IBM introduced IBM Diamondback Tape Library, a new tape storage solution with an emphasis on security.
HDDs and SSDs are faster and more flexible, but tape storage still excels in terms of cost-effectiveness and sustainability. IBM offers a broad portfolio of tape storage solutions. The portfolio was recently expanded with Diamondback Tape Library, a turnkey 2.4-square-foot cabinet that ticks all the boxes for data storage through LTO 9 tape cartridges.
A single Diamondback Tape Library provides capacity for 27PB of uncompressed data and more than 69PB of compressed data. Diamondback Tape Library is compatible with multiple tape interfaces, including SAS-12, Fibre Channel 8Gb single and multi-mode.
The technology supports IBM Spectrum Archive, a management platform for tape storage. In addition, IBM developed the solution with open system standards in mind, allowing the cabinets to work in conjunction with a wide range of third-party software and hardware.
IBM Diamondback Tape Library
IBM targets Diamondback Tape Library to customers with demand for sustainability, cybersecurity and cost-effectiveness. According to IBM, the solution’s carbon footprint is up to 97 percent smaller than spinning disk storage. Unlike modern storage technologies, tape storage only consumes energy when data is accessed.
In terms of cybersecurity, IBM designed the solution with an air-gapped model. The tape storage runs in an isolated environment, making it difficult for attackers to infect data. Lastly, IBM emphasized that the total cost of Diamondback Tape Library is about three-quarters less than spinning disk storage.
The latter does not mean that tape storage is three-quarters more cost-effective than spinning disk storage, because tape storage is slow, and many applications depend on speed. Diamondback Tape Library is an excellent on-premises solution for archiving large amounts of data, but beyond that, its applications are limited.
IBM Diamondback Tape Library is available immediately.
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