5.17 D-2
Description
This article is from the storage FAQ part1, by Rodney D. Van Meter with numerous contributions by others.
5.17 D-2
Ampex supports D2. Data rates are in the 15 MByte/sec range.
The Ampex tape transport and head system were originally sold through
E-Systems (EMASS), who built the storage controller and sold it as the
ER-90 and coupled it with Odetics robots. Ampex now makes their own
interface for the unit, sold as the DST. They also make their own very
fast robotics.
The ER-90 is popular with the oil crowd. I don't know if the tapes are
interchangeable with the DST.
(rdv, 12/94)
DD-2 (19mm Data D-2 Format)
Ampex DST General:
3 cartridge (cassette) sizes - 25, 75, 165 gigabytes (uncompressed).
15 megabyte/sec. sustained (20 megabyte/sec. burst) transfer rate (per
drive). Up to 800 megabyte/sec. search speed (per drive). Smart DD-2
format includes partitioning and system zones to maximize storage
efficiency and speed data access. 3 layers of Reed-Solomon error
correction, with read-after-write verification and automatic rewrite
yield error rate of 1 in 10E15 bits read. Drive(s) dual ported SCSI-2
(16 bit fast, differential).
DST 310 Tape Drive:
All 3 cartridge (cassette) sizes supported - 25, 75, 165 gigabytes
(uncompressed). Rack mount or table top configurations. Single unit
price: $120K.
Ampex recently (dec. '95 or thereabouts) announced a new tape drive
model that's substantially cheaper, ~US$80K. Still 15 MB/sec., but I
think it only supports S cassettes.
Ampex Corporation
401 Broadway, M.S. 3-46
Redwood City, CA 94063-3199
Inquiry: 415-367-2982
Facsimile: 415-367-3850
Internet: dst_mktg@ampex.com
(see also Ampex under autochangers -- they make their own for this
tape drive)
(pete_zakit@ampex.com, 94/12/23)
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