Today Quantum Corp announced its new Scalar storage platform that is designed to store and manage the ever-increasing volumes of unstructured data. The first products based on this new storage platform include the tape libraries, Scalar i6 and Scalar i3, as well as the purpose-built rich media archive appliance, StorNext AEL6. The new storage platform is the latest addition to Quantum’s vast portfolio that stretches from tape storage to hybrid flash.
Today Quantum Corp announced its new Scalar storage platform that is designed to store and manage the ever-increasing volumes of unstructured data. The first products based on this new storage platform include the tape libraries, Scalar i6 and Scalar i3, as well as the purpose-built rich media archive appliance, StorNext AEL6. The new storage platform is the latest addition to Quantum’s vast portfolio that stretches from tape storage to hybrid flash.
Data, especially unstructured data, is growing massively. Companies are struggling with various types of data growth. And while the usual culprits for this growth are thought to be data being generated by social media and the Internet of Things, video and other rich media are also generating data. For example, many companies in media and entertainment are switching over to 4K workflows and security and video surveillance are using higher definition cameras and more sophisticated analysis software. While not usually the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of different methods for addressing data growth, tape can still be a fairly attractive option. Tape provides data protection, active archive or long-term cold storage, including protecting against ransomware with an offline copy. And tape is still the most cost-efficient method for storage.
Quantum’s new Scalar storage platform takes all the benefits of tape and applies that to storing unstructured data. The new platform offers twice the storage density of earlier-generation rack-mounted libraries. This increase in density means that the overall data center footprint can be reduced and costs can be driven down as a result. Speaking of costs, Quantum claims that customers using Scalar storage platform can deploy cloud storage for less than $0.001 per GB, or $0.0014 per GB per month, much less the current public cloud prices.
Other innovations of Scalar storage platform include:
- 80 PLUS certified power supplies, a unique feature of the Scalar platform, minimize power and cooling costs and reduce the impact of data centers on the environment.
- Quantum’s iLayer proactive diagnostics resolve issues before they affect operations, to maximize library uptime and minimize 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.
Tape is thought of as an older technology, though it still has its place in modern storage and archiving. Quantum is helping to modernize this technology by improving user experience in the data center. The new platform has 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.
The first three products based on the new Scalar storage platform are designed for three distinct environments:
- The Scalar i3 —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 —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 —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.
Availability and Pricing
The Quantum Scalar i3, Scalar i6 and StorNext AEL6 will begin shipping next month, with list prices starting at $8,500 for the Scalar i3, $25,000 for the Scalar i6, and $42,500 for the StorNext AEL6.
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