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Increased capacity in a smaller form factor
The AIT format was developed to handle large capacity requirements for large, data-intensive applications. Available in a compact 3.5-inch form factor, AIT-1 drives and media provide 35 GB (native) and 90 GB (with 2.6:1 compression) capacity on a single 8 mm data cartridge, making it the most efficient, cost effective solution in the industry for unattended backup. AIT-2 drives and autoloaders increases this capacity even further, delivering 50 GB (native) and 130 GB (with 2.6:1 compression) in the same compact form factor. The latest generation AIT-3 drives delivers even more capacity and performance, with 100 GB (native) and 260 GB (with 2.6:1 compression) capacity at up to 31.2 MB/s (with 2.6:1 compression) sustained data transfer rate.

Helical scan technology increases recording density
Unlike the linear serpentine recording technology used by DTL drives, the Sony AIT drive employs a helical scan recording style in which data tracks are written at an angle relative to the edge of the tape.
 

This provides higher density recording, enabling Sony customers to lower media costs and increase efficiency by storing more data on a smaller amount of tape.

Auto Tracking Following system ensures accurate tape path
In addition to its helical scan technology, Sony’s AIT drives feature an Auto Tracking Following (ATF) system, which provides a closed-loop, self-adjusting path for highly accurate tape tracking. This servo tracking system adjusts for tape flutter, allowing data tracks to be written much closer together for higher density recording than conventional drives.

High-performance drives speed read/write operations
Ultra Wide SCSI technology maximizes data transfer rates up to 4.0 MB/second (native), 10.4 MB/s (with 2.6:1 compression) and burst rates of 20 MB/s to and from the host system on AIT-1 tape drives. Advanced Lossless Data Compression technology (ALDC), previously available only in mainframe-type tape drives, provides substantially greater compression when compared to older, IDRC or DLZ compression algorithms. Combined with Sony’s Memory-in-Cassette (MIC) these features make AIT the first tape technology with near-online class speed.

Access your data faster with MIC
Only Sony’s AIT solution features Memory-in-Cassette (MIC), a 64 kbit memory chip built into the data cartridge which speeds access to your data. Unlike conventional tape drives that must rewind to the beginning of the tape to read the system log and find the desired file, the MIC chip provides sophisticated data access capability and locates files in seconds.

Superior reliability ensures long drive and media life
AIT drives feature a redesigned Metal-In-Gap (MIG) tape head which uses a unique geometry for reduced head/media pressure, providing over 50,000 hours of head life. In addition, Sony’s unique tape tension control system senses and controls tension fluctuations to reduce tape and head wear, and maintains tape tension at less than one-half that of competing technologies. Combined with Sony’s Unique cooling design and Super Head Cleaner™ mechanism, the result is an industry-leading Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)

New cooling design reduces airborne contamination
To reduce contamination from airborne dust and particles – a leading cause of failure in conventional tape drives – a special cooling path redirects airflow under the AIT drive, away from the drive’s read/write mechanisms. A built-in cooling fan pulls air only over the heat-producing printed circuit boards, while a shield prevents air flow and particulate contamination from entering the tape path and critical head/tape interface.

Super Head CleanerT reduces need for cleaning tapes
In the event that contamination build-up does occur, the Sony AIT drive provides an automated cleaning solution. The Super Head Cleaner is a built-in head cleaning mechanism which is activated when soft errors (ECC, re-reads, re-writes) reach a certain threshold. This greatly reduces the need for cleaning tapes and the operational problems they can cause.

AME media provides increased reliability and capacity
To ensure the highest reliability and performance, Sony’s AIT drives are designed to only recognize and use the extremely durable Advanced medal evaporated (AME) media developed by Sony. Unlike previous generation metal particle media which contain binder material and additives which can cause head contamination, the magnetic recording layer of AME media contains pure evaporated cobalt, which is then sealed with a super-durable, diamond-like carbon coating and a lubricant. This provides a highly reliable, virtually contamination-free operating environment. In addition, the AME media contains between 80 and 100 percent magnetic recording material and provides an increase of 5dB in short wave length recording readback output when compared to conventional metal evaporated tape, providing higher recording density and better recording system performance than conventional metal particle media.

Small form factor meets industry-standard requirements
As a founding member of ANSI and a member of the ISO and ECMA organizations, Sony produces only ISO and ANSI approved drives. As a result, you can be sure that your Sony AIT drives meets the highest standards in the industry.Available in a compact, 3.5-inch form factor, Sony’s AIT drives integrate easily into your existing computer environments and reduce the amount of space required to implement automated tape library solutions.

AIT: the future of high-performance data backup
 

As the amount of information being generated in business continues to multiply, Sony recognizes the importance of developing reliable backup solutions that can keep pace with the capacity requirements of large organizations, and that provide a growth path for the future. Sony’s AIT technology is setting new performance, reliability, and capacity standards in these environments today, and is already working on a next generation of AIT products that will continue to set the standards for tape backup, utilizing Sony’s proven leadership in magnet tape recording technology.