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Changes in the data storage industry continue to occur at an unprecedented rate. As new products are introduced, new solutions and alternative architectures are created to help meet the changing needs of the data storage community. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to recommend and implement the most appropriate solution for your particular requirement.
The following are common storage technologies, and your needs may require an off-the-shelf solution, or one tailored to your specific network, access time, or security requirement,
File Server-Based
RAID comes in many different flavors with various levels of protection and performance. There are only 4 different levels in wide use today: 0, 1, 3, and 5. RAID 0 provides for maximum performance but offers no data protection. RAID 1 mirrors information from one disk onto another. This allows for a high level of protection but it offers no performance advantage and it is expensive since half of the total disk space is used for protection. RAID 3 and 5 are more popular since they protect data through a parity drive while utilizing the performance advantages of a RAID 0 configuration.
Compact Disk Libraries
CD Libraries provide transparent access to 60-150 CDs for around $75 per CD or 85% less than a CD tower. A high performance CD library with intelligent software can track activity on each CD, manage the resource in the most efficient manner possible and provide access and recording (archiving) capabilities to multiple users across the network.
5 1/4-inch Magneto-Optical (MO)
When used in a jukebox, users can have on-line capacities from 50 gigabyte on up to more than two terabytes. This equates to between 5 million and 200 million pages per jukebox. Most MO 5 1/4-inch optical media manufacturers rate the shelf life of their media at 30 years or more.
Tape
Tape libraries are the storage capacity champions of the world. More data can be stored on tape than on any other centralized storage system. The fundamental drawback of tape storage systems is that searches are conducted on a linear method (start at the beginning and go until you find) rather than random access such as CD-ROM or MO. They are the least expensive on a $ per byte basis.