Sony Debuts S-AIT Technology Platform; Leading Drive, Tape Library and Media Manufacturers Support High Capacity Format Designed to Meet Intense Enterprise Class Storage Needs.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2001 Sony Corp. today announced the development of the S-AIT format, a new tape-based data storage technology platform that will enable up to 500GB of native capacity to be stored on a single-reel, half-inch tape A magnetic tape format that has been in use since the 1950s. Second-generation computers used 7-track, half-inch tape in open reels that were threaded by hand. Third-generation computers used 9-track open reels. cartridge (1) See phono cartridge. (2) A removable storage module that contains magnetic disks, optical discs, magnetic tape or memory chips. Cartridges are inserted into slots in the drive, printer or computer. by the end of 2002. The S-AIT drive will leverage Sony's scalable and reliable AIT architecture in a 5.25-inch extended drive form-factor. It is expected to deliver the industry's highest capacity tape drive, storing up to 500GB of uncompressed data on a single tape cartridge See cartridge. and featuring a sustained native transfer rate of up to 30MB per second uncompressed. Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE MKE Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries Ltd. MKE Milwaukee, WI, USA - General Mitchell Field (Airport Code) MKE Maximum Kinetic Energy MKE Make File MKE Media and Knowledge Engineering ) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI), known for Panasonic-brand products, will provide the market with alternative manufacturing sources for S-AIT drives and media, respectively. In addition, leading tape library manufacturers, such as ADIC, Qualstar and Spectra Logic have expressed their intention to support the integration of S-AIT drives and media into half-inch tape automation solutions. Several of these companies are expected to join an S-AIT Alliance under the established AIT Forum to promote the adoption and integration of S-AIT into a wide range of storage solutions. Based on advanced helical-scan recording technology, which is known for its high data density, outstanding data transfer performance, as well as reliability and durability du·ra·ble adj. 1. Capable of withstanding wear and tear or decay: a durable fabric. 2. advantages, the S-AIT technology platform has a forward-looking roadmap with the potential to scale to up to four terabytes of uncompressed capacity in a single cartridge. The first generation S-AIT drives incorporated into automation solutions will provide uncompressed capacities ranging from four terabytes in a 2U rack-mountable configuration to more than 500TB in a 1,000 cartridge freestanding free·stand·ing adj. Standing or operating independently of anything else: a freestanding bell tower; a freestanding maternity clinic. library. "The explosive growth of digital content together with more data being generated electronically by businesses of all sizes, has led to a tremendous increase in demands for storage. The S-AIT technology is being launched to meet these needs in a very scalable and cost-effective cost-effective, n the minimal expenditure of dollars, time, and other elements necessary to achieve the health care result deemed necessary and appropriate. way," said Steve Baker Steve Baker (born September 8, 1978 in Pontefract, West Yorkshire) is an English professional footballer who is a defender and currently plays for Gateshead. Baker has played for a number of clubs including Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town, Darlington, Hartlepool and , vice president of marketing for the tape storage solutions division of Sony Electronics' Core Technology Solutions Company. "S-AIT marks a significant paradigm shift A dramatic change in methodology or practice. It often refers to a major change in thinking and planning, which ultimately changes the way projects are implemented. For example, accessing applications and data from the Web instead of from local servers is a paradigm shift. See paradigm. for tape storage technology by delivering up to five times the capacity of conventional tape formats in the market today." "Advanced Metal Evaporated evaporated reduced in volume by evaporation; concentrated to a denser form. tape continues to be one of the key enabling technologies for a wide range of industry-accepted tape storage and recording applications, including Sony's innovative AIT format. Ongoing AME See AIT. technology development has reached new levels with the introduction of the S-AIT format," said Tom Evans Ev·ans , Herbert McLean 1882-1971. American anatomist who isolated four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1922). , vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Media Applications Solutions division. "Its extraordinary magnetic properties, storage density and durability are key to tape applications in high-duty-cycle enterprise storage." The First S-AIT Implementation Incorporates the Following Key Features and Innovations:
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Capacity 500GB Native, 1.3TB Compressed (2.6:1)
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Areal Density 720Mbit/inch2
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Transfer Rate 30MB/sec Native, 78MB/sec Compressed (2.6:1)
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Interface SCSI Ultra 160 / Fibre Channel
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Dimensions 5.25-inch Full Height (Extended)
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Media 600m AME, half-inch width tape, 1 reel
cartridge, R-MIC
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Heads Super Laminated
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MCBF 500,000 Hours
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-- Helical Scan A tape recording method that uses a spinning read/write head and diagonal tracks. Although it uses a rather complex transport mechanism, it is very gentle on the tape. After the cassette is inserted into the drive, the tape is pulled out and wrapped around the read/write head. Recording Technology -- Helical scan recording technologies, based on a very stable rotating ro·tate v. ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing, ro·tates v.intr. 1. To turn around on an axis or center. 2. drum/head platform, permit accurate and reliable data recording at very high track densities. This efficient packing density, typically up to five times greater than most linear serpentine serpentine (sûr`pəntēn, –tīn), hydrous silicate of magnesium. It occurs in crystalline form only as a pseudomorph having the form of some other mineral and is generally found in the form of chrysotile (silky fibers) and recording technologies, provides industry leading space-efficient solutions. -- Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) tape -- S-AIT media will be based on AME technology, which represents a culmination of over 50 years of Sony innovation and experience in magnetic tape technology. The AME tape formulation, with diamond-like carbon coating, offers extraordinary durability and reliability, up to 30,000 media passes and up to 30 years expected media archival life. -- Head Technology -- HyperMetal, Super Laminate Head Technology will provide S-AIT drives with higher signal output than conventional heads, thereby promoting a higher level of data integrity. Based on announced Sony R&D results, future S-AIT products may utilize MR and GMR head technology to achieve capacities of up to 4TB per cartridge. -- Remote Memory in Cassette (R-MIC) -- The non-volatile R-MIC chip built into the data cartridge provides quick media loads and allows fast searches to data. The R-MIC chip contains the tape's system log, search map and user-definable information, allowing the drive to advance at high speed directly to any file on the tape. -- Reliability -- The reliability of S-AIT drive systems will result, in part, from innovative features, such as: automatic head cleaning system and an effective "leader block" tape threading system with a simplified tape load path. The drive cooling system is isolated from the tape mechanism thereby limiting airborne contaminants from entering the tape path and affecting sensitive components. Pricing and Availability S-AIT drives are expected to be available late next year at a list price of under $10,000. Industry Response Freeman Reports A series of technical reports on data storage devices originally developed by Freeman Associates, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (www.freemaninc.com). For more than two decades, they provided exhaustive detail about the disk and tape industry, including up-to-date data on technology, capacities, "As digital content continues to expand unabated un·a·bat·ed adj. Sustaining an original intensity or maintaining full force with no decrease: an unabated windstorm; a battle fought with unabated violence. and needs to be stored and managed, the S-AIT format offers a compelling combination of capacity and performance for the automation market." -- Bob Abraham, president International Data Corp. "S-AIT tape technology demonstrates the extensibility of AIT technology. The S-AIT tape drive with 500 GB of capacity on a single cartridge will allow tape to continue to meet the ever increasing data storage needs." -- Bob Amatruda, research manager, Tape and Removable Storage Gartner Dataquest "As disk capacities continue to grow with the explosion of digital content and mission-critical data warehouses, the tape storage segment has a bigger opportunity to close the gap between disk and tape roadmaps. For a tape product to be successful, capacity, performance and automation support are key." -- Fara Yale, chief analyst Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE) "It is only high-density helical-scan recording together with Matsushita and Sony's world-class helical-scan technology leadership that makes S-AIT products feasible." -- Takao Kanamura, senior managing director Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI) "We are delighted to support the S-AIT format with our AME media. With its inherent advantages of durability and high output performance, AME combined with helical-scan recording technology enables a new generation of high capacity tape storage." -- Hiroshi Yokomizo, director of AVC (1) (Advanced Video Coding) The video compression techniques used in the H.264 standard, jointly developed by ISO and the ITU-T. See H.264. (2) (Audio Visual C Media Business Unit Advanced Digital Information Corp. (ADIC) "The exploding storage needs of our customers are driving them to demand new and better data storage solutions. We look forward to working with Sony to integrate the new S-AIT technology into the ADIC family of intelligent, storage network enabled automated au·to·mate v. au·to·mat·ed, au·to·mat·ing, au·to·mates v.tr. 1. To convert to automatic operation: automate a factory. 2. libraries." -- Bill Britts Bill Britt is one of the most successful Independent Business Owners (IBOs) in the Amway/Quixtar business. In 2002, together with his wife Peggy Britt, qualified for the corporations highest award; Founders Crown Ambassador. , executive vice president of Sales and Marketing Qualstar Corp. "The S-AIT technology platform offers a very compelling combination of capacity and performance, and Qualstar looks forward to delivering enterprise-class automation solutions based on S-AIT to meet the continuous storage demands of our customers." -- Bob Covey cov·ey n. pl. cov·eys 1. A family or small flock of birds, especially partridge or quail. See Synonyms at flock1. 2. A small group, as of persons. , vice president of Marketing Spectra Logic Corp. "As a natural extension of its tape technology expertise, Spectra Logic congratulates Sony's initiative to develop S-AIT technology and expand its already impressive and proven roadmap." -- Bill Reed, vice president of Marketing & Business Development About Sony Corp. Sony Corp. is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications and Information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading personal broadband broadband Term describing the radiation from a source that produces a broad, continuous spectrum of frequencies (contrasted with a laser, which produces a single frequency or very narrow range of frequencies). entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of nearly $60 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. For additional information about Sony storage products in the U.S., call 800/352-7669 or visit Sony's World Wide Web site at http://www.sony.com/news or http://www.storagebysony.com. |
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