DEC-TA90-CartridgeTapeSubsystem

The Digital TA90 Cartridge Tape Subsystem is presented as Digital's highest-performance tape solution, optimized for VAXcluster systems. It utilizes high-density cartridges and offers full read/write compatibility with the IBM 3480 recording format, enabling seamless data interchange.

Key features and benefits include:

• High Performance: Achieves data transfer rates up to 2.7 MB/s, completing backups in half the time of traditional reel-to-reel tapes. It incorporates a 2 MB cache buffer for optimized performance, which can be software-selected to enhance data integrity for critical applications like transaction logging.
• High Capacity & Efficiency: Each cartridge holds 200 MB, offering 38% more capacity than 2400-ft GCR reels. With optional 6-cartridge automatic stack loaders, it provides up to 2.4 GB of unattended backup capacity per dual-drive unit, significantly reducing operator intervention by 85%.
• Reliability & Data Integrity: The TA90 offers enhanced reliability over previous systems, featuring Error Correction Code (ECC) and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for quadruple-track error correction "on the fly," along with a two-dimensional parity feature. It supports redundant configurations for maximum availability and to eliminate single points of failure within a VAXcluster.
• VAXcluster Integration: Designed specifically for VAXcluster environments, it connects to Hierarchical Storage Controllers (HSC) via a new high-speed channel card, enabling shared access to tape resources and offloading backup tasks from host CPUs. The system is highly scalable, supporting up to two master subsystems and twelve transports per HSC server.
• Reduced Cost of Ownership: The compact cartridge format leads to a sixfold reduction in physical storage space compared to reel-to-reel media, along with significant savings in power, cooling, and overall operational overhead.
• Investment Protection: As a Digital Storage Architecture (DSA) device, the TA90 ensures compatibility with future Digital CPU and operating system upgrades without requiring changes to application code.

The TA90 is ideal for demanding storage tasks such as high-speed backup, data interchange, journaling, transaction logging, and archiving for mainframe-class systems.