Overland Introduces LTO Autoloader and Library

Overland Storage, Inc. announced the availability of the new NEOs family of automated tape libraries, which provide simple and affordable backup, disaster recovery and archive capabilities. Ideally suited for SMEs and distributed network environments, the NEOs family of tape libraries leverages the reliability, serviceability and data availability of Overland’s award-winning NEO Series of tape backup and archive solutions.

             
NEO 400s

NEOs Family of Automated Tape Libraries
The NEOs line includes the NEO 200s, a compact 2u model that provides up to 38.4 TB of capacity and the NEO 400s, an expandable library that packs up to 76.8 TB of capacity in a 4u form factor to maximize capacity while minimizing costly rack space. The new family takes advantage of standard NEO family features that have become the hallmark for simplified installation and ongoing operation, including:

• Web-based remote management and diagnostics;
• Removable cartridge magazines that expedite access to data while reducing media handling costs;
• An integrated barcode reader to facilitate fast media tracking; and
• User-configurable mail slots for easy, secure access to individual tape cartridges;
• Expandability for increased capacity as data storage needs change; and
• Encryption to ensure data confidentiality and compliance.

"The NEO brand is synonymous with quality and is well respected for its rock-solid reliability, technological innovation and superior investment protection," says Peri Grover, director of tape automation products at Overland Storage. "The new NEOs complement and broaden the rest of the NEO family platform while also leveraging our proven product architecture to give SMEs world-class functionality in a highly affordable, compact tape automation solution that meets a vast array of backup and archive requirements."

The NEOs libraries utilize industry-leading HP LTO3 and LTO4 tape drives that can be easily removed, replaced and upgraded as needed. Connectivity flexibility is provided through SCSI, Fibre Channel and SAS configuration options. Additionally, the NEO 400s provides redundant power as well as partitioning to provide optimum library utilization. In the first calendar quarter of 2010, Overland plans to offer expandability and encryption options for the NEO 400s. The expandability feature will enable end-users to combine the library with other NEOs models that appear to the host as a single library. Furthermore, the encryption capability will ensure the privacy, confidentiality and integrity of business-critical data while meeting compliance requirements.

Tape Automation Market
According to IDC, the worldwide mid-range tape automation market is expected to exceed $1 billion in annual sales this year, with more than 101,000 units projected to ship by the end of 2009. "Mid-range tape libraries remain important and cost-effective backup, disaster recovery and long-term archiving solutions for small and medium-sized businesses that are consolidating their IT environments," said Richard Villars, vice president of storage and IT executive strategies at IDC. "Solutions like Overland’s new NEO mid-range tape libraries will help SMEs better protect their IT investments while overcoming space, resource and budget limitations."

Pricing and Availability
Overland’s NEO 200s comes in two models: a one-drive, 12-cartridge autoloader and a one- or two-drive, 24-cartridge library. The NEO 400s is available with up to four tape drives and up to 48 cartridges. The NEOs family is available now from Overland’s partners worldwide for a starting MSRP of $3,995.