![]() ![]() In operation, ALTO has a characteristic latency of a few seconds to spin-up a disk to restore the data, which you can compare with the time to load a cartridge in a tape library, but once the disk is spinning it provides random access, eliminating the shuttling associated with data tapes. In an archive, where content is infrequently accessed, this means that most of the disks are stopped for most of the time, saving power and extending the life of the disks. No RAID no slice and dice! Since ALTO disks are independently controlled, any individual disk which is not being used for reading or writing data is spun down and stopped. The media files are written as continuous files on the disk and replicated in two or more locations for security. ![]() How does it compare to data tape library storage?ĪLTO is based on an array of very high capacity disk drives, but with one fundamental difference from other storage systems. It has been more a case of understanding how and where ALTO storage can fit in a rapidly changing landscape. So as a company we have not really had to adapt. ALTO’s replication-based storage nicely complements cloud storage, bridging the requirements for a readily accessible on-premise copy of the media backed by the security of a ‘copy of last resort’ in the cloud. ![]() More recently, cloud storage has become the hot topic and although at first sight, it would seem that the cloud and ALTO are in head to head competition. Our original idea was to offer a straightforward alternative to a data tape library, but it became evident that an ALTO working in tandem with an existing tape library also had great potential since it could avoid the need to periodically migrate the archive to create additional space and at the same time extend the life of the tape library by reducing the wear and tear on both the library and the tapes. Has the company had to adapt?īeing new to the archive market we had the advantage of being able to design a storage platform that could evolve as requirements change in the external environment. Storage and archiving has changed substantially over the past few years. There were still a number of problems to be solved to create a practical disk archive, particularly power consumption, and security, but the underlying economics were there. Data tape libraries had been around for over 25 years, well established as the only solution capable of delivering high storage capacity and robust performance at an affordable price, but the economic argument in favour of tape was overturned in 2009 when a 1TB Disk came to market at the same cost per Terabyte as the equivalent data tape cartridge. Most facilities had migrated from video tape to data tape, which was a step in the right direction, but the whole idea of a linear archive in an otherwise non-linear environment stood out as a problem waiting to be solved. Tapeless systems were already the norm in 2009 when DAC was founded, but it was evident that there was no satisfactory solution for tapeless archiving. ![]() My own background was with Omneon where we were one of the players in the evolution of file-based workflows. How did the team come together, and what experience was brought to the table during the company's formation?Īs a company, our corporate DNA is based on storage platforms, storage management and best-of-breed solutions for Broadcast and Media companies. Having been established in 2009, Disk Archive is a fairly young company. Disk Archive’s ALTO Modular Archive Storage system is optimised for longevity, security and performance and is designed specifically for offline storage. Established in 2009, Disk Archive Corporation specialises in developing and supporting high capacity, high availability solutions for long-term storage of large volumes of media files. ![]()
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