Imation to Showcase E-mail Archiving Appliance and World's First 'Disk-As-Tape' Media Cartridge at SNW Spring 2006
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Technology Solutions for mid-range and enterprise customers' storage needs
SAN DIEGO, April 4 / -- Imation Corp (NYSE:IMN), a worldwide leader in removable data storage media, will be at Storage Networking World (SNW) Spring 2006, to show the Imation ComplianceVault(TM) system, the first VXA and LTO-enabled ComplianceVault system for e-mail archiving, and Ulysses(TM) technology, the first disk-enhanced removable media cartridge, in addition to showcasing the company's full portfolio of removable storage media for mid-range and enterprise users. To view the solutions mentioned above, please visit Imation's booth, #PP18, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt during SNW Spring 2006 in San Diego.
"In today's challenging business world, IT managers, storage architects and infrastructure professionals demand reliable technology solutions to fulfill their difficult storage, data management and compliance needs," said James Milligan, executive director of sales and marketing, Imation. "Imation's technologies, including the ComplianceVault and Ulysses solutions, continue to meet those demands by simplifying our customers' storage processes and meeting critical business needs with affordable and trusted storage solutions."
First VXA and LTO-enabled System for E-mail Archiving
The Imation ComplianceVault E-mail Archiving Appliance is completely integrated in an all-in-one hardware/software e-mail archiving appliance that saves and indexes all of an organization's e-mail messages from virtually any IMAP/POP3-based e-mail system on a continuous basis, from virtually an unlimited number of mailboxes. Additionally, ComplianceVault archives and indexes those e-mail messages to tape at intervals specific to the needs of the company.
Launched in December 2005, with partners Intradyn and Exabyte, the Imation ComplianceVault appliance is a complete, bundled solution with a single upfront cost, unlike competitive offerings that require customers to pay ongoing per-user license fees and software maintenance costs.
Imation's ComplianceVault is available in several capacities ranging from 320GB to 1TB of disk storage through CDW at prices starting at under $10,000 for the integrated package, which includes the ComplianceVault solution (a 1U Intel server platform with embedded ComplianceVault software from Intradyn and a choice of internal disk capacity ranging from 320GB to 1TB), a choice of either VXA or LTO tape automation from Exabyte as well as rackmount rails, cables and other accessories.
Ulysses(TM) Technology: The World's First "Disk-As-Tape" Media Cartridge
In October 2005, Imation announced its new Ulysses technology the first disk-enhanced removable media cartridge. The new technology addresses the needs of tape users looking for a disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) solution to improve restore time without having to adopt a complex new system or invest in hardware or software modifications. And a Ulysses-equipped library can restore files up to 10 times faster than a tape-only library.
Ulysses technology is a Serial ATA (SATA) 2.5-inch disk drive in an LTO Ultrium cartridge form factor. Used with the Ulysses tape drive emulator, this disk-enhanced removable media accelerates backup and restore performance and resides within an existing tape library. The emulator fits in any standard tape drive bay and is recognized by the host, backup software and storage management software as a standard tape drive.
The Ulysses technology can be simply integrated into a legacy tape environment. Key benefits include:
o Value -- users' previous investment in automated tape libraries is
extended
o Gradual implementation -- there is no need to buy all the storage
capacity up front
o Low complexity and scalability
o Very flexible configurations -- easily changed by inserting or
removing tape and Ulysses drives
o No training required -- looks to independent software vendor (ISV)
software as a tape drive, so there are no changes to the backup
processes
o Very easy to tune/load balance the systems -- by adding more
drives
o Scalable -- since cartridges are removable, storage can be easily,
quickly and inexpensively increased without requiring more floor
space.
o Simple backups -- backups can be written to a Ulysses drive then
migrated using existing ISV software to high capacity tape later for
disaster recovery or long term retention
o Environmentally friendly -- disk cartridges do not use power when they
are idle
o Support -- Imation and its partners are well-established companies
that understand the backup environment and media business
Because the Ulysses tape drive emulator emulates an LTO drive and the Ulysses media has the same form factor as LTO Ultrium cartridges, users can simply "drop in" the Ulysses cartridge into the existing automated tape environment with no changes to floor space, wiring, cooling or other infrastructure challenges.
In January 2006, Qualstar, a manufacturer of automated tape storage solutions, announced that it will integrate Imation's Ulysses technology in certain models of its automated tape libraries. Qualstar will initially offer Ulysses in the 8216H and 8404H models of its RLS-Series tape library family and plans to begin shipping in Q2.
As part of Imation's continuing commitment to hard disk drive (HDD) technologies, Imation plans to extend the Ulysses product family to other "disk-as-tape" technologies, beginning by addressing user needs in entry-level server-attached environments. Imation's "Odyssey" development program is expected to result in a removable HDD solution for small and medium businesses. The system will contain key design features found in Ulysses technology that provide enterprise-class reliability and rugged cartridge construction and cartridge interface. In keeping with a server-attached focus, the products will feature USB and SATA system interfaces. More information is expected to be announced mid-Q2.
About Imation
Imation Corp is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of magnetic, recordable optical, flash, and removable hard disk storage. Additional information about Imation is available on the company's website at www.imation.com/ , or by calling 1-888-466-3456.
Source: Imation Corp
CONTACT: Mary Rawlings-Taylor of Imation Corp, +1-651-704-6796,
mjrawlings-taylor@imation.com , or Sarah McNeil of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-612-573-3124, mcneils@fleishman.com
Web site: www.imation.com/
