History (1988): Masstor Announces Automatic Library Based on 32GB Tape Cartridge

There’s no end in mass memory.

Before 1990, Masstor Systems Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) is going to launch a storage unit based on a pioneering magnetic cartridge, the M1000.

This device, using helical scan recording is once more originated from video industry, and has been developed by Datatape, a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak.

The cartridge, with a one-inch wide, 1,000-foot long tape can store 32.25GB of data and even twice more with an optional data compression module, which means a capacity 160 times higher than IBM’s 3480 cartridge.

The storage unit or robot can include up to 32 cartridges arranged in matrix, corresponding to 1TB capacity on less than an 8 square feet floor area or more exactly 3.33-foot wide, 5.74-foot high and 2.30-foot deep.

Each robot is supplied with two R/W drives and a third optional one. Average access time to a cartridge is 9.5s including loading and unloading. Average access rewind speed is rather slow, 18ips. Announced transfer rate is 3MB/s.

The drive includes a read after write system as well as an error correction process.

The controller named M962, can support up to 8 read/write stations which means 2 to 4 M1000 units, a maximum of 8TB of users data in compression mode.

In Europe, the M1000 should cost about $1.3/MB, without the controller.

Several M1000 units can be adapted on it as well as others like the M951 based on IBM’s 3850 cartridge with a 2.5-inch wide helical scan recording tape this time developed by Fujitsu.

Masstor has already sold worldwide 357 of its previous units named 850 (with a 860 controller) and Fujitsu one hundred. IBM’s 3850 technology followed by Control Data, Maxtor and Fujitsu hasn’t been very successful and Big Blue seems to have mostly encountered mechanic problems.

Masstor announces a 350MB capacity for its cartridges and each robot can hold 316, which means a little over1TB on a larger area (12.5 square feet) and 5.6-foot high.

The base configuration, including the M962 controller, and a M961 unit with 3850 cartridges is priced for $750,000 in Europe.

With this announcement and more specially the M1000 with its one-inch cartridge, Masstor is launching a new mass storage media on the market. And everyone knows that the toughest part in this field is to set a standard when you’re not IBM.

Masstor has only made profits since its 1987 fiscal year after heavy losses, especially in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Sales in 1987 amounted to $30,121 million for a $861,000 net income. 1988 should be a much better year since sales reached $25,986 million with a $2,248 net income on June 30.

This article is an abstract of new s published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue ≠8, volume ≠1, published on September 1988.