When is a disk drive not a disk drive? Well, according to Quantum, when it's a tape library. The storage vendor is preparing to release a 3-terabyte disk-based device that emulates a tape library.
The rack-mountable DX30, which is just 2U (3.5 inches) high, is said to marry the speed and feed benefits of disk with the ease of installation and backup of a tape library.
The product represents a first in a new family of disk products released by Quantum since the company sold its HHD (hard disk drive) manufacturing division to Maxtor in April 2001.
The device is built around a new technology platform developed by Quantum called ADAM (Adaptive Disk Array Management). In essence, the ADAM technology allows data to be backed up on a disk drive sequentially, the same as it would on a tape drive. This allows up to 30 redundant disk drives in the unit to be treated on the network as a tape library.
The device is compatible with most of the storage management software packages available from vendors such as Veritas and Legato, according to company officials.
The DX30 is expected to be widely available by the end of the year with a list price of $US45,000.