InfiniVault / RDX

ProStor Systems' primary product entries are the InfiniVault data archiving platform, and the RDX removable data cartridge technology upon which InfiniVault is based. While the InfiniVault product line is manufactured by the vendor, RDX is licensed to partner providers--currently including Imation and Tandberg Data--who themselves offer their own branded cartridges and/or docks incorporating the technology.

RDX technology seeks to combine benefits from both tape and disk-based archive methodologies. The technology takes from the tape world the ability to remove cartridges and transport them from location to location, span data across cartridges, and increase overall backup capacity via the purchase and use of new cartridges; while it takes from the disk world the increased access speeds (both from a sustained throughput and a file-based access viewpoint) and performance typical of nearline disk-based storage systems. An RDX cartridge itself includes a 2.5 inch mobile disk drive, encased in a ruggedized shell (can withstand drops from up to 1 meter to a concrete floor) that can be inserted into a docking station. The docking station, in turn interfaces to the computer; with both SATA or USB-based interfaces available for internally mounted drive-docks and USB-connected docks available for strictly external connections.

Features of the RDX cartridges themselves include multiple capacities (currently from 80 GB to 500 GB), an on-cartridge status indicator light (ready, activity, fault), and a mechanical write-protect switch. Because the cartridges themselves are based on standard HDDs, the vendor states that both the docks and the cartridges are fully forward and backwards compatible: current docks can use all future cartridge capacities, while current/older cartridges will continue to be supported by all future docks.

As aforememtioned, ProStor partners Tandberg Data and Imation currently offer both docks and RDX cartridges; the latter soon to offer cartridges in capacities of up to 500 GB (the 500 GB cartridge is expected in June with a price tag of $549.99).

In addition to these partner RDX products, the vendor has also now introduced their own InfiniVault data archiving platform, which combines both a SATA-disk based/RAID protected "Intelligent Active Archive" with the RDX removable cartridges. I.E., the InfiniVault includes a standard online disk archive consisting of internal (non-removable) SATA drives, as well as facilitates the usage of RDX cartridges via RDX-compatible slots or externally attached RDX array modules (depending on InfiniVault model). The InfiniVault thus boasts "infinite" storage capacity, since RDX cartridges can be exchanged as needed. It communicates via CIFS/NFS and therefore looks like a NAS device to host software.

The Active Archive and the RDX cartridges combine to form a multi-tiered access platform for archived data. When data is sent to InfiniVault, a copy is placed both in the Active Archive (for immediate retrieval) and on two different RDX cartridges simultaneously (the administrator can configure this for 4 copies, if desired). While access to the active archive is immediate, access to data on an RDX cartridge might be slightly delayed due to the cartridges' ability to spin down when idle (thus potentially requiring a spin up when data is retrieved).

InfiniVault is offered in two models:

- InfiniVault 30, a rack-mount system in which one component houses the controller and the active archive (the active archive consists of 4 750 GB SATA drives in a RAID 5 configuration), and the RDX drives are plugged into a 3U external array--each of which can accommodate up to 10 RDX cartridges. The base platform ships with one-such external array; while up to three external arrays can be used with the platform at maximum capacity.

- InfiniVault 100, also a rack-mount system in which the controller and active archive are separate components (2U and 3U, respectively); with the active archive boasting 16 750 GB SATA drives in a RAID 6 protected array. The 100 model also supports the use of 10 slot, 3U, external RDX arrays; two such arrays are included in the base system with ten arrays (100 slots total) supported, max.

All described products are available now; the 500 GB cartridges expected in June. Visit the vendor and their partner's respective sites for further information.