Sony Unveils GY-8240 DTF-2 Tape Drive; New Drive Will Feature Transfer Rate of 24 MB/sec, 200 GB/Cassette Native.

PARK RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 1999--

Sony Electronics today announced its GY-8240 DTF-2 tape drive, the next generation high-speed, large-capacity drive in the DTF(TM) family currently headed by the GY-2120 drive. Beginning October 6, Sony will exhibit the GY-8240 at the NetworkWorld Town Meeting for Strategic Network Storage conferences in Boston; New York; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Dallas; Los Angeles; and San Francisco.

The GY-8240 series extends the Sony DTF family by offering high-performance data management capabilities through a unique combination of an extremely high transfer rate (24 Megabytes/sec sustained, 40 Megabytes/sec burst over Ultra Wide SCSI) and high-density storage (200 Gigabytes per cassette, native; 518 Gigabytes per cassette, with compression, on a large tape and 60 Gigabytes per cassette, native; 155 Gigabytes per cassette, with compression, on a small tape).

"The DTF family of drives is highly suited for a wide range of enterprise-wide computing environments," said Tony Sasanuma, general manager of data systems for Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Professional Company. "They are an ideal choice for a variety of applications, such as mission-critical data backup and restore, storage area networks, archiving of multimedia digital assets, seismic processing and data acquisition. Also, our migration path calls for increasing performance well into the future. As with DTF-1, DTF-2 will be supported by leading major Integrated Software Vendors."

Two Models Being Introduced

There are two models in the GY-8240 series. The GY-8240UWD features an Ultra Wide Differential SCSI interface. The GY-8240FC features a native Fibre Channel interface. Both models also support Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions.

The GY-8240 series represents the second generation (DTF-2) of computer tape drives using the Sony Digital Tape Format. For added data reliability, Sony has implemented DTF using advanced metal particle tape. The bit error rate after correction is better than 1 x 10-17. Both GY-8240 series machines will play back data written on Sony DTF-1 tape drives (GY-10, GY-2120) at a sustained rate of 24 MB/sec.

Key features include:

Ultra High-Speed Data Recording at 24 MB/s: This outstanding performance is now possible with DTF-2 technology. Both the GY-8240UWD and GY-8240FC tape drives incorporate years of Sony's advanced magnetic recording technology, providing for the extremely high sustained native data rate of 24 Megabytes (MB)/sec -- enabling backups and restores to be accomplished in a fraction of time it takes competing tape drive technologies in comparable price range.

High Capacity Data Storage: The GY-8240 series tape drives provide uncompressed native capacity of 200 Gigabytes (GB) per cassette and an average of 518 GB with the built-in ALDC compression. This is an increase of approximately 5X in capacity over DTF-1, which translates into significant cost per GB savings. The high capacity is achieved with high sensitive heads and an ultra accurate tracking system. When integrating DTF-2 technology into the Sony PetaSite(R) Mass Storage Library system, users can attain an uncompressed capacity of more than 11 Petabytes (PB). Also, the PetaSite controller (PSC) allows multiple host computers and applications to share a single PetaSite library. Tape drives and bins may be partitioned to configure the PetaSite to support an enterprises digital assets.

Faster Data Access with Sony Tele-File System: The unique Sony Tele-File System uses a non-contact flash memory, permanently affixed to a cassette, to hold data relating to both tape and system management. The GY-8240 Series tape drive communicates to the flash memory via an RF signal and uses the data written onto the Tele-File memory to dramatically reduce Load and Unload times. Tele-File also significantly reduces the time to access data stored in a GY-8240 tape drive. In addition, the Tele-File system enables DTF-2 to perform a mid-point tape loading as well as loading/unloading at any location along the length of the tape.

Read Compatibility with DTF-1: The sophisticated tape transport mechanism utilized in the GY-8240 series is specifically designed to provide backwards compatibility with the DTF-1 format tape drives. This design also offers an important advantage - GY8240 series drives can read tapes recorded by a GY-2120 at its transfer rate of 24 MB/sec, so users can now access their tape assets in half the time.

Reliability/Data Integrity: Amorphous tape head design, new MP++ media, an isolated cassette compartment, ultra precise tracking and a very low bit error rate all combine to provide reliability and data integrity.

Clear Migration to the Future: To keep up with the demands caused by today's data explosion, Sony is committed to providing data management professionals with flexible, scaleable and reliable technology storage solutions. The DTF format meets and exceeds these requirements now and well into the future. DTF-3 is currently planned to offer 400 GB native capacity and a 48 MB/sec sustained transfer rate. DTF-4 is currently planned to offer 800 GB native capacity and 96 MB/sec sustained transfer rate.

The GY-8240UWD is scheduled to be available in February 2000 at a suggested list price TBD.

Editor's Note: More information about Sony products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sony.com/professional, or readers may call 1-800-686-SONY. Additional press information is available at http://www.sony.com/news.

The Broadcast and Professional Company of Sony Electronics is an Emmy Award-winning, leading U.S. provider of video and audio equipment for the broadcast, production, business, industrial, government, medical and education markets. Sony offers a wide array of products and systems for image capture, production and display. Sony also provides specialized equipment and computer storage systems for data recording, duplication, electronic photography/publishing, video conferencing, high definition video, interactive and security applications. In the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 1998, Sony Electronics had record sales of $10.5 billion.