Quantum launches Scalar storage platform

Provides most efficient, lowest cost storage for unstructured data.

Thursday, 13th October 2016 Posted 8 years ago in by Phil Alsop

Quantum has introduced a new Scalar storage platform optimised for storing and managing the ever-increasing volumes of unstructured data. The first new products based on this platform are the Scalar i6 and Scalar i3 tape libraries and the StorNext AEL6 purpose-built rich media archive appliance. The new Scalar platform is the latest addition to Quantum’s multi-tier portfolio of workflow, hybrid flash, object-based, cloud and tape storage that enables customers to maximise the value of their data in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

Addressing massive unstructured data growth
Customers are contending with massive growth of unstructured data, including video and other rich media types:

Media and entertainment companies transitioning to 4K workflows.

Security and video surveillance deployments adding more high-definition cameras and sophisticated analytics.

Cloud storage providers expanding their customer base.

Tape can play a key role in addressing the challenges of unstructured data growth, providing data protection, active archive or long-term cold storage — including protecting against ransomware with an offline copy. In addition, tape continues to be significantly more cost-effective than any other storage medium, as reflected in the following chart:

The most efficient tape storage today
The new Scalar storage platform takes the benefits of tape to the next level. It offers best-in-class storage density — twice that of earlier-generation rack-mounted libraries — enabling organisations of all sizes to reduce their data centre footprint and further reduce their storage costs. As an example, Scalar customers can vault tapes within a system to provide on-premise, monitored cold storage for less than $0.001 per GB, or $0.0014 per GB per month — a fraction of the cost of public cloud storage.

Other innovations contributing to the Scalar’s efficiency include:

80 PLUS^® certified power supplies, a unique feature of the Scalar platform, minimise power and cooling costs and reduce the impact of data centres on the environment.

Quantum’s iLayer™ proactive diagnostics resolve issues before they affect operations, to maximise library uptime and minimise operational expenses.

Embedded compute capabilities eliminate the need for external application servers.

Policy-based data integrity checking — with the ability to move data off suspect tapes — and in-library active vaulting enable the storage of petabytes of data reliably and cost-effectively for years.

Enhanced user experience
Consumer IT has raised expectations for the user experience in the data centre. As a result, the new Scalar platform significantly modernises and enhances the user experience with features such as an all-new HTTP-based interface; automated setup, configuration and management tasks via web services; an intuitive, swipe-based local user interface design; and interaction via mobile devices.

Three new offerings based on the Scalar platform
The first tape products based on the new Scalar platform are designed for three
distinct environments:

The Scalar i3 — Easy. Scalable. Efficient. Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, the Scalar i3 delivers a new level of simplicity and scalability, providing up to 3PB of storage in only 12U of rack space.

The Scalar i6 — Efficient. Intelligent. Enterprise-Scale. Scaling up to 12PB within a single 48U rack, the Scalar i6 is targeted toward highly demanding workflows and enterprise environments.

The StorNext AEL6 appliance — powering media workflows. The new StorNext AEL6 combines the Scalar i6 library with Quantum’s StorNext^® data management software, enhancing the StorNext AEL line of purpose-built, archive storage appliances for media workflows. StorNext enables easy access to data stored on tape, with options for CIFS, NFS, and RESTful interfaces.