Imation Introduces Scalable Storage Platform for SMBs - InfiniVault, RDX, A8, LTO Ultrium

Imation Corp. unveiled a scalable storage portfolio of data protection and data archive products designed to help data-intensive, compliance-driven SMBs retain, retrieve and recover valuable data.

"Many SMBs feel trapped between a rock and a hard place with unstructured data storage and compliance requirements that are too sophisticated for off-the-shelf storage products, yet SMBs can't justify the cost and complexity of enterprise class solutions," said Ian Williams, vice president, global marketing and product management, Imation. "We've solved that problem by delivering a suite of tiered storage products right-sized for today's data-intensive SMBs. Backed by Imation's global reach, strong channel relationships and data storage experience spanning nearly 60 years, our new scalable storage solutions help SMBs cost-effectively embrace the rapidly expanding digital world, yet frees them up to run a productive business."

Imation's scalable storage platform features new Imation InfiniVault and Imation DataGuard multi-tiered data-archive and data-protection appliances, as well as the company's existing Imation RDX removable hard disk storage and LTO technologies. The portfolio provides compliant solutions for SMBs to better retain, retrieve and recover their data.

"Compliance and the explosion of unstructured data have changed the way SMBs must retain, retrieve and recover their data. For years, SMBs have pieced together solutions from different storage companies which didn't always work well together, Imation is offering a seamlessly integrated portfolio of tiered and flexible storage solutions geared to the needs of SMBs. These solutions include cloud-enabling storage capabilities as well as archive quality media and appliances designed to enable SMBs to efficiently scale their storage according to their data archive and data protection needs."

The launch of Imation's tiered storage platform with data archive and data protection products for SMBs is another step in Imation's strategy to grow in the secure and scalable storage markets. Already in data storage, the company is making technology investments to extend its position in data storage, security, archiving and protection, including the 2011 acquisitions of MXI Security, IronKey's secure hardware business and the assets of ProStor Systems, including the InfiniVault product line.

About Imation's Scalable Storage Portfolio
The Imation InfiniVault data-archive appliance provides SMBs a storage option for managing unstructured data, helps meet data retention requirements and utilizes hard drives, RDX drives and the cloud to deliver elastic vaults of online, nearline and offline storage. The Imation line includes four models - including the Imation InfiniVault 5, 35, 70 and DICOM - to meet size and industry requirements. Imation InfiniVault data-archive appliances are available in the U.S. through authorized Imation resellers and dealers.

The Imation DataGuard data-protection appliance is a disaster-tolerant backup appliance using hard drives and RDX drives to provide a multi-layer data protection target within existing backup infrastructures. Designed as both tower and rack models, DataGuard uses RDX removable hard drives to retain backups and to seed the cloud infrastructure. Models include the Imation DataGuard T5R, R4 and the R16, and will be available through authorized Imation resellers and dealers in early 2012.

Purpose built to mitigate data loss, retain long-term data and support removable media workflows, Imation's line of stand alone and internal mounted RDX hardware combines the best of tape backup with hard disk drive storage and delivers removability, portability reliability, faster transfer rates and file retrieval. Currently available through authorized Imation resellers and dealers, models include the RDX A8 Storage Array and RDX USB 2.0 and 3.0 Internal and External Docks.

Imation's LTO Hardware is available as a single tape drive system or multiple drive library systems in either rack mount or standalone configurations. Models include the LTO-4 and LTO-5 HH SAS Tape Drives, and L1200 LTO 2U and L1400 LTO 4U Tape Libraries. Imation's LTO Hardware products will be available through authorized Imation resellers and dealers in November 2011.
 

ProStor Systems Announces the Sale of its RDX® Removable Disk Technology Business

ProStor Systems, the leader in multi-tiered storage systems for long-term data retention, today announced the sale of its RDX removable disk business. Tandberg Data will acquire the RDX business, including intellectual property and key members of ProStor’s RDX engineering team. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. ProStor Systems is the inventor and original developer of RDX removable disk technology and the only vendor to offer a multi-tiered storage system based on RDX.

RDX removable disk technology has become the industry leader in enterprise-class removable disk storage for backup, disaster protection and archive. ProStor Systems licensed the RDX technology to Tandberg Data to manufacture, market and sell worldwide. Since then, Tandberg Data has been instrumental in RDX technology achieving widespread acceptance and has established itself as the market leader in the removable disk market.

ProStor is the only vendor to offer a multi-tiered storage system based on RDX technology. “In recent months, we’ve enhanced and expanded the ProStor InfiniVault® product line significantly. The sale of the RDX business will enable us to align our resources and focus our attention solely on scaling the InfiniVault product portfolio,” explains Frank Harbist, ProStor Systems’ CEO.

ProStor InfiniVault, a multi-tiered storage system for fixed digital assets, is uniquely suited to provide a cost-effective solution where data is stored at the most efficient level given business retention and retrieval requirements. The InfiniVault offers backward- and forward- compatibility so that any capacity RDX disk can be intermixed in the system, realizing dramatic cost savings as data grows by eliminating the need to purchase a new system. ProStor will continue to offer its full range of RDX capacity points as part of selling the InfiniVault portfolio. ProStor is still unique in offering system-matching warranties for RDX drives that are bought from ProStor as part of an InfiniVault sale.

The InfiniVault product line has been expanding to include features that enable data virtualization across online, nearline, offline, and offsite tiers based on policies. This transaction enables the continued development of significant long-term data management and retention capabilities to come in the future. ProStor continues to experience solid acceleration in number of customers and sales—serving over 200 customers and realizing over 100% growth in sales year over year.

ProStor Systems provides industry-leading solutions for the cost-effective, long-term storage of digital information. ProStor InfiniVault® integrates information management software, online disk, and RDX removable disk to simplify retention management while automating disaster protection and regulatory compliance. InfiniVault provides fast, reliable retrieval of information from a choice of local online, nearline, offline or offsite locations, all while eliminating archive silos and reducing management overhead. This intelligent storage system is replacing optical, tape, and disk in healthcare, document imaging, financial services, digital video archive, service provider, and government markets

RDX - Removable Disk Technology Advantages and Features

There is little question that responsible IT management begins with the discipline of data protection, retention and restore. In the unexpected event of system or storage equipment failure the ability to restore lost data is invaluable. RDX (Removable Disk Technology), is a disk-based storage technology designed to protect and archive data. RDX technology combines the best characteristics of tape backup with disk storage to bring you removability, portability, low cost, reliability, fast data transfer rates and instant file retrieval.

RDX Advantages

• Superior TCO over the life of the product - RDX removable disk technology requires a one time investment in an RDX dock. Any RDX generation cartridge capacity is compatible. As RDX disk drive capacities increase there is no need to replace the RDX dock as is required with the LTO tape drives. All RDX docks can read any generation cartridge, docks are forward and backward compatible. A dock is typically at a minimum 1/10 the cost of an LTO tape drive for similar performance and capacity – even greater cost differential for newer generation LTO drive.

• The RDX dock is recognized by the computer as simply another system disk drive, both serial and random access (drag and drop) backup are possible. This allows specific select files to be backed-up as needed. Files that need to be backed-up for easy transport or archiving are done easily.

• Multiple copies are easily made directly from the computer hard drive with no special software.

• Adaptable to different size cartridges to fit the need - Since all RDX docks can read any generation cartridge you can right size the cartridge for each back-up requirement, whether exchanging cartridges with a partner or doing daily backups you can choose the cartridge capacity that is right for the job.

• RDX cartridges are easily exchanged among partners inside and outside the organization no matter what the cartridge capacity is. Unlike tape, where each tape generation (capacity) requires the same generation tape drive and there is no flexibility to exchange tapes with partners, inside or outside your organization, that are not on the same generation.Additionally, with the drag and drop capabilities just the files you need to exchange can be easily and securely copied.

• Cartridges are high capacity (1TB today with new capacities coming out multiple times a year)

• RDX Cartridges provide added flexibility in transport choices. They are rugged enough for courier transport or overnight delivery services such as FedEx. Drop in an envelope and ship. A consumer external hard drive or tape cartridges do not have the ruggedness of an RDX cartridge because they have moving parts and risk damage in transit.

• Archival capability – 30+ years

Key Features and Benefits

Removability and Portability Mobile HDD with a ramp load head Random vibration resistant ESD (Static) protection Protected from drops of up to a meter

Archivability and Reliability Up to 30+ years

Simplicity and Security Drag-n-drop file transfers Cartridge write protection WORM capable USB connectivity

Affordability Very low initial cost Very low total cost of ownership

Performance Instant random access to data Backup 80 GB in less than an hour Transfers data up to 45 MB/sec.

Backup Application Compatibility Certified with all major backup applications

Forward and Backward Compatibility Unbeatable investment protection Today's drive/dock is compatible with all current and future cartridges Today's cartridges are compatible with all current and future drives/docks

Scalability Simply add cartridges to increase capacity Customizable for personal and business requirements SATA interface for easy system/server integration