XenData Announces Support for Sony SAIT PetaSite Tape Libraries

Cambridge, UK / June 21, 2004:  The next release of XenData Archive Series Software includes support for Sony PetaSite tape libraries incorporating SAIT drives. XenData software manages a Windows file server with on-board RAID and an attached PetaSite library. The resultant high capacity file server is optimized to archive and retrieve reference information such as generated by document imaging, email archiving, medical imaging, satellite imagery, aerial photography and digital video applications. 

All SAIT PetaSite models are supported by the XenData software, including:

  • CSM-60BF with 10TB to 30TB of native capacity in a Fibre Channel configuration

  • CSM-60BS with 10TB to 30TB of native capacity in a SCSI configuration

  • CSM-100BF with up to 54TB of native capacity in a Fibre Channel configuration

  • CSM-100BS with up to 54TB of native capacity in a SCSI configuration

  • CSM-200BF with up to 108TB of native capacity in a Fibre Channel configuration

  • CSM-200BS with up to 108TB of native capacity in a SCSI configuration

The PetaSite library system can be expanded up to a total of 1.5 PetaBytes native capacity.

The 500GB native capacity of SAIT-1 drives exceeds that of any other tape drive currently in the market, making this format an ideal choice for high capacity archiving applications. The XenData software and SAIT drives support both rewritable and Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) tape cartridges.  WORM tape provides a non-erasable and unalterable record that meets the data authentication and legal compliance needs of most industries, including financial organizations governed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

XenData Archive Series Software runs on a Windows 2000 Server or Server 2003 and manages RAID and a tape library attached by SCSI or fibre channel. The software presents the RAID and tape library as a single server volume which may be shared over the network. The system administrator defines policies that determine where files are physically stored. The system simultaneously writes to RAID and tape providing a continuous backup of data. Administrator polices determine how long data is retained on RAID, the allocation of files to specified groups of tape cartridges and the automatic generation of tape cartridge replicas for off-site retention.

A server consisting of a PetaSite library system managed by XenData Archive Series Software is ideal for managing large volumes of reference information because it combines information lifecycle management, assured data authenticity and disaster recovery: 

  • Files that are more frequently accessed can be retained on RAID as well as tape.

  • The authenticity of data is assured by the use of WORM cartridges and the audit trail capabilities built into the XenData software.

  • The total server can be rebuilt from tapes held off-site, providing an effective solution for disaster recovery.

PetaSite support is included in version 3.20 of Archive Series Software which will be available from July 1, 2004.

About XENDATA

XenData provides software that manages high capacity file servers optimized to archive and retrieve reference information. Reference information is also known as 'fixed content' and refers to digital assets that are largely unchanging and are long lasting. Applications that generate large volumes of reference information include document imaging, medical imaging, email archiving, enterprise report management, satellite imagery, aerial photography, broadcast video and surveillance video. XenData does not create the application software; it develops software to manage the data created by these applications and works closely with complementary software providers.

XenData, with headquarters in Cambridge, UK and offices in San Francisco, USA and Munich, Germany was founded in 2001 by executives from the optical disk industry. Collectively, the team at XenData has many decades of experience in developing data storage solutions for fixed content applications. XenData works closely with leading tape drive and library vendors and is a Microsoft Windows Embedded Partner. XenData software takes advantage of the on-going advances in hard disk and tape technology and provides highly competitive solutions which are tightly integrated with the Windows Server operating system.

XenData sells its software products via authorized distributors, resellers and system integrators worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.xendata.com/.