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IBM has claimed its fifth-in-succession world tape density record with a 330TB raw capacity technology using Sony tape media tech.
Back in April, 2015 IBM and Fujitsu demonstrated a 123 billion bits/in2 220TB tape using so-called Nanocubic technology and barium ferrite tape media.
This time around, IBM's tape drive researchers are working with Sony Storage Media Solutions and its sputtered media. Engineering developments have enabled an areal density of 201Gb/in2.
Their technology includes:
- New signal-processing algorithms for the data channel, based on noise-predictive detection principles, enabling reliable operation at a linear density of 818,000 bits per inch with an ultra-narrow 48nm-wide tunnelling magneto-resistive (TMR) reader.
- A set of combined advanced servo control technologies that enable head positioning with an accuracy of better than 7 nanometres.
- Use of a 48nm-wide TMR hard disk drive read head, which enables a track density of 246,200 tracks per inch, a 13-fold increase over the TS1155 tape drive.
- New low-friction tape head technology that permits use of very smooth tape media.
IBM and Sony have developed magnetic tape that can store 201 gigabits per square inch, enabling the creation of a 330 TB (uncompressed) tape cartridge:
To achieve such a dramatic increase in areal density, Sony and IBM tackled different parts of the problem: Sony developed a new type of tape that has a higher density of magnetic recording sites, and IBM Research worked on new heads and signal processing tech to actually read and extract data from those nanometre-long patches of magnetism.
Sony's new tape is underpinned by two novel technologies: an improved built-in lubricant layer, which keeps it running smoothly through the machine, and a new type of magnetic layer. Usually, a tape's magnetic layer is applied in liquid form, kind of like paint—which is one of the reasons that magnetic tape is so cheap and easy to produce in huge quantities. In this case, Sony has instead used sputter deposition, a mature technique that has been used by the semiconductor and hard drive industries for decades to lay down thin films.
LTO-7 stores 6 TB uncompressed. The last Linear Tape-Open release on the roadmap, LTO-10, is planned to store 48 TB. This technology would be used for LTO-12 or LTO-13.
Also at The Verge, ZDNet, The Register, and YouTube (2m12s, IBM Research).
201 Gb/in² Recording Areal Density on Sputtered Magnetic Tape (DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2017.2727822) (DX)
Previously: IBM and FUJIFILM Create Equivalent of 220 TB Tape Cartridge
Original Submission #1 Original Submission #2 Original Submission #3
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 03 2017, @06:10AM (8 children)
Since IBM is teaming up with SONY, that means these cartridges will be so ridiculously expensive, and so completely proprietary (with them not being available from any other manufacturers) that it won't make any financial sense to actually adopt them.
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Thursday August 03 2017, @08:44AM (1 child)
You forgot:
And both drives and media will be obsolete long before you ever want to restore the backups.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 03 2017, @02:32PM
Maybe, maybe not. LTO drives and tapes don't have this problem, and lots of companies rely on them for archival backups. However, LTO is an industry standard to my knowledge, so you can mix and match drives and tapes from different vendors. This SONY shit won't be like that, it'll be all ultra-proprietary SONY like all the garbage they push.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 03 2017, @09:01AM (1 child)
Like when Philips and Sony got together and announced the Compact Disc. Sony ruins whatever it touches.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 03 2017, @02:33PM
That was the 70s, man. SONY hasn't done anything like that since disco was king.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 03 2017, @12:46PM (1 child)
Also will come with rootkit.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 03 2017, @02:25PM
So buy it from IBM, Quantum, HPE, or FUJIFILM instead:
https://www.tapeandmedia.com/lto-7-tape-media-tapes.asp [tapeandmedia.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 03 2017, @02:01PM
Did they happen to mention R/W speed? They can sell these to three letter agencies.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday August 04 2017, @01:35AM
Makes me wonder.. will it be using SCSI control blocks and commands?
Connection via Fiber channel, S-ATA, SCSI, Ethernet?