Sun, IBM both announce 1TB tape drives

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Both IBM and Sun have announced one terabyte (1TB) tape drives, claiming the highest capacity for the storage system.

IBM claimed its new IBM System Storage TS1130 Tape Drive is the fastest, highest capacity tape drive available.

Targeted at medium to large enterprises, the IBM system runs at a data rate of 160MB per second – some 54 per cent faster than IBM’s last such drive, the firm said, and indeed faster than Sun's new system, which clocks in at 120MB/sec, that firm said.

The IBM system is backwards compatible with previous tape generation formats. It also supports drive-based encryption and makes use of IBM’s high-tech Giant Magnetoresistive head design, which the firm said causes fewer data errors.

Cindy Grossman, IBM’s vice president of tape and archive, also touted the energy efficiency of tape over other storage methods. “Tape storage is the most green and cost-effective form of data storage available, and the IBM TS1130 Tape Drive will enable clients to address their growing needs for affordable and robust data solutions by storing more data on fewer cartridges, which will save clients valuable time, space, energy and money," she said in a statement.

IBM System Storage TS1130 will be available globally from 5 September 2008, starting from $39,050 (£19,426). IBM also said it would offer upgrades from existing drives at a cost of $19,500.

Sun Microsystems own new 1TB tape drive will be available this month, at a cheaper cost. Sun announced the Sun StorageTek T10000B tape drive yesterday, saying it will be available this month at a cost of $37,000.

It is, however, 40MB/sec slower than the IBM system, at 120 MB/sec write speed.

Jason Schaffer, senior director of storage marketing at Sun Microsystems, said: "The high capacity Sun StorageTek T10000B tape drive works with the fast access Sun StorageTek T9840D tape drive to optimize customers' multi-tiered storage architecture and cut datacentre space requirements in half."

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