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IBM Offers New USB DDS/DAT Drive for System x

But an old generation, the 36/3 model

This is a Press Release edited by StorageNewsletter.com on September 30, 2009 at 3:25 pm
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IBM released the DDS Generation 5 USB Tape Drive that offers a reliable, economical, and versatile tape backup subsystem

The new IBM DDS Generation 5 USB Tape Drive maintains the competitive total cost of ownership (TCO) of Digital Data Storage. Its USB interface supports internal plug-and-play capability with the latest System x systems, as well as external attachment in one of IBM’s external tape drive enclosures. This option complements the existing IBM DDS Generation 5 SATA tape drive, and in some cases, provides better overall value as no separate SAS HBA is required when configuring in select system x servers.

Highlights:

  • New USB interface allowing for direct internal connections with select System x systems
  • Complementary offering for DDS Gen 5 SATA drive
  • 5.25-inch half-high form factor

Features and functions:

  • Capacity: 36 GB, up to 72 GB compressed
  • Performance: Up to 3.0 MB/s (up to 6 MB/s compressed) transfer rate
  • Backward compatibility: Read/write compatible with DDS 3, DDS 4, and DDS Gen 5
  • Interface: USB
  • Service and support: One-year parts only

The DDS Generation 5 USB Tape Drive complements the IBM System x server product line.

This tape drive is reliable as:

  • An internal installation in select System x servers
  • A tabletop tape enclosure or in a rack environment when coupled with a 1U rack-mount enclosure

It provides convenience and ease-of-use features, while supporting high-speed tape backup.

This option, used in conjunction with one of IBM’s external enclosures, provides an economical and convenient method of attaching USB-based tape drives externally to your IBM System x system.

Key prerequisites

  • Available internal or external USB port
  • Available 5.25-inch half-high bay for internal installations
  • Supported external tape enclosure for external attachment


Product positioning
This DDS Generation 5 USB tape product joins the DDS tape drive family to create a comprehensive family of tape backup solutions. This tape drive is positioned similarly to the DDS-5 SATA tape drive, but offers lower overall cost of ownership in select system x servers.

Planned availability date: October 30, 2009

Comments

This announcement of a relatively old generation of DAT for System x is surprising as Big Blue already offers the DDS Generation 6 internal USB tape drive at 80GB native capacity. And with availability only at the end of October. Who is going to buy this small capacity unit compared to HDDs?

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