Rorke Intros Scalable 250GB to 18TB Native Tape Libraries
Integrated With High-Speed Tape Raid
Las Vegas, NV, NAB99, Booth #16554/LVCC, April 19, 1999 — Rorke Data, Inc. has introduced a new series of scalable AIT tape libraries designed for the graphic-intensive, high-bandwidth storage requirements of ISP, multimedia and publishing applications. Offering very high capacity native storage and in-the-field scalability, the new RTL Series of library systems is easily expanded to meet the wide range of nearline/back-up storage requirements that are typical of environments working with large files.
By incorporating Sony's AIT2 tape drive technology with additional tape drives and tape cartridges, the RTL Series of libraries has a capacity range of 250GB to over 18TB of non-compressed data storage.
Offering true in-the-field expandability, the RTL Series is available in configurations with as few as 10 cartridges and a single AIT drive to systems with over 360 cartridges and up to 12 drives. A combination of design efficiencies with cutting edge technologies allows users to double their native storage capacity on-site, said Joe Swanson, Rorke Data VP/Sales.
"Every other library in the RTL Series has been designed to be field-upgradeable to the next model number by adding additional drives and media caddies," said Swanson. "The entire library calibrates itself automatically with built-in optical alignment, so a technician can upgrade a customer from 1TB to 2TB in-the-field in under two hours."
The RTL Series' expandability is directly tied to the guaranteed upgrade path for Sony's AIT technology. Together, the two technologies offer a tape library upgrade path that extends far into the future, said Herb Rorke, Rorke Data president. "The AIT drives have already hit the mark predicted for them two years ago," said Rorke, "and the 25GB native capacity Sony AIT1 is now being replaced by the AIT 50GB drive. The AIT2 drive also doubles throughput, from 3MB/s to 6MB/s, an advance that was predicted two years ago. As a result, Rorke customers with AIT1 libraries are in a position to enjoy a very cost-effective upgrade. For the price of some new drives and media, most of our customers will be able to double native capacity and throughput, and they'll be able to double it again 18 months from now in the same fashion."
Featuring an optional tape RAID front end, the RTL Series allows data to be striped across multiple drives within a single library. As a result, mission-critical data can be backed-up at a tremendous speed (between 40GB/hr to over 80GB/hr, depending on the number and type of drives). An additional option is SAN-connect RAID storage that shares and mirrors hard disk storage, assuring that no individual server is down during back-up, since the mirrored volume can be incrementally backed-up.
The RTL Series of AIT1 and AIT2 libraries is available in 12 models, and offers easy expandability between models. Pricing for the RTL Series' 250GB libraries starts as low as $12,000, ranging up to $150,000 for a 12 drive, 18TB solution. Tape RAID options are also available.
Rorke Data is a full digital storage solutions provider with expertise in RAID subsystems, high performance magnetic drives, tape and optical libraries, Unix NT and Mac environments, high bandwidth networks, digital asset and document management, and engineering and maintenance services. Founded in 1985, Rorke Data is a privately held Minnesota corporation. Together with its European subsidiary, Rorke Data Europe, located in Emmen, The Netherlands, the company is composed of six divisions: Audio/Video, Prepress, Imaging, Document Management, Digital Media Supplies, and Engineering and Installation Services. More information about Rorke Data can be found at www.rorke.com.
