Tape Speed and Capacity comparrison

There are many manufacturers and models of new and existing tape drives and sometimes it is much easier to make a decision or solve a naging questions when you see the data, simplified in a format that you can easily read.

Well we at Sunstar have done just that.

The msot common drives are listed on a specific page on our web site. Just follow the link below and you will be amazed how fast you will find the drive and manufacturer in question.
Drive Comparison Chart
We inventory (where possible) and support these drives.
If you have addition questions - contact us directly.
800.663.5233 info@sunstarco.com

Many Thanks
Sunstar Compnay, Inc.
Inglewood, Ca

Quantum Scalar 50 and Scalar 500 Tape Libraries

Scalable, Simple to Operate and Easy to Service are some of the features that drive many companies to purchase tape libraries from Quantum.

Today I am going to focus on two of their libraries in particular.
The Scalar 50 and the Scalar i500

The Scalar 50 start with 38 slots and scale up to 76 slots. The user-friendly interface enables simple installation, operation and maintenance. Functionality, includes partitioning, multiple drive type support and connectivity choices: SCSI, iSCSI, SAS and Fibre Channel all from Quantum. The scalar 50 supports the following tape drives: LTO-4, DLT-S4, LTO-3, or LTO-3HH. Bottom line Quantum has released a great library and for the most part this unit will support most small to medium sized companies for some time to come.

The Scalar i500 like the scalar 50 was originally engineered by Adic and once again we have a hit. The Scalar i500 combines modular design with continuous robotics to provide industry-leading scalability, performance, and reliability. Supporting up to 18 LTO tape drives, starting with 36 slots and the ability to grow to 400 slots this modular library has the potential to support enterprise corporations. Standard warranty is for one year with uplifts available.

If you would like to learn more about these libraries do contact info@sunsatrco.com or call (800) 663-5523 for immediate help.

Many Thanks

Gavin
www.sunstarco.com

Data Transcription and Migration Services

Are you in need to repair or replace an existing tape drive?

Sunstar Company, Inc has the ability ro repair and supply new or replacement tape drives to companies offering:

• Tape Media Copying
• Tape Transcribing
• Data Re-mastering
• Data Archiving
• Data Processing Services.
• Tape drives supported:

LTO (Ultrium)
LTO 4, 3, 2 and 1 - Internal External (FH & HH) and for specific tape libraries
T9840, T9940 and T10000
T9840A, B, C & D; T9940A & B and T10000- Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3480
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3490
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3490e
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3590
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3592 TS1120 TS1130
IBM, Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
DLT
DLT & SDLT drives - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
SLR 9 Track 4mm 8mm
Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
DIR & DTF Drives
Internal, External and for specific tape libraries

Do let us know if we can be of assistance?

(800) 663-5523 info@sunstarco.com

Many Thanks

Gavin

HP LTO Tape Drives

Looking for a new or used LTO tape drive manufactured by Hewlett Packard. HP has a plethora of models for you to choose from.

Questions to ask:

1. Connectivity - Fibre Channel, SCSI or SAS
2. Full Height or Half Height Drives
3. Capacity and speed. Choose from four generations of the Ultrium LTO drives: LTO1, LTO2, LTO3 or LTO4
4. Internal (System or library) or External

LTO4
HP Ultrium 1840 800GB at 120MB/s, 1.6TB at 240MB/s
HP Ultrium 1760 HH 800GB, 1.6TB at 576GB/hr

LTO3
HP Ultrium 960 400GB at 80MB/s, 800GB at 160MB/s
HP Ultrium 920 HH 400GB, 800GB at 432GB/hr

LTO2
HP Ultrium 460 200GB at 30MB/s, 400GB at 60MB/s
HP Ultrium 448 HH 200GB, 400GB at 173GB/hr

LTO1
HP Ultrium 232 HH 100GB, 200GB at 115GB/hr
HP Ultrium 230 100GB at 15MB/s, 200GB at 30MB/s

Do not be surprised if we at Sunstar have the model of your choice on hand.

info@sunstarco.com (800) 663-5523

Cheers

Gavin

www.sunstarco.com

LTO2 Tape Drives

Linear Tape-Open (or LTO - Ultrium)) is a magnetic tape data storage technology developed as an open standards alternative to the proprietary magnetic tape formats.

LTO2 Tape drives were released in 2003 with a native capacity of 200GB and a Max Speed 40MB/s. Primary manufacturers of these LTO tape drives are: IBM, Quantum, Tandberg Data, Seagate and Certance.

Below is a list of the drives that we at Sunstar Company have sold and continue to offer as new or refurbished. Note that the half height drives have the same capacity but perform at a slower rate.
HP Ultrium 460 200GB at 30MB/s
IBM LTO-2 200GB at 35MB/s
Quantum LTO2 200GB at 123GB/hr
Quantum LTO2HH 200GB at 94GB/hr
Tandberg Data LTO2 HH 200GB at 24MB/s

• The HP, IBM and Quantum full height drives are available with a choice of a SCSI or a Fibre interface. Internal, external or for a specific tape library.
• Quantum LTO2 Half Height Drives deliver compressed capacities of 400GB and backup speeds of up to 187 GB/hr. They are read/write compatible to LTO-1. Available with Wide Ultra 160 SCSI connectivity.
• Tandberg Data internal and external LTO-2 Half Height SCSI tape drive with a compressed transferred rate of 48MBs.
• Tape Libraries that support LTO2 are shown on our web site at www.sunstarco.com

If you have an LTO tape drive that is not working at this time, contact us and perhaps we can repair the said unit.

For additional information please contact us: 800.663.5523 or info@sunstarco.com

DLT Tape Drives is there still a market?

Look at the list below and it is rather easy to tell that Quantum sold millions of these drives over the last decade or so. The sad truth is that today Quantum is not so fortunate. In fact they are now a leading manufacturer of their one time ardent competitor - the Ultrium LTO.

Sunstar Company offers the DLT-S4 and SDLT 600 and 320 but the inquires are few. Other than Quantum, I am not aware of any tape library manufacturer including the DLT or SDLT as an option.

Quantum's tape division seems to be focusing on the LTO technology. There are so many SDLT and DLT drives out there and Sunmstar Co. is one of the few organizations that can repair or replace these drives. We carry an iventory of refurbished SDLT and DLT drives and yes we do have spare parts.

DLT-S4 800GB at 60MB/s 1600GB at 320MB/s
SDLT 600 300GB at 36MB/s 600GB at 72MB/s
SDLT 320 160GB at 16MB/s 320GB at 32MB/s
SDLT 220 110GB at 11MB/s 220GB at 22MB/s
DLT 8000 40GB at 6MB/s 80GB at 12MB/s
DLT V4 160GB at 10MB/s 320GB at 20MB/s
DLT1 40GB at 3MB/s 80GB at 12MB/s
DLT-VS160 80GB at 8MB/s 160GB at 16MB/s
DLT-VS80 40GB at 3MB/s 80GB at 6MB/s
DLT 7000 35GB at 5MB/s 70GB at 10MB/s
DLT 4000 20GB at 1.5MB/s 40GB at 3MB/s
DLT 2000XT 15GB at 1.25MB/s 30GB at 2.5MB/s

If you have any of the drives above and you need assistance, please contact and hopefully we will be able to help you.
info@sunstarco.com (800) 663.5523

Many Thanks
Gavin
www.sunstarco.com

We will repair your old tape drive

Sunstar Company repair specific tape drives. Sure we have the ability to repair many more models, however often spare are not readily available and due to the fact "sometimes" it might be cost prohibitive to repair a drive.

We repair primary the follow drives:

LTO (Ultrium)
LTO 4, 3, 2 and 1 - Internal External (FH & HH) and for specific tape libraries
9840 & 9940
9840A, B & C and 9940A & B - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3480
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3490
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3490e
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3590
All Manufacturers - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
3592 TS1120 TS1130
IBM, Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
DLT
DLT & SDLT drives - Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
SLR 9 Track 4mm 8mm
Internal, External and for specific tape libraries
DIR & DTF Drives
Internal, External and for specific tape libraries

Please do call us at 800.663.5523

Many Thanks

Gavin
www.sunstarco.com

IBM 3590 Tape Drives

The IBM 3590 (Magstar) is a series of Tape Drives and corresponding magnetic tape data storage media formats developed by IBM. The 3590 series of tape drives and media are not compatible with the IBM 3592 line of drives that replaced it. They can store up to 60 GB of data (uncompressed). This family superseded the IBM 3480 Tape Drives popular in 1980s and 1990s.

Like the 3480 and 3592 formats, this tape format has half inch tape spooled onto 4-by-5-by-1 inch data cartridges containing a single reel. A takeup reel is embedded inside the tape drive. The 3590 Tape Drives are still in high demand and Sunstar Company maintains an inventory of numerous models and configurations. Units are sold with warranty and can be made available for IBM maintenance.

.A hallmark of the genre is transferability. Tapes recorded with one tape drive are generally readable on another drive, even if the tape drives were built by different manufacturers. Magstar tapes and drives are available in 128, 256 and 384-track versions.


3590 B Model (3590 B11/B1A), 128 tracks
3590 E Model (3590 E11/E1A), 256 tracks
3590 H Model (3590 H11/H1A), 384 tracks

IBM 3590 E1A IBM 3590 B1A IBM 3590 H1A
IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model B1A / E1A IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model B1A IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model E1A
IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model B11A / E11 IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model B11A IBM MAGSTAR 3590 Model E11
FUJITSU M8100

Note:
We repair all 3590 Tape drives and if you need any help wityh data conversion we will gladly assist you.
info@sunstarco.com (800) 663-5523

Many Thanks
Sunstar Co.
www.sunstarco.com

IBM 3592 Tape Drive

The IBM 3592 is a series of tape drives and corresponding magnetic tape data storage media formats developed by IBM.

The IBM 3592 tape drive was introduced under the nickname Jaguar. The next drive was the TS1120, also having the nickname Jaguar followed by the TS1130. All three of these drives are available from Sunstar Company with warranty. The IBM 3592, TS1120 or TS1130 when purchased as reconditioned can be certified by IBM, in essence ready for IBM maintenance.

Note: The 3592 line of tape drives and media is not compatible with the IBM 3590 series of drives, which it superseded.

Interfaces Supported: FC, ESCON, FICON, 2Gb FICON

Media and Capacity
Like the 3590 and 3480 before it, this tape format has half inch tape spooled onto 4" x 5" x 1" data cartridges containing a single reel. A takeup reel is embedded inside the tape drive. Because of their speed, reliability, durability and low media cost, the 3592 tape drives are still in high demand.

3592 JJ/JR cartridge = 60GB (Native)
3592 JA/JW cartridge = 300GB (Native)

Models Supported:
IBM 3592 Model J1A
IBM 3592 Mode J70
IBM 3592 Model C20
Model 3592-E05 (TS1120)
TS1130 Tape Drive

IBM Libraries that support the 3592:
TS3500 Tape Library
3494 Tape Library

Please do contact Sunstar Company and we should be able to support your IBM Tape Drive Request .
info@sunstarco.com (800) 663-5523
Many Thanks
Gavin
http://www.sunstarco.com/

3480 Tape Drives

3480 Tape Drives were initially designed and built for mainframe computers. The first 3480 tape drives communicated through a bus and tag interface. Later models were able to take advantage of ESCON and high voltage SCSI interfaces. The advent of the SCSI interface made it possible to connect 3480 family tape drives to personal computers, which enabled mainframe-to-pc data exchange.

We at Sunstar Company offer refurbished 3480 Tape Drives with a choice of ESCON or SCSI interfaces with warranty.

The IBM 3480 was the first tape drive to employ thin-film heads, as well as the first to use chromium dioxide tape.
It was also distinguished by a relatively high data transfer rate: 3 megabytes per second. This was because it was able to read and write linear data across 18 recording tracks simultaneously, or 38,000 bytes per inch of tape.

IBM's prior technology employed 9 recording tracks and achieved only 1600/6,250 bytes per inch of tape, the 3480 format was greeted as a major breakthrough: 200 megabytes of data per tape cartridge as opposed to the 100 megabytes on the 6250 1/2" tape reels. IBM offered 3480 tape drives with bus and tag interfaces, other manufacturers sold models with SCSI interfaces.

At Sunstar Company we repair and reconfigure 3480 Tape Drives with most interfaces. Please do call us as we do have a significant inventory on hand and should you wish us to repair your tape drive this can easily be arranged.

Models that we tend to see most often:

DEC TKZ60, TKZ61, TKZ62, TKZ64
FUJITSU M2483K/M2485K FUJITSU M2483B/M2485B FUJITSU M2481 FUJITSU M2481A11
MP SYSTEMS 8418
OVERLAND DATA TAPE EXPRESS L490
JVC (Victor Data Systems) 8418
MP SYSTEMS MP 8436

Also available - Backup Software specific to 3480 Tape drives and we can support you if you have some conversion requirements.

info@sunstarco.com (800) 663-5523

Gavin
Sunstar Company, Inc
www.sunstarco.com

AIT Tape Drives

Sunstar Company has sold thousands of Sony AIT tape drives, be it stand alone in an external case, installed in a computer or in a library. We offer re-conditioned units for single applications and tape libraries.

AIT-1
The AIT-1 format offered a data capacity rate of up to 25GB (up to 65GB compressed), and a 3MB/s data transfer rate. An extended length tape for the AIT-1 drive was introduced in 1999 to offer additional capacity of up to 35GB (up to 90GB compressed) and the data transfer rate was later increased to 4MB/s.

AIT-1 Turbo
AIT-1 Turbo drives offer a new data capacity rate of up to 40GB (up to 104GB compressed) and a 6MB/s data transfer rate. AIT-1 Turbo is available in a variety of interfaces, including SCSI, ATAPI, USB, FireWire, and SATA.

AIT-2
AIT-2 provides a capacity of up to 50GB (up to 130GB compressed) together with a 6MB/s data transfer rate and provides the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) capability for selected applications and configurations.

AIT-2 Turbo
AIT-2 Turbo model doubles the native performance of AIT-2 (from 6MB/s to 12 MB/s), and increases native capacity an incredible 60% (from 50GB to up to 80 GB). AIT-2 Turbo also offers a number of unique features, including WORM. In addition, AIT-2 Turbo offers the ability to choose between media with the performance enhancing MIC chip, or lower cost media without the MIC chip.

AIT-3
AIT-3 offers a native capacity of up to 100GB (up to 260GB with compression) and a native data transfer rate of 12MB/s in a compact 3.5" form-factor. AIT-3 continues the AIT reputation of providing the best capacity and performance within a 3.5" form-factor. The AIT-3 also offers the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) feature.

AIT-3Ex
AIT-3Ex provides up to 150GB native capacity (390GB compressed) and 18MB/s native data transfer rate. AIT-3Ex is another example of Sony improving on existing AIT formats. AIT-3Ex also offers the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) feature.

AIT-4
AIT-4 offers a native capacity of up to 200GB (up to 520GB with compression), and a sustained data transfer rate of 24MB native (a synchronous burst transfer rate 160MB/s max). AIT-4 also offers the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) feature.

AIT-5
AIT-5 offers up to 400GB of native capacity (up to 1.04TB compressed) on a single 8mm cartridge at a sustained data transfer rate of 24MB native. AIT-5 is backward compatible with AIT-3, AIT-3Ex, and AIT-4 media. AIT-5 also offers the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) feature.

AIT-6
AIT-6 is in a research and advanced development stage necessary to prove key media and recording head technology implementation. In keeping with the overall AIT roadmap strategy, this drive is expected to offer up to 800GB of native capacity (up to 2.08TB compressed).

Contact Sunstar if you need any additional information: 800.663.5523
info@sunstarco.com
Sunstar

DLT Tape Drives

Quantum is the world's largest supplier of tape drives, and its DLT®, LTO, DAT/DDS and Travan-based technologies set the standards for tape backup, recovery and archive of business-critical data for the small business to mid-range enterprise.

Quantum’s drive family provides proven, highly reliable, and cost-effective tape drive solutions to help information-intensive companies protect one of their most valuable assets – their data.

Sunstar Company has for years sold Quantum DLT and SDLT tape drives (internal and external models and for tape libraries.)

Current DLT Tape Drives:

• Compressed capacity from 80GB* to 1600GB*
  Compressed performance from 21.6GB/hour* to 432 GB/hr*

Sunstar Company supports the follwing Quantum drives. Many are in inventory so please do call us if you want to purchase, repair or exchange drives.

DLT-S4 -800GB at 60MB/s 1600GB at 320MB/s
SDLT 600 -6 00GB at 36MB/s 600GB at 72MB/s
SDLT 320 160GB at 16MB/s 320GB at 32MB/s
SDLT 220 110GB at 11MB/s 220GB at 22MB/s
DLT 8000 40GB at 6MB/s 80GB at 12MB/s
DLT V4 160GB at 10MB/s 320GB at 20MB/s
DLT1 40GB at 3MB/s 80GB at 12MB/s
DLT-VS160 80GB at 8MB/s 160GB at 16MB/s
DLT-VS80 40GB at 3MB/s 80GB at 6MB/s
DLT 7000 35GB at 5MB/s 70GB at 10MB/s
DLT 4000 20GB at 1.5MB/s 40GB at 3MB/s
DLT 2000XT 15GB at 1.25MB/s 30GB at 2.5MB/s

Do let us know if we can be of futher assistance.

800.663.5523 info@sunstarco.com

Sunstar Company, Inc.

www.sunstarco.com

9 Track Tape Drives

Sunstar Company has refurbished 9 Track Tape Drives in stock!

They are available from Sunstar in a variety of models.Our complete 9 track tape drive sub-systems includes; software, cables & SCSI controller suited for your platform.

In addition we repair defective 9 track tape drives and we can assist you with data conversion needs.

The following models are often in stock.
CIPHER M990 CIPHER F-880 - IITandem CIPHER M995S MP 7000
QUALSTAR 3400 SERIES HP 88780B M4 DATA 9914 Overland Data 5622

Do contact us if we can be of assistance.
info@sunstarco.com 800.663.5523
www.sunstarco.com