for service while the rest of the library remains fully operational. The rotating tower system is also designed to provide centrally located storage cells that can be dynamically accessed by two, fully redundant robotic and control systems for even higher levels of availability, a feature scheduled for first delivery in the Scalar 10K near the end of this year.

The Scalar 10K tape library is available now in single-media or mixed-media models. In addition to maximum-capacity models, the library is also available in capacity-on-demand configurations, which allow users to upgrade the library’s capacity in 100-tape slot increments using software keys. This industry-first capacity delivery model minimizes interruptions to backup operations by allowing growth without requiring physical library upgrades, and it provides IT departments with budget controls by allowing them to purchase additional capacity only as they need it.