SONY PROVIDES NOVASTOR TAPECOPY SOFTWARE WITH SONY-BRANDED AIT LIBRARIES AND AUTOLOADERS
Sony Ships NovaStor Software to Help AIT Library and Autoloader Customers
Easily Migrate Data to an Intelligent Tape Format from Virtually Any Other
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2001 — Sony Electronics today announced that a free customized version of NovaStor's TapeCopy ™ v2.0 Library Edition tape conversion and duplication software specifically optimized for automated solutions, and valued at $799, is currently shipping with Sony-branded Advanced Intelligent Tape ™ (AIT) library and autoloader models.
Sony is already shipping TapeCopy software with all of its branded stand-alone drives, and selected TapeCopy v2.0 Library Edition software to accompany its automated storage solutions because it allows users of virtually any tape format, to easily upgrade and duplicate their data to the Sony AIT format.
"Users often have to think twice about migrating their data due to the costs, labor and time involved," said Steve Baker, vice president for the tape storage solutions division of Sony Electronics. "We're furnishing new AIT library and autoloader customers with TapeCopy software so they can easily and securely transfer their valuable data to the AIT format. AIT offers an ideal next step for DDS customers who are looking to migrate to a tape technology with future scalability, a comparable 3.5-inch drive form-factor, enhanced reliability and extensive automation support."
According to a recent report issued by Freeman Reports, the number of companies moving from stand-alone tape drives to automated tape libraries is immense. The report forecasts that shipments of 8mm tape libraries will nearly double, from 11,000 units last year to more than 21,000 units in 2006.
NovaStor's TapeCopy v2.0 Library Edition software is designed to accommodate the particular data duplication nuances of automated solutions. For instance, it can automatically duplicate numerous tapes within the same library or migrate tapes from an older tape library to a new Sony-branded tape library or autoloader. As a result, customers upgrading to automated AIT solutions from Sony can enjoy the unattended transfer of an entire library of tapes to their new format in one simple and sequential process.
"The recent data explosion has more companies than ever shopping for a more sophisticated tape format to store their abundance of critical data," said Brian Dickman, vice president of marketing for NovaStor. "To accommodate the enormous user base that desires more advanced and intelligent tape storage, Sony-branded AIT solutions offer affordable automation based on its time-tested technology, and TapeCopy software's support for libraries and autoloaders simplifies the migration process."
Sony-branded libraries and autoloaders, based on AIT technology, feature an innovative Memory-in-Cassette or "smart chip" that lets administrators access specific files in seconds, as well as Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media technology for extended durability and reliability. AIT's recording technology is also unique in the market. It uses a helical scan recording mechanism, which records at a slight angle instead of linearly for higher capacity rates.
About Sony-Branded AIT Libraries and Autoloaders
Sony's AIT Library 152, AIT Library 304, and Sony AIT-1 and AIT-2 Autoloaders leverage a small 3.5-inch form factor and 8-mm compact cassette.
Sony AIT Library 152: The Sony AIT Library 152 system houses one AIT-1 drive (expandable up to two drives) and 15 cartridge slots (one removable magazine with 15 slots) to meet the needs of entry-level automation backup environments. It also provides a hefty storage capacity of up to 1.4TB (with average 2.6:1 compression) and data transfer rates of up to 74.9GB per hour (compressed) at a low price point of under $6,000.
Sony AIT Library 304: The Sony AIT Library 304 system houses two AIT-2 drives (expandable up to four) and 30 cartridge slots (one fixed magazine with 10 slots and two removable magazines with 10 slots). The library's total storage capacity is up to 3.9TB (with average 2.6:1 compression) and data transfer rates of up to 224.6 GB per hour (compressed) are designed to meet data-intensive back-up and archive requirements at an affordable price point of under $17,000.
Sony AIT Autoloaders: Sony AIT Autoloaders are available in two versions, AIT-1 or AIT-2. Both accommodate four data cartridges. The Sony AIT-1 Autoloader features a total capacity of up to 130GB (with average 2.6:1 compression) and a data transfer rate of 10MB (compressed) at a low price point of under $3,400. The Sony AIT-2 Autoloader boasts a total capacity of up to 520GB (with average 2.6:1 compression) and a data transfer rate of 15MB (compressed) for an affordable price point of under $5,000.
About NovaStor's TapeCopy
NovaStor's TapeCopy software is an application that can read a backup tape of virtually any media format and write the data to virtually any other tape backup media, including innovative formats, such as AIT. TapeCopy supports tapes created by all of the popular backup software programs and under most operating systems. TapeCopy software also offers network administrators a valuable tape duplication utility, so making a copy of any existing backup tape for off-site storage, increased shelf life, or sharing with others, can be done quickly and easily.
Sony-branded AIT libraries and autoloaders, complete with a complimentary copy of NovaStor's new TapeCopy v2.0 Library Edition software, are available immediately. They can be purchased through distributors, value added resellers (VARs) and system integrators.
Based in San Jose, Calif., the Tape Storage Solutions Division of Sony Electronics' Core Technology Solutions Company markets storage solutions through OEM, commercial and industrial distributors, retailers and resellers. For additional information about Sony storage products, call (800) 352-7669 or visit Sony's world wide web site at http://www.sony.com/news or at http://www.storagebysony.com
