The Anatomy Of Super DLTtape.

MRC heads are small magneto resistive heads, densely packed together to form a "cluster." These clustered heads are joined together through the use of advanced thin film processing technology. MRC provides higher data transfer rates and capacity than traditional MR heads of equal size. MRC heads also provide high wafer usage efficiency for low head costs. They offer higher track density and capacity through greater resistance to environmental considerations, like temperature and humidity, and they increase transfer rates and performance with multiple heads. Quantum, for example, has improved the Magneto-Resistive Cluster (MRC) Heads by integrating them into the Pivoting Optical Servo (POS) as a Laser Guided Magnetic Recording (LGMR) enabling technology.

New High-Efficiency PRML Channel

A newer PRML channel improves on traditional PRML disk drive technology by bringing new levels of performance and capacity to LGMR technology and high-performance tape drives. The PRML channel used in LGMR was developed jointly by Quantum and Lucent Technologies. It provides high encoding efficiency recording densities (97 percent efficient) for greater capacity and performance, which enables Super DLTtape to substantially increase its transfer rates and capacities over current DLTtape products and other linear tape technologies. Super DLTtape drives based on LGMR will use PRML from its first generation through an entire roadmap of compatible products.

Advanced Metal Powder Media (AMP)

The Advanced Metal Powder media is a vital component of the foundation of Super DLTtape technology. The state-of-the-art AMP media increases the native capacity of the media to at least 100GB per cartridge, offering ease-of-use and lower total cost of ownership. AMP media uses durable metal powder technology to store very high densities of data and contain embedded information for the POS system. Neither magnetic servo writing nor media magnetic pre-formatting are required for the Super DLTtape system.

Finally, this advanced media is placed in a redesigned cartridge. The new cartridge is significantly strengthened with internal support structures and new external materials, ensuring even greater longevity than current DLTtape IV cartridges.

LGMR--The Technology For The Future

LGMR and the Super DLTtape architecture offer customers the best features of and backward compatibility to the industry standard DLTtape Technology, plus useful new technologies. LGMR offers customers access to revolutionary and state-of-the-art technology at a reasonable cost with the added benefit of a storage platform that will continue to meet evolving storage requirements. LGMR creates a common architecture that will support multiple generations of Super DLTtape Technology products, looking to a long future for reliable, scalable, and economical tape storage.

George Saliba is the vice president of the advanced products group and DSSG chief technical officer at Quantum Corp.