AIT-2 TreeFrog Delivers Increased Capacity and Performance

BOULDER, Colo., August 2, 1999 — Spectra Logic Corp. announced it is now shipping TreeFrog tape libraries equipped with Sony's AIT-2 tape drive technology. The AIT TreeFrog (model name Spectra 2000), provides users with a native capacity of 1.5 Terabytes and a transfer rate of 6.0 to 12.0 Megabytes per second, uncompressed.

"Customers' needs for capacity and transfer rates have dramatically increased in the last few years," said Nathan Thompson, chairman and CEO of Spectra Logic. "Using Sony's AIT technology, we are able to offer sophisticated tape libraries at price-performance points never previously possible for entry level products. This full featured tape library is available to NT customers at a fraction of the cost of the servers it is designed to protect in a shared environment."

Sony's AIT-2 tape drives boast the mid-range tape industry's fastest native transfer rate, 6.0 Megabytes per second (15.6MB/sec compressed), and largest per-cartridge capacity, 50 Gigabytes (130GB compressed), for under $5000. AIT now holds the leading specifications in capacity per tape, transfer rate, media passes, head life, and reliability. "Our TreeFrog library family has been delivering the automation industry's lowest cost and highest performance storage specifications with AIT-1 and with AIT-2 specifications, the TreeFrog is now able to eclipse entry-level DLT automation products," Thompson said.

"We are pleased with the commitment Sony has shown to the AIT market. With the introduction of the AIT-2 tape drives, Sony has not only delivered the highest performance midrange tape drive but has also continued to reduced the price of its award winning AIT-1 products," Thompson continued. "As other tape technologies scramble to develop their next generation products, Sony continues to execute with AIT's published roadmaps. The AIT-2 drives have boosted AIT to the top of the hill for mid-range tape technology. AIT-2 is operating at the published specifications and Sony continues to deliver these new products on-time. Our customers see this stability as a key criteria as they make tape decisions today."

Features

The TreeFrog tape library features a maximum of 30 storage slots and can be configured with one or two tape drives. When equipped with Sony's AIT-2 drives, the TreeFrog's capacity is 1.5 Terabytes uncompressed (3.9TB compressed). The transfer rate for the AIT-2 TreeFrog is from 6.0 to 12.0 Megabytes per second (15.6MB/sec to 31.2MB/sec compressed). These transfer rates provide up to 112.3 Gigabytes per hour in a single tape library while requiring only 8.5 inches of rack-mount space. The TreeFrog design features an integrated picker and uni-body robotic chassis. Electronic barcode scanning functionality is standard on all AIT TreeFrog models. The design also includes a removable cartridge pack with an integrated dust cover to protect tapes throughout media rotations. Customers can easily upgrade a TreeFrog library by adding additional drives, up to two per unit, or progress to newer tape technologies to meet their changing needs.

Availability and Upgrades

TreeFrog tape libraries equipped with AIT-2 drives are available immediately. Spectra Logic was the first to ship AIT-2 technology in its high end Spectra 10000 tape library. Low-voltage differential (LVD) units will be available 4th quarter 1999. The company was also the first to include Fibre channel and is integrating this technology throughout its current and future product lines. Spectra Logic offers an AIT-2 Upgrade Program to enable existing AIT-1 customers to take advantage of the new drives. AIT-2 tape drives are fully backward compatible with both the 25GB (170 meter) and 35GB (230 meter) AIT-1 media. Contact Spectra Logic Technical Support for additional information.

About Spectra Logic Corporation

Spectra Logic Corporation is a leading provider of high-performance, corporate-wide storage hardware products focused on data protection for the rapidly growing storage marketplace. Spectra Logic tape library products offer capacities from 60 Gigabytes to 80 Terabytes. The Boulder-based company's products operate on a broad range of platforms and operating systems. For more information, contact Spectra Logic by phone at (800) 833-1132 or visit the company's web site at www.spectralogic.com.

The Spectra Logic logo is a trademark of Spectra Logic Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Contacts
Editorial Contacts:
Spectra Logic Corporation
Phil Fulkrod
Library Product Manager
(303) 449-6400
philf@spectralogic.com

Spectra Logic Corporation
Megan Boehm
Public Relations Manager
(303) 449-6400
meganb@spectralogic.com