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IBM on Feb. 13 launched what it claims is the worlds first tape library with enterprise-class encryption for SMBs and remote corporate offices.
Big Blues System Storage TS3400 Tape Library brings IBMs enterprise-level System Storage TS1120 Tape Drive encryption to a broader range of users, thanks to its scaled-down size and price, an IBM spokesperson said.
In recent months, IBM has added several new products to its tape storage portfolio. In December, IBM and FujiFilm teamed up to launch the first 700GB tape cartridge. In September, IBM introduced drive-based encryption on new models of the IBM System Storage TS1120 Tape Drives.
“For the first time ever, were making drive-based encryption capabilities on an enterprise-class tape drive available in a tape library solution suitable for a wide range of midsized companies,” said Cindy Grossman, vice president of IBM tape storage systems in Armonk, N.Y.
As well as providing enterprise-class encryption capabilities in the drives, avoiding a drain on precious host resources, IBM offers a Java Encryption Key Manager to provide flexible implementation across environments that include AIX, i5/OS, Linux, HP, Sun and Windows.
Additionally, Tivoli Storage Manager provides encryption key management and key store functions for the TS1120 Tape drive, the spokesperson said, so that only authorized people can decrypt the tape drive and make decryption keys available for when and where they are needed.
For larger enterprises that want to extend TS1120 capabilities from their data centers to branch or remote locations, the TS3400 provides this at a lower cost and with a small library configuration, the spokesperson said.
The TS3400 also offers rapid data access technology to help manage clients backup and restore functions, a compact footprint for space-constrained environments, Web access for easy management, and a number of availability features including dual hot swappable power supplies, the spokesperson said.
The TS3400 features a small form factor with a two-drive library that can hold up to 18 cartridges, allowing for smaller amounts of high-performance tape storage to be backed up in a tape library.
This new tape library also supports rapid access to data, multiple media options, partitioning into two logical libraries, and 4Gbps dual port Fibre Channel attachment, the spokesperson said.
The TS3400 offers various cartridge capacities with the ability to hold up to 37.8TB of compressed storage and the option for WORM storage.
Pricing and availability
The IBM System Storage TS3400 Tape Library will be available March 9 with a starting list price of $30,000.