A practical large scale/high speed data distribution system using 8 mm libraries

Eight mm tape libraries are known primarily for their small size, large storage capacity, and low cost. However, many applications require an additional attribute which, heretofore, has been lacking -- high transfer rate. Transfer rate is particularly important in a large scale data distribution environment -- an environment in which 8 mm tape should play a very important role. Data distribution is a natural application for 8 mm for several reasons: most large laboratories have access to 8 mm tape drives, 8 mm tapes are upwardly compatible, 8 mm media are very inexpensive, 8 mm media are light weight (important for shipping purposes), and 8 mm media densely pack data (5 gigabytes now and 15 gigabytes on the horizon). If the transfer rate issue were resolved, 8 mm could offer a good solution to the data distribution problem. To that end Exabyte has analyzed four ways to increase its transfer rate: native drive transfer rate increases, data compression at the drive level, tape striping, and homogeneous drive utilization. Exabyte is actively pursuing native drive transfer rate increases and drive level data compression. However, for non-transmitted bulk data applications (which include data distribution) the other two methods (tape striping and homogeneous drive utilization) hold promise.