High Performance Sony Ait-3 Tape Media Format

By Author: Rob Miller
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As the recording capacity of server and desktop hard disks continues to grow, performance demands placed on the data storage media also increase. Sony engineered a highly economical and space-efficient AIT tape format, which was launched in 1996. AIT (advanced intelligent tape) is a higher capacity tape solution that occupies lesser data-center space. Since the introduction of AIT tape, Sony has always designed & produced all of its own AIT tape cartridges and tape drives.

Sony AITe260/S is a robustly designed AIT-3 external tape drive, which delivers highest reliability and outstanding recording efficiency in its class. Sony AITe260/S drive features SCSI interface, and can backup 100 gigabytes of native data on a Sony AIT 3 tape. All leading operating systems are supported by Sony AIT-3 SCSI drive including Linux, NetWare, UNIX and Windows NT.

Sony AITe260/S tape drive achieves extraordinary recording density with the help of helical-scan recording mechanism. Therefore the customers of Sony AIT-3 tape format can enjoy higher recording performance with 2.6:1 data compression and faster speed of 31.2 ...
... MB/s. This means that in compressed mode the Sony AIT-3 data can house 260 GB data.

Sony AIT 3 tape technology has more to offer; the AIT-2 and AIT-1 backup tapes will also work excellently with the Sony AIT-3 tape drive. The tape drive can perform read/record operations on AIT2 and AIT1 media tapes as well. AME media formulation ensures tape longevity, increases the robustness, and protects the tape medium against humidity and severe temperatures. Sony AIT3 backup cartridge provides up to 30,000 end-to-end tape passes.

AIT backup tapes should be stored between 15° C to 25° C, with relative humidity of 40% to 60%, so that you can get maximum reliability and superior performance throughout its archival life. The companies have to accommodate continually growing data amounts, while the data retention laws have intensified the challenges of digital record keeping and data manageability. WORM functionality of Sony AIT3 format helps to meet the government regulatory mandates. Sony AIT-3 format's WORM functionality puts a stop to unintentional erasure of record, over-writings and human errors.

Sony is a leading backup media innovator and manufacturer of world's leading tape technologies. Popular tape cartridges manufactured by Sony are listed below:

Sony AIT-3 tapes
SDX3-100C
SDX3-100W

Sony LTO2 ultrium tape
LTX200GWW

Travan TR-5 tape

SLR tapes

Sony DDS4 tape
DGD150PWW

Sony DAT-320 tape
DGDAT320

Sony dlt-iv tape, dlt 4 tape
DL4TK88

Sony LTO5 tape
LTX1500G

Sdx2-50c
Sony ait2 tapes

Sony AIT-3 tape drive facilitates the users through quick searching and retrieval of stored files. The data searching speed has been significantly improved with the inclusion of R-MIC memory chip in AIT3 media tapes. This enables the AIT-3 tape technology to deliver unprecedented performance and intelligence to the demanding backup environments.

It is recommended that cleaning cartridge should be used periodically. Sony's SDX1-CL cleaning cartridge is best suited for AIT-3, AIT2 and AIT1 drives. For longer working life and reduced error rate, Sony has designed Hyper metal laminate tape head, which lowers wear on media tape. This helps to boost the performance level with an MTBF of 400,000 hours. Device, product and software names mentioned in this article are trademarks and sole property of their owners.

Rob Miller is the Marketing Manager of Tape4backup and markets Sony AIT-3 tape and Sony SDX3-100C Tape. He has vast experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping buyers who have the backup needs and guide clients about the technology.

Rob Miller
34972 Newark Blvd,# 501,Newark CA 94560
Tel: 888-491-4949
Fax: 888-449-5050
Email: rob@tape4backup.com