Quantum Scalar i6000 enterprise tape library and Vision 4.0 software

The Quantum Scalar i6000 enterprise tape library facilitates tape consolidation in tiered storage environments, providing increased capacity, high availability and security. It provides enterprise users with a long-term archive and data retention solution optimised for the evolving role of tape in data protection.

The library incorporates the company’s iLayer management software that includes an iLayer media data integrity analysis feature which proactively scans archived cartridges to detect potential media problems so they can be addressed. It provides three levels of media scanning and runs in the background to avoid impacting operations. The software’s monitoring and diagnostics provides system administrators with up to a claimed 75% in time savings compared to other tape libraries.

The Scalar i6000 scales up to 12 modules holding over 5300 cartridges and storing up to 16 PB of data. Combined with the greater capacity and performance improvements from the incorporation of LTO-5 tape drives, the tape library saves floor space and lowers power and cooling costs. It can efficiently accommodate a user’s data storage growth non-disruptively with capacity-on-demand and eases tape library management by increasing cartridge import/export capacity and adding bulk load capabilities. It is backwards compatible for existing i2000 library customers.

Control and data path failover features enable the tape library or drive to switch to a redundant path and continue operating. These features enable it to overcome network degradation and failures that would normally cause jobs to fail.

The company has added media security notification to its iLayer software to help prevent unauthorised media removal. To further keep data secure - even when stored off site - it not only supports LTO encryption and write once, read many but also Scalar Key Manager, a management tool that can be integrated into existing backup environments. The Manager enables users to comply with state and federal regulations and safeguard against data breaches associated with stolen or lost tapes.

The company has also released version 4.0 of its Quantum Vision software, which supports a tiered storage strategy by enhancing centralised monitoring and reporting of Scalar tape libraries and DXi series disk-based backup and deduplication products. It provides users with expanded monitoring, more granular and customisable reporting, and improved alerting and troubleshooting mechanisms as part of the company’s centralised backup management software. It gives system administrators greater visibility into performance levels, replication and capacity details.