Sun Microsystems Inc has introduced the first of its high-end network storage systems through its OEM agreement with StorageTek, signed in August. Under the deal, StorageTek is badging Sun’s next-generation disk technology, while Sun will OEM Storagetek’s tape automation systems.
The Sun StorEdge L700 tape library, announced yesterday, is based on the 9840 tape drive technology available from StorageTek since 1998. It is aimed at service providers and the new dot.com companies, Sun spokespeople said. The company boasted its ability to backup 3.5tbits of data in under eight hours. As a result of the internet data explosion, backup windows are shrinking, said Raj Das, director of product marketing for Sun network storage. On the one hand, data need to be available all the time and on the other, its increasingly critical nature means its must be backed up at regular intervals. He said quick access time is essential for transaction-based environments.
According to Sun’s calculations, data stored in an L700 tape library can be accessed from between 23 seconds to just over a minute and a half, with a data throughput rate of 120Mbps. The system can store up to 14 terabytes of data, which means housing up to 12 9840 tape drives and can accommodate up to 690 tape cartridges (20 gigabytes native capacity per tape). Exodus Communications Inc, the San Jose-based web hosting and applications management company has deployed at least one of these L700 tape libraries into each of its 16 datacenters. Exodus uses the systems to backup Solaris, as well as NT and Linux, according to Prabsakar Sundarrajan, VP of R&D at Exodus.
An entry level configuration of the L700, which includes two 9840 tape drives and 396 tape cartridge slots is priced at $194,000. A full house of 12 9840 tape drives and 630 cartridges is priced at $625,000. Both are shipping now. The library stands at 13U (22.75 inchdes) of 19-inch rack space, which will accommodate a server, switch, hub, bridge or other hardware for a customized backup/archive solution, Sun said. The L700 will support Sun’s network backup software sourced from Veritas and Legato. The L700 system will be available for DLT tape drive environments beginning in the second quarter of 2000.
