actidata Storage Systems: Ti-NAS RT 2U Rackmount 8-Bay HDD+1 LTO Drive Combined NAS and Backup Platform

Following the market launch of the desktop version within actidata Storage Systems GmbH‘s Ti-NAS product family, the German storage system specialist is presenting a variant of the combined NAS and backup platform as a 2U rackmount version.

With the Tape-in-NAS product line, the firm’s systems follows market demands for higher capacity in removable media for professional backup. Ti-NAS RT combines LTO technology with a 6-bay RAID storage system to a platform, allowing the execution of the Backup-to-Disk-to-Tape backup strategy. It scores with features, like up to 108TB of disk capacity and 12TB of net capacity per medium using an LTO-8 drive. The existing network is connected via optical dual 10GbE interfaces as well as dual 1GbE in RJ-45 version.

Open Platform for Backup-to-Disk-to-Tape (B2D2T)
Today a tiered backup is usually required by administrators. Ti-NAS RT can be used as a backup server as well as a backup target. RAID-managed disk space is available for the first stage of the backup strategy. Thanks to the open platform, the administrator decides which backup software is used and take responsibility for the Backup-to-Tape (2nd stage). The following data transfer to the built-in LTO streamer will be executed internally, so that the productive network is not used. This is important during day time operation. The installation and integration of the 2U rackmount NAS and backup platform can be installed either in the server room or connected via optical LAN into a separate fire section.

Support of major backup software vendors
The installed OS is ‘Windows Server 2019 IoT for Storage, which is the successor of the Windows Storage Server. This version of the Windows Server 2019 family, which is only available to Microsoft OEMs, is factory-installed and licensed by actidata. The Ti-NAS RT in general is designed as an open platform. This means the user decides for his preferred backup software and installs and runs this on the system according to his own preferences. The selected backup application needs to be compatible to Windows Server 2019 as well as supporting LTO drives.

Server hardware makes it possible
Consistently deployed with server components, the company not only relies on an embedded industrial motherboard with four LAN interfaces supporting 10GbE and 1GbE, as well as on a 4-core Intel server CPU, factory-installed 32GB RAM DDR4 ECC and an internal M.2 SSD for the Windows Server 2019 IoT OS. The Ti-NAS RT platform is managed via remote desktop (RDP) and the hardware can be monitored via the separate IPMI interface. Thanks to Windows Server 2019 IoT, user get access to the internal RAID secured disk-storage without using additional CALs. The integrated hardware RAID controller provides cache buffering and ensures the performance which is needed to operate an LTO drive.

The Ti-NAS RT platforms are available preconfigured with up to 6x18TB enterprise HDDs and integrated LTO drive according to LTO-6, LTO-7 or LTO-8. All solutions have a 36-month limited warranty period including an Advance Replacement Service of defective parts (FES). Optionally, an extension to up to 60 months is available. Requests for Ti-NAS RT platforms can be issued from now on to the company’s technical consulting staff.

Equipped with an LTO-6 tape drive and 24TB of gross HDD capacity, the Ti-NAS RT starts at MSRP of €9.365, net. For a model with 108TB HDD storage and an LTO-8 streamer, MSRP is €12,565, net.