Sun's automated tape storage library offers economical online, offline data storage; ideal for unattended backup of large networks, server systems

Business Wire, Feb 21, 1995

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 1995--Sun Microsystems Computer Co. (SMCC) Tuesday introduced the SPARCstorage Library Model 8/140 automated tape storage system designed for cost-effective data management at either the enterprise or department level.

Because of its storage capacity of 140 gigabytes and the low cost of the media, SMCC's new library offers economical online and offline storage for unattended backup-and-restore, archival, data acquisition and hierarchical storage management (HSM) applications.

"The SPARCstorage Library offers customers a low-cost, versatile, high-capacity and high-performance storage solution," said Paul Prebin, product manager of SMCC. "In addition, its expandability and upgradability provide excellent investment protection."

The SPARCstorage Library Model 8/140 is an automated tape storage system that can typically store 140 gigabytes of data on ten 8mm tape cartridges. The system holds a 14-gigabyte, 8mm tape drive with an average transfer rate of 1 megabyte per second with room for an optional second drive. A 50-gigabyte backup procedure using a two-drive configuration takes less than seven hours.

A robotic handling mechanism transfers the tape from a fixed magazine to the drive. Tape access can be random or sequential. An optional bar-code reader can be installed to make tape and file management easier.

The new SPARCstorage Library is compatible with SMCC's SPARCcenter 2000 and SPARCserver 1000 datacenter and departmental servers, as well as the new SPARCstation 5 and SPARCstation 20 workstations. Using backup software such as Solstice Backup (formerly Networker for Solaris) or other major software applications, the new library supports the requirements of most Sun and heterogeneous networks.

Price and Availability

The new SPARCstorage Library is available in tower or rack-mounted versions. In a standard one-drive configuration, the SPARCstorage Library Model 8/140 is priced at $11,900 and is available immediately. Options include a second tape drive for $3,300 and optical bar-code reader for $1,200.

Sun Microsystems Computer Co. (SMCC), the world's top supplier of open network computing solutions, is part of Sun Microsystems Inc. Built on Sun's legacy of "The Network is the Computer," SMCC's SPARC/Solaris workstation and server family leads the UNIX market. The company has its headquarters in Mountain View. -0-

Note to Editors: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network is the Computer, SPARCstation, SPARCcenter, SPARCserver, SPARCstorage and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International Inc. SPARCstation, SPARCcenter, SPARCserver and SPARCstorage are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems Inc.

Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company Ltd. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Sun Microsystems Computer Co.

Larry Lettieri, 415/336-6117