Hewlett-Packard Company has announced plans to develop a high-capacity digital audio tape (DAT) drive using the new Digital Data Storage-4 (DDS-4) format, which was adopted recently by the DDS Manufacturers Group. The format is based on technology developments that greatly increase the capacity and transfer rate of the current DDS-3 format. HP`s 3.5-inch form-factor product, which is expected to be available in the second half of 1999, will comply with the DDS-4 definition, providing 20GB native capacity (40GB with typical data compression) on a 150-metre DDS-4 tape. With low-voltage differential SCSI (LVDS) interface, the expected data-transfer rate will be in the higher range of the specified migration path of 1MB/s to 6MB/s (native). The drive will be designed to be backward-compatible, read-compatible with DDS-DC and read- and write-backward-compatible with DDS-2 and DDS-3 format tapes. The higher capacity planned for DDS-4 is realised through an increase in tape length, through a 25 percent reduction in the width of the tracks written on the tape and through a correspondingly tighter specification for the required straightness of the tracks. This tighter specification will be met through innovative recording-head, tape-path and mechanical-assembly design. Additionally, the mechanical assembly is being designed to include many other features to enhance reliability and performance. "HP intends to lead DDS development, a technology that continues to provide an optimum product for midrange-capacity servers," said Ivan Kraemer, HP marketing manager, information storage group, multi-country operations. "With technology developments such as this, DDS will continue to not only meet the needs of current users, but also provide a solution for customers needing backup capacities in the 40GB range." As part of HP`s overall storage strategy to provide backup solutions for all sizes of network servers, HP, IBM and Seagate recently announced details of new, open-format specifications using linear tape-open (LTO) technology aimed at the higher-range enterprise segment. The DDS-4 plan complements that announcement by providing a new generation of products developed for the low-end to midrange segments of the market. HP`s DDS-4 strategy protects the equipment investment of today`s large installed base of DDS users. HP`s Information Storage Group, which focuses on the rapidly growing extended-storage market, manufactures and sells information-storage products based on tape, magneto-optical and CD-RW technologies. HP storage solutions include digital-audio-tape (DAT) drives and digital-linear-tape (DLT) libraries, minicartridge (QIC) tape drives and software, CD- ReWritable drives, and magneto-optical drives and jukeboxes. These products are sold through a variety of distribution channels under the HP SureStore and HP Colorado brand names, as well as to OEM customers. HP is the official information-technology hardware and maintenance supplier to the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament. Selected for its technology and skills to support and manage mission-critical applications, HP will help create an information-management infrastructure for handling game scoring; media centers; personnel accreditation; hotel information; and various ticketing, stadium, warehouse and back-office operations.
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