Spectra Logic Offers Library For Cost Of A Single Drive

IT managers and storage VARs seek affordable storage solutions, and up to now have had to settle for products requiring significant staff time handling and moving tape cartridges. Spectra Logic has created a cost-minimized version of the proven Spectra 2K, offering customers the first true automated library that is competitive with the price of a single drive: a fast, automated tape library with 3.9 TB of compressed capacity, for less than $3,500. Now, every organization and business can afford a library, in place of a stand-alone tape drive, for data protection.

"Data protection for small and medium organizations in Canada constitutes an enormous market, but small tape libraries have been too expensive," said Byron Behnke, President of Evergreen Peripherals. "The Spectra 2K with AIT-3 is the first library that offers automation at a price point competitive with standalone tape drives, delivering proven performance coupled with extreme scalability. The 2K with AIT-3 is a steal at this price, and I'm excited to be able to offer it to our Canadian customers."

The Spectra 2K is one of Spectra Logic's most trusted tape libraries, with more than 11,000 installed worldwide. Customers can take advantage of this proven library combined with Sony's reliable AIT-3 drive technology, all at an entry-level price. Spectra 2K libraries previously listed at $6,900.

With the Spectra 2K, customers can use any backup software, including Microsoft NT Backup utility that is included with Microsoft servers. This software runs backups automatically, and the library robotics move tapes to make sure the backups complete. Customers don't need to be present for backups to insert and move tapes, because the 2K takes care of it. This time-savings used to be reserved for high-dollar customers, but with the 2K, that's simply no longer true.

"Spectra Logic evaluates customer feedback as we design and improve our products," said Nathan Thompson, CEO of Spectra Logic. "Our team saw the need for a solid, SME library at the price point of a standalone drive. To address this, Spectra Logic decided to reduce the price of earlier AIT technology in one of our most established tape libraries."

A single LVD SCSI Spectra 2K library with one AIT-3 drive and fifteen slots has 3.9 TB of data compressed, and provides a transfer rate of more than 112 GB/hour. Pricing begins at $3,495. This 2K can be upgraded to subsequent generations of AIT technology as necessary, too, protecting the life of the investment. The Spectra 2K with AIT-4 is also available for $6,900, and has double the capacity and speed of the low-cost Spectra 2K. The library is certified with major ISVs including Arkeia, Atempo, BakBone, CommVault, Computer Associates, Dantz, IBM, Legato, NovaStor, SGL, SyncSort, VERITAS and XenData. It works on all standard operating system platforms, and is provided with a 3-year warranty.

About Spectra Logic Corporation
Spectra Logic Corporation, now in its 25th year, is a leading designer and manufacturer of data storage products that protect mission-critical data for companies worldwide. Spectra Logic's innovative products make it easy for organizations to store and manage rapidly growing data by offering libraries with capacities ranging from 60 gigabytes to hundreds of terabytes, all the way up to multiple petabytes of storage. Spectra Logic was the first vendor to automate Sony AIT and introduce integrated Fibre Channel and iSCSI tape libraries. Further, Spectra Logic invented the TeraPack media management system that helps customers track media in and outside the data center using bar-coded magazines. The company offers a complete suite of support options, including worldwide on-site support, and innovative options including AutoSupport, which proactively sends notification of library status, and Assisted Self Maintenance. Today, the company has more than 17,000 tape libraries installed worldwide with customers that include ALLTEL, NASA and Sprint. Spectra Logic's data protection products are available through a global network of resellers and OEMs. For more information, contact Spectra Logic by phone at (800) 833-1132, or visit the company's Web site at www.SpectraLogic.com.