StorageTek introduce 'fast access' tape drive

Storage vendor StorageTek has announced the availability of its new 'fast access' tape drive which features a native FICON (fibre connectivity) interface for the latest high-throughput IBM zSeries server channels.

The T9840B tape drives can be integrated within enterprise customers' MVS environments and StorageTek's automated tape library systems. Storagetek claims that this combination delivers more than double the throughput of ESCON (Enterprise Systems Connection) drives, offering an average load and search time for data access of 12 seconds, with more than 100 kilometres of long-distance connectivity.

"Today's announcement underscores our commitment and ability to anticipate and rapidly adapt to our customers' connectivity needs via our advanced tape automation products," said Philip Belcher, Managing Director for StorageTek Australia / New Zealand."

Fara Yale, research vice president at analyst group Gartner, outlined the benefits that customers stood to make from migrating to FICON connectivity.

"Achieving significantly accelerated data throughput rates and access speeds, long distance connectivity and higher levels of reliability are becoming essential focal points for enterprise MVS customers. MVS customers that are transitioning from ESCON to FICON connectivity stand to double their throughput and gain 10 times more cabling distances for data transmission to offsite data centres and disaster recovery/business continuity applications, making upgrading to this connectivity a win-win on many levels."

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