Quantum’s Tape Platform Scales Long-Term Content Protection

Quantum’s new Scalar tape storage platform was developed to help manage massive and growing numbers of content files that require long-term content protection and preservation, based on efficient, high-density storage with infinite scalability. In particular, the Scalar platform addresses issues that an organization encounters when storing both legacy and new content from large numbers of sources in data-intensive formats.

So far, Quantum has released three intelligent tape libraries based on the Scalar platform - Scalar i3, Scalar i6 and the StorNext AEL6 appliance. These libraries are built with high density to reduce the overall storage footprint and potentially lower facilities' power and cooling requirements. They have iLayer proactive diagnostics, which give a facility a greater chance to resolve issues before they affect operations and library uptime. The libraries’ embedded compute capabilities may also limit the need for external application servers.

Data integrity checking is policy-based and able to move data off of suspect tapes — and in-library active vaulting - which stores vaulted tapes in an inactive partition of the library for closer tape management. – mean that storage of petabytes of data can be managed with reliability and relatively small extra cost, for some years. Users may also gain flexibility by keeping more content for a longer period of time.

For users, the Scalar libraries have HTTP-based, touch interfaces with mobile device interaction, and automated setup, configuration and management tasks via web services.

Scalar i3 supports up to 3PB in 12U of rack space, installed with wizard-based setup. The system scales readily and has self-monitoring functionality.

Scalar i6 stores more than 12PB in a single rack, one of the highest densities for LTO tape libraries. It uses Quantum’s automated Extended Data Lifecycle Management to prevent data integrity issues from growing and affecting the availability of media. Users can set a tape-scanning policy, after which the system identifies degraded tape conditions and subsequently triggers the movement of files to a new tape and the updating of metadata. Scaler i6’s Active Vault allows cold data to be vaulted inside the library at lower cost-per-GB, minimizing cartridge handling, improving security and allowing access to vaulted content.

The StorNext AEL6 appliance combines the Scalar i6 library with Quantum's StorNext data management software for media workflows. Intelligent policy-based tiering supports transparent file system access to all data stored on tape, and self-healing with automatic migration capabilities supports ongoing accessibility of content. Like other StorNext AEL appliances, the StorNext AEL6 is marketed with slot-based licensing that makes it possible to incrementally and immediately scale the system to accommodate growth. www.quantum.com