Sony Ait Tape Format Innovative Features

By Author: Jessica McIntosh
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Sony introduced the idea and technology of AIT data tape which was launched into the market in 1996. The Sony SDX1-25C AIT-1 format offers storage space to accommodate native 25 gigabytes of information with transfer speed of 3 MB/second (native). Then afterwards advancements were made to this version of Sony AIT1 cartridge and longer tape reel was used to raise its capacity to 35 GB in Sony SDX1-35C tape. Design of Sony AIT-1 tape includes number of media advancements that boost its cost effectiveness and reliability.

Two years after in 1998 the second version of Sony AIT tape was introduced. Sony AIT-2 SDX2-50C features transfer speed of 6 megabytes/sec with 50 GB capacity. AIT tape format comprises of advanced error correction, tape handling, media construction and head design that all contribute in lowering costs and improving the performance. Major elements of the AIT tape media have been improved to elevate its durability and performance.

Small cartridge size helps in compact packaging of Sony AIT tapes specifically in the tape libraries. So the Sony AIT tapes occupy lesser floor space. AIT tape head is ...
... different from the others in many ways especially in the material that is utilized in the construction of the head, manufacturing technology and head design. These developments have boosted the head life of the AIT tape drive to 50,000 hours. New advanced technology of data compression is used in AIT data tapes. 2.6:1 (compression ratio) has been achieved in AIT tape format by the use of ALDC (Adaptive Lossless Data Compression). This enhancement in the performance of data compression allows more information to be written on each of the AIT cartridge at higher transfer speeds. Therefore it shortens the backup times with reduced cost per MB.

Don't miss the March Special discounts on all backup tapes including Travan, LTO, SDLT, VXA, DLT, DDS and AIT tape & cleaning cartridges at tape4backup. Various features are added such as the individual fans in tape drive that help in lowering the operating temperatures. The other advantageous attribute is the automatic head cleaners and therefore periodic cleaning of drive head is not necessary. So as a result the reliability is heightened.

Major elements of the AIT tape media have been improved to elevate its durability and performance. Advanced Metal Evaporative (AME) technology was engineered by Sony and used it in manufacturing AIT backup tape products. AME is a new and innovative manufacturing technique that is entirely different from the traditional manufacturing techniques of magnetic tapes. In MP (metal particle) magnetic tapes, a fine magnetic layer is applied to tape reel substrate. On the other hand in AME technology, binder is not used and pure cobalt is applied on the base film. Electron beam heats the cobalt material in vacuum chamber. The vapors of cobalt material reside on the surface of AIT tape reel. These cobalt vapors do not contain any contaminants and are in pure form. AME technology provides 100% increase in the magnetic flux density. This increased flux density leads to improved system performance and exceptional reliability.

Get discounts on all data tapes at tape4backup and especially on AIT cleaning tape, Sony SDX1-35C AIT1 tape, Sony AIT3 SDX3-100W, Sony AIT5 tape SDX5-400C, Sony SDX4-200C AIT4 tape and Sony AIT-2 SDX2-50C data cartridge.