Data amounts and server performance have rapidly increased. That is why the business enterprises and I.T industry need more durable, powerful and high capacity storage solutions to handle the pressure of greater data volumes. In-time availability of data plays an important role in competing efficiently in the market.

Advanced intelligent tape (AIT) media format’s cost efficient solutions allow the clients to archive and record data with greater precision and reliability at a lower cost. AIT tape technology was engineered to handle the needs of data intensive applications and demanding data centers. Sony has utilized its technical expertise to develop AIT-4 internal tape drive that can write 200GB native data per AIT-4 tape cartridge. The tape drives uses SCSI interface.

Highly reliable Sony AIT-4 format uses ALDC compression mechanism at 2.6:1. Sony AIT 4 tape cartridges are SDX4200WWW, SDX4200CWW and SDX4-200C. Compressed capacity of these AIT-4 tapes is 520 GB. This Sony AIT4 drive can not only write/read the fourth generation AIT tape cartridges, but is can read the AIT-1 & AIT-2 media tapes and read/write the AIT-3 media. Part numbers of the read compatible AIT2 and AIT-1 tapes are:

Sony SDX2-36C, AIT-2 data tape

Sony SDX2-50C, AIT2 tape cartridge

Sony SDX2-50W, AIT-2 backup tape

Sony SDX2-50WA, AIT 2 media tape

Sony 10SDX250CBA, AIT2 media tape

Sony SDX1-25C, AIT-1 backup tape

Sony SDX1-35C, AIT-1 backup tape

Part numbers of the write and read compatible AIT3 tapes are:

Sony SDX3-100C, AIT-3 tape

Sony SDX3-100W, AIT3 tape

In compressed form, the Sony AIT-4 SCSI drive can backup 393 GB in an hour at speed of 62.4MB/s. In uncompressed form, the drive offer 24 Mbps data rate which enables it to record 151 GB data in an hour. Sony AIT4 internal SCSI drive supports the powerful WORM feature. WORM feature is available in the SDX4200WWW Sony cartridge. WORM technology was developed to prohibit data deletions and alterations. Sony AIT-4 drive has a slot dust cover that protects the drive from environmental contaminants. Sony AIT-4 SCSI drive offers enhanced capacity and greater performance in a smaller form factor.

Helical scan recording system has been employed in the Sony AIT4 drive. In this recording system the head is placed at a tilted angle that allows it to write data tracks on the tape edges. Helical scan increases the performance of AIT-4 tape drive during high density recordings, which leads to increased efficiency and lower media costs. AIT4 tape format enables the clients to accommodate greater volumes of information on smaller amount of media tape reel. In order to assure accurate tape path, Sony has included ATF (auto tracking following) mechanism in its AIT4 internal SCSI drive. This new mechanism provides self-adjusting, closed loop path that helps in highly precise media tape tracking.

High performance Sony AIT4 drive closely packs the data. This allows the tape drive to deliver unparalleled performance during high density recordings. Unique servo tracking technology of Sony AIT-4 internal drive helps in making adjustments to the tape media to avoid any kind of tape fluttering.