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Making Removable RAID Making Removable RAID Disk Media A RealityDisk Media A RealityMaking Removable RAID Making Removable RAID Disk Media A RealityDisk Media A Reality

Changing the World of Storage Changing the World of Storage

RXT

Applications from SMB to the

Enterprise

Spectra Logic Corp. – Boulder , CO

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HDDs as Removable Media HDDs as Removable Media

HDDs have many inherent advantages: • Performance (random access vs. sequential)• Size• Capacity Trends• Cost Trends• Interface Trends

However, new HDD applications have been limited by:• Fixed Configurations (static arrays) as secondary use• Differentiation between Enterprise and other applications• Perceived “robustness” for removable use• Lack of appropriate architecture/standard for portable use

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What has Changed to Make Removable Disk Feasible Now?What has Changed to Make Removable Disk Feasible Now?

Availability of Highly Reliable, High-Performance SATA Drives, particularly 2.5” FF for Mobile Use• 900G Shock Protection (non-operating)• 1,000K Hour MTBF• 80GB per Spindle and moving to 100+ GB soon• 80MB/sec Data Transfer Rate• Simplified Serial Interface (SATA) with low Connection Count

Rugged, Innovative Packaging & Controller Architecture• Unique, shock-protected packaging for HDDs as removable media• Unique Docking Station/Controller provides power, I/O & Data

Formatting Embedded RAID Controller for high data integrity

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Removable HDD Architecture – Putting the Pieces TogetherRemovable HDD Architecture – Putting the Pieces Together

Shock Mount Off-the-Shelf SATA HDDs in a Portable Enclosure “TeraPack” Module

Controller to Accept TeraPack Modules & Provide RAID Data Protection “Docking Station”

“RXT” Architecture

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What Is RXT?What Is RXT?

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What is the Application Opportunity? High-performance, high capacity, removable media

for data protection, archiving and interchange.

What are the Design Objectives for Portability?

Provide best reliability and data integrity Provide a scalable architecture base Integrate both disk and tape seamlessly Provide multiple capacities and application

configurations

RXT ImplementationRXT Implementation

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RXT Removable Disk Module (TeraPack)RXT Removable Disk Module (TeraPack)

Contains Up to 12 SATA HDDs shock mounted in a “TeraPack” enclosure

“Connector Array” provides interface for each HDD to the Docking Station• No Power or Electronics contained in the

TeraPack – Just HDDs

Bar Coded for Data Set Management (manual or automated)

Can be transported manually or through an automated library robotics environment

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RXT Docking StationRXT Docking Station

RXT Docking Station/Control Unit – enclosure with opening to accept RXT TeraPack media, providing power, control and RAID functions• Provides Ultra-SCSI 320 I/F to host system• Contains processor running own OS to

manage all functions, including RAID• Contains “pogo-pin” array to connect to

RXT media pack (provides power, I/O, etc. to each drive in TeraPack)

• 5.25” Internal or External packaging.

RXT from Spectra LogicRXT from Spectra Logic

RXT Internal Docking/Control Unit

with RXT Media Loaded

RXT External Docking/Control Unit

with RXT Media Loaded

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RXT Is True Removable RAIDRXT Is True Removable RAID

Unlike a traditional HDD RAID configuration, RXT is a fully enclosed array of HDDs that can be removed as a RAID unit for:

• Offsite storage• High speed data exchange• “Near-Line” storage in

library automationIn a Traditional RAID Array,individual component disks are removable, but the array (and the data) is “fixed”

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800GB RXT Media

RAID Levels0 and 1

(2) 3.5” 400GB

SATA Disk Drives

Lower Cost Targeted at Mid-Range applications

960GB RXT Media

RAID Levels0, 1, and 5

(12) 2.5’”80GB

SATA Disk Drives

High Performance Best Shock Protection Targeted at Enterprise applications

RXT RAID Media Choices

The RXT RAID TeraPackThe RXT RAID TeraPack

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RXT Media EvolutionRXT Media Evolution

Current RXT Media options

Configuration (2) 3 ½” SATA drives

(12) 2 ½” SATA drives

Capacity

RAID Level

800 GB per TeraPack case0, 1

960 GB per TeraPack case0, 1, 5

As SATA drives grow in capacity, cost effectiveness and performance, so will RXT media.

• 3 ½” media — greatest $/Terabyte value.

• 2 ½” media — highest throughput, capacity, data integrity and reliability

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Comparison Chart - Removable MediaComparison Chart - Removable Media

Spectra Logic RXT80GB & 400GB

SATA HDDRAID 0, 1, 5 800GB - 960GB Ulta-SCSI 320

IOMega REV Modified HDD ECC 36GB SCSI, USB

IO Data iVDRExtended SATA

HDD? 20GB USB

Optical PDD, UDO Re-writable Optical ECC 23 - 30 GBSCSI, USB,

ATA

System Interface

Media Capacity (Native)

Company Model Disk Type Data Integrity

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Traditional Data Protection and Archiving• Fast, reliable back-up and restore

Move off-line data, on-line rapidly Move off-site data to DR site for faster recovery

• Short-Term On-Line Archiving• Complement Tape in automation applications

Vertical Markets • Defense/Security – Rugged, portable media for transport & high-

speed access• Video Broadcast – High capacity, performance access of large

data sets• Oil & Gas - Rugged, portable media for transport and interchange• Service Providers – Portable media for archive, fast restore

RXT Target MarketsRXT Target Markets

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The RXT Configurations & ApplicationsThe RXT Configurations & Applications RXT Standalone

• SMB Backups - environments too small for automation

• Disaster Recovery “Hot” Sites• Media can be rotated exactly

as tape• High-performance removable

storage for Vertical market applications

• Provides media interchange with automation applications

RXT Standalone Docking Station & Media

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RXT Configurations & ApplicationsRXT Configurations & Applications

RXT with Server• Backup individual servers

directly to removable RAID• More reliable than tape

auto-loaders.• High-performance

removable storage for Vertical market applications

Server, RXT Docking Stations, & Media

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RXT Configuration & ApplicationsRXT Configuration & Applications

RXT Rackmount• 2U (3.5”) Rack-mountable

unit• 3 Devices, either RXT or

Tape Drives• Can be used independently,

or in conjunction with the T120 tape library

• Simple device copy for D2D2T backups

RXT Rackmount Docking Station & Media

(Shown With Spectra T120 Library)

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Tape/Disk Library Automation

• RXT Docking Stations and RXT Media are installed into existing drive bays and media storage chambers

• RXT Utilizes Existing Robotics, Interfaces, and Power

• Tape/Removable Disk can Co-exist in same library

Removable HDD capacity scales from 960 GB to 90TB/Cabinet

• Transparent to backup application

Storage Chambers

Drive Bays

RXT in the EnterpriseRXT in the Enterprise

T950

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E/E Port

Tape TeraPack

RXT DockingStation

TeraPack Media Chambers

Tape and RXT Drive Bays

RXT DiskTeraPack

LTO2 Drive

RXT in the Enterprise – T950 AutomationRXT in the Enterprise – T950 Automation

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SDPROLIANT 1850R

SDPROLIANT 1850R

SD

SD

ESC

DLT

PROLIANT 8000

Servers

BackupTo Disk

T950 With RXT and Tape

3. Copy RXT To Tape (Vaulting)

2. Export RXT For Off-site Storage

1. Leave Data On RXT For Fast Retrieval

Once The Backup Is complete:

OR

OR

Backup Operation in a T950Backup Operation in a T950

RXT in the Enterprise – Multiple ChoicesRXT in the Enterprise – Multiple Choices

(Virtual Tape)

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Spectra T950 Supplier A Supplier B

Performance 34.6TB/Hr 1.4TB/Hr 1.2TB/Hr

Portable Media Yes No No

Configuration Integrated in Library External to Library External to Library

Capacity 95TB/Frame 150TBs/2 Frames 40TB/Frame

Scalability 600 TBs 6 to 160 TBs 10 to 40TBs

RXT/T950 - Enterprise ComparisonScaling Capacity and Performance

RXT/T950 - Enterprise ComparisonScaling Capacity and Performance

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RXT – A New Approach to HDD ApplicationsRXT – A New Approach to HDD Applications Portability

• True removable RAID media• Shock and RAID protected

Flexibility• Wide range of configurations• Scales to range of capacity and

performance points• Co-exist with Tape

Range of Storage Application Environments• Desk-top, Server-ready & Rack-mount for

standalone applications• Automation support for Enterprise

applications

Combines the Performance & Reliability of Disk with the Portability of Tape !