Spectra Logic and Acorn Software announce support for backup and restore automation for VMS and OpenVMS.

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 1996--Spectra Logic and Acorn Software today announced compatibility of Spectra Logic's robotic tape libraries with Acorn's Branches(tm) storage management software.

This compatibility will allow VMS and OpenVMS users to take advantage of Spectra Logic's award winning tape libraries to automate the backup and restore tasks associated with system administration of large sites.

"Acorn Branches provides a high level of storage automation," says Britt Terry, Spectra Logic's Tape Library Product Manager. "The new compatibility of Acorn's software and Spectra Logic's hardware offers a higher level of backup automation for Digital administrators. In the future, hardware and software will cooperate to increase throughput and capacity as new 4mm and 8mm tape drives become available."

Acorn Software's Branches(tm) provides data library management and robotics control that automatically and transparently controls media movement and manages data, with virtual storage space, and "lights out" backup for Open VMS systems that use tape libraries.

Branches(tm) supports hierarchical storage management (HSM) operations such as file migration, backup and data archiving. Digital users can harness the power of Branches(tm) with their tape changer systems to migrate little-used or least-used files to near-line or off-line storage. With additional on-line storage made available, there is often no need to purchase more.

Branches(tm) meets or exceeds the storage intensive requirements of applications such as imaging, multimedia, and large database systems as well as the recurrent requirements of typical data library applications like archiving, backup and restores. Restoration of data is user defined and controlled-users can restore what they want, when they want.

Spectra Logic offers a full line of automated tape libraries for 4mm and 8mm helical scan technology. The Spectra 4000 4mm series provides a native storage capacity of 200 to 600 gigabytes (80 to 240 native) on 20, 40 or 60 120 meter DDS-2 tapes. Data transfer is accomplished on 1 to 4 DDS-2 4mm tape drives. Using parallel streaming, the system throughput can reach 5 Megabytes/second compressed (500 kb/sec native). As DDS-3 tape drives become available, users can easily install the new drives to take advantage of increased throughput and capacity. This field-upgradeable option allows users to maximize their hardware investment as their needs change.

The Spectra 9000 8mm series provides a capacity of 280 to 560 gigabytes of compressed data (140 to 280 gigabytes uncompressed) on 20 or 40 160 meter 8mm cartridges. Today's system transfer rate is 500kb/sec (native) to 2 megabytes/sec (compressed) across 1 to 4 Exabyte Exb-8505 8mm tape drives. The next generation of 8mm tape drives will offer drop-in replacements which can upgrade the capacity to 1.6 terabytes in a compact 7 inches of cabinet space.

Both the Spectra 4000 and the Spectra 9000 products are based on a design featuring a stationary carousel and a rotating picker mechanism. A powerful touch-screen user interface provides users with real-time information about the tape drives and media installed in the library. Other standard features include a single tape entry/exit port and single ended SCSI. The design has a proven 1,000,000 Mean Cycles Between Failures and an intelligent robotic controller which eliminates the need for alignment. All robotic firmware and operational code can be upgraded via a 4mm or 8mm code tape.

About Acorn

Acorn Software, Inc., is a producer of data library management software, storage robotics control software, and removable storage system solutions for Digital OpenVMS systems. Acorn Software products support hierarchical data management and provide seamless integration of optical discs and tape libraries. Acorn offers a complete line of data storage products including Squash(tm) data compression software, Branches(tm) for tape libraries, VIRTUALBranches(tm) for optical disk, CD-ROM changers and optical jukebox, MODisk(tm) for third party disks and CD-ROM drives to connect to the SCSI drive of VAX or AXP, and HSManager(tm) for "set and forget" hierarchical active and near-line storage management that is compatible with all third party rule based storage management solutions.

The company makes its virtual home on the internet, at [e-mail], where all sales, support, and corporate communications are maintained. For more information, contact the headquarters of Acorn Software at 267 Cox St., Hudson, MA 01749; phone [phone]; Internet [e-mail].

About Spectra Logic

At its Boulder headquarters, Spectra Logic has designed and manufactured high-end backup and data storage products since 1979. Spectra Logic's tape storage products include the Spectra 4000 (4mm) and 9000 (8mm) Tape Libraries, and TapeFrame(tm), a mainframe-class tape library product. The libraries provide storage capacities from several gigabytes to multiple terabytes for UNIX, Windows NT, Novell NetWare, VMS, OS/2 and other mini-computer applications. Spectra Logic's bundled automation solutions are available through qualified Value Added Resellers and distributors. For more information contact Spectra Logic, 1700 North 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301 USA, telephone [phone], fax [phone], E-mail:[e-mail], or WWW: http://www.spectralogic.com.

CONTACT: Spectra Logic

Britt Terry, Tape Library Product Manager, [phone]

or

Acorn

Dick Munroe, Technology Officer, [phone]

or

Abbott 1st

Susan Abbott, [phone]