Mic Technology In Hp Ait Data Tape Format

By Author: Jessica McIntosh
Total Articles: 598
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The HP AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) media format gives efficient results for workgroup and departmental backups where cost, performance and capacity are critical. HP AIT has Memory-in- Cassette (MIC) technology that gives higher reliability and faster files access.

MIC is a memory element of semiconductor. It is a memory chip that is built into the cartridge to provide immediate and direct connection to onboard processors of the tape drive. Therefore, speed to access cartridge data and files enhances and holds the user definable information & system's log providing data related to current state and history of data cartridge. MIC system does not require time delaying threading process & media load or use of on-tape index file like the other tape formats do, instead it formats the parameters of file search and information. The data access time is reduced to half irrespective of the recording density and speed of the tape drive.

MIC technology is incorporated in AIT 1, AIT-2, AIT 1 Turbo and AIT 2 Turbo tape format. The extension of the MIC technology is the R-MIC (Remote MIC) and it is incorporated in ...
... AIT 3, AIT 4, AIT 5 and AIT-3Ex. Valuable data in cartridge can be accessed by tape drive without using physical connection because of the R-MIC technology. So, the connector wear for AIT media & drive both is reduced. The architecture of Remote MIC provides a protected area which is utilized for implementing the WORM feature. The WORM feature is incorporated in AIT-2, AIT-3, AIT-2 Turbo, AIT-3Ex, AIT 4 and AIT5 tape format. MIC technology is used by many storage applications and its benefits can be seen in video server, WORM recording, film editing and hierarchical storage management. AIT media provides low cost and efficient solutions for the customers of AIT drive. It supports all the current Hewlett-Packard AIT and AIT autoloaders, libraries, drives of pre-merger Compaq.

There are self cleaning heads in the AIT tape drives. The AIT cleaning cartridges from HP provide up to seventy cleans. The HP AIT tape products are HP AIT-1 (Q1997A), HP AIT-2 (Q1998A), HP AIT-3 (Q1999A) and HP cleaning cartridge (Q1996A).

The MIC is memory chip (64k). It is embedded in tape cartridge. With the help of MIC chip, the cartridge can directly connect to onboard processors of AIT drive. This ensures quick access to files, fast media load, multiple on-tape unload & load points on actual media. MIC speeds up the process of data access up to 50% faster than the other technologies.

In AIT tape format the data directly maintained in media but it is kept separate from tape. Therefore, the users are provided line of sight by the AIT media. Head of AIT data tape has longer lifecycle, because its special design reduces the pressure and controls the tape tension. The tape tension in AIT tape format is reduced to 1/3rd as compared to other data tape technologies.

All the HP products ensure highest level of performance and quality. In the year 2002, HP performed 170,000 media tests those accounted test hours for about 1.3million. HP also carries out tests on the media's multiple batches utilizing multiple drives. These tests are done to ensure their performance in variant conditions of environment like variations of humidity and low/high temperature.

AIT is a highly reliable tape format. Tape4backup offers high quality and durable HP AIT-1 tape and HP Q1998A-R tape at lowest prices. Lifetime warranty is also offered on all backup media tapes.

Jessica McIntosh (Marketing Manager)
34972 Newark Blvd, # 501, Newark CA 94560
Tel : 888-491-4949
Fax : 888-449-5050
Email: jessica@tape4backup.com