LTO Cartridge Analyser Introduced by Fujifilm

FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. introduced the Fujifilm DC Analyser, the first data center tool of its kind that leverages the expertise of a leading data tape media manufacturer to instantly provide key information on the age, use and condition of the popular LTO Ultrium format data cartridge. Providing access to this diagnostic information allows managers to quickly identify potential issues within a tape backup system, reinforcing confidence in the longevity and reliability of their tape-based assets.

"Our experience is that when there is a tape back up problem in a busy data center, a common first reaction is to blame the media," said Daniel Greenberg, New Product Planning Manager, Fujifilm Recording Media. "This tool will help data managers quickly identify if the source of the problem is the cartridge or if a cartridge issue is a symptom of a malfunctioning drive or unbalanced backup and network."

Today a simple back up and restore contains volumes of critical data and/or business information. A single LTO Ultrium Gen 4 format data tape can hold 1.6 terabytes (TB) of compressed data on a single cartridge – which is more than necessary to hold all the X-ray films in a large technical hospital and nearly enough to store all the content in a single academic research library.

How Fujifilm DC Analyser Works
Created through combined development efforts between Fujifilm’s globally recognized data tape engineers and the application developers at FUJIFILM Corporation, the Fujifilm DC Analyser uses a low-power radio frequency (RF) reader to access historical tape usage information stored in the internal cartridge memory (CM) chip in every LTO Ultrium tape cartridge. The CM chip retains basic diagnostic information over a period of time, including percentage or record errors, amount of data read/written, number of cartridge loads and the age of the cartridge.

By providing access to this information through a simple RF reader combined with standard barcode scanning technology, the Fujifilm DC Analyser puts key diagnostic and logistic data at the fingertips of the data manager, helping to quickly locate the root cause and prevent backup issues without the need to access a drive, call in outside technicians or send sensitive data out to a third party for evaluation.

The Fujifilm DC Analyser is the latest tool for data managers from Fujifilm to maintain the integrity, reliability and security of their tape-based assets. Most recently Fujifilm introduced the Fujifilm Tape Tracker, a GPS-based tracking unit for monitoring the location and status of data tapes in transit from one location to another. Storage tape is increasingly being identified as a good strategy for managing and significantly lowering energy costs in the data center.

The Fujifilm DC Analyser is available immediately authorized Fujifilm resellers at a suggested price of $3,000.