Superior Features Of Sony Ait-4 Backup Tape Technology

By Author: Frank Miller
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The data administrators of today’s enterprises have to manage and archive much more data, and larger data files than ever. That is why the demand for higher capacity storage mediums has skyrocketed over the past decade.

Sony carefully focused on the ever-increasing backup requirements, and leveraged its innovation and rigorous media manufacturing techniques to develop a new AIT (advanced intelligent tape) format. Leading small and medium enterprises prefer the AIT tape format, because it is more space-efficient and delivers higher performance at an affordable price.

Sony AIT-4 SCSI drive is robustly engineered to deliver unmatched backup performance with a superb transfer rate of 24 MB/s. Most attractive and cost saving attribute of Sony AIT-4 drive is its smaller size and greater data compression of 2.6:1. The rival tape drives can only manage 2:1 data compression. Therefore the AIT-4 drive can backup 520GB data per single AIT-4 tape in compressed mode.

Size of Sony AIT-4 tapes is also relatively much smaller than rival tape formats. So you can easily accommodate more data tapes within lesser ...
... shelf space. Sony has incorporated newly designed MIG (metal in gap) tape head that helps to decrease tape friction and stress. MIG head has helped to reduced deterioration of media tape, thus resulting in lesser accumulation of debris. Therefore your Sony AIT-4 drive will provide superior read-write integrity and consistent performance. WORM functionality is supported by AIT-4 cartridges and tape drives. WORM is the most dependable functionality that prohibits data alterations, deletions, human errors and over-writings. WORM technology is best for data retention mandates.

I have more good news for the readers; Sony AIT-4 SCSI drive can also restore the data from AIT 1, AIT 2 and AIT 3 storage tapes. That’s not it; the AIT-3 media is both read and record compatible. This is quite amazing, as the customers have the luxury to use four generations of AIT cartridges with a single AIT4 drive.

In-time data availability is crucial in busy data centers. That’s why Sony has devised an intelligent MIC technology, which accelerates the file searching process. MIC is a 64 KB chip that is built into the AIT tapes. It stores the vital information regarding usage history and file index. The competing tape drives are not as efficient, because they have to move all the way back to the beginning of tape reel, then the drive reads the system log and afterwards goes to the desired location. On the other hand, the file searching process in AIT tape drives is simpler and more efficient that locates the data files within an average time of 27 seconds.

Part numbers of read/write compatible AIT tapes are:

Sony AIT-4 tapes
SDX4-200C

Sony AIT-4 WORM-enabled cartridge
SDX4200WWW

Sony AIT-3 WORM tape
SDX3-100W

Sony AIT-3 re-writable tape
SDX3-100C

Sony has employed a unique ATF (auto tracking following) mechanism in all of its AIT drives. ATF mechanism intelligently adjusts the tape flutter to allow much closer data tracking, which results in higher density recordings. That is why the Sony AIT-4 drive delivers faster searching and increased media capacity in a small form factor.

Frank Miller is the Marketing Manager of Backuptape and markets AIT-4 tape and SDX4-200C. He has vast experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping buyers who have the backup needs and guide clients about the technology.

Frank Miller
3984 Washington Blvd #503 Fremont CA 94538
Tel: 888-686-8273
Fax: 888-449-5050
Email: sales@backuptapes.net