DTF - Digital Tape Format   

The first-generation of Sony's DTF-1 tape drive, the GY-2120, reads and writes small block records at up to 11.25 MB/sec (native) and delivers its full rated speed of 12 MB/sec (42.3 GB/hr) for general applications. With performance like this, you can process, archive, backup and even acquire data in a fraction of the time it would take using other well known tape drives. Speed optimization for short-block records will be a standard feature in Sony's next-generation DTF-2, the GY-8240, (24 MB/sec (84.6 GB/hr)) tape drive. 

DTF drives use advanced 1/2-inch metal particle DTF tape housed in an anti-static cassette shell. Using current-generation (DTF-1) technology, a large DTF cassette holds 42 GB of uncompressed data — the equivalent of fifty-three (53) 3490 cartridges.  DTF-2 has a capacity of 200 GB of uncompressed data.

The GY-2120 DTF-1 Tape Drive Manufacture's List Price is $11,995.

For a more complete description and specification on all the DTF products, please download this PDF file. (302KB)   DTF_World_Class.pdf

More information on Sony's DTF tape drive, see

DTF - 2

Digital Tape Format (DTF™) is a high-performance format developed specifically by Sony for computer data storage. It is proving to be extremely robust, with abundant potential for further development.

DTF-2 (GY-8240) is the next generation of DTF technology. It provides a native capacity of 200 GB per cassette and a sustained transfer rate of 24 MB/sec (84.6 GB/hr) uncompressed. Our DTF-2 drive will interface with computers via Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop and Ultra SCSI. It will integrate with the Sony PetaSite^® mass storage library, the DMS-B35 mid-range library, and the DMS-B9 autoloader for desk-side and workgroup environments.

Other key features of the DTF-2 drive include:

• Speed-optimized for short-block data records, including records in
  SEG-Y and SEG-D formats
  
• 40 MB/sec transfer rate with Adaptive Lossless Data Compression
  (ALDC) (2.59:1 average ratio)
  
• Compressed capacity of 259 GB per cassette using ALDC
  
• 714 MB/sec search speed
  
• Load and thread to Ready status in less than 7 sec
  
• Dual interface ports for enhanced fault tolerance
  
• Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop and Ultra SCSI computer interface options,
  both field-swappable by user
  
• TCP/IP network interface
  
• Utilizes the same tape media used by DTF-1 drive
  
• Backward compatibility with DTF-1

DTF-2 technology will have a tremendous impact on the ability of Sony tape libraries to provide cost-effective mass storage. The PetaSite library — with its enterprise network capabilities and virtually unlimited expandability — is an exceptionally sound investment, both now and as we enter the era of DTF-2 technology.

The GY-8240 DTF-2 Tape Drive Manufacture's List Price is $24,995.

For a more complete description and specification on the DTF-2 products, please download this PDF file. (444KB)   Sony GY-8240 DTF2.pdf

For additional information on DTF-2 see: http://bpgprod.sel.sony.com/DTF/seismic/dtf2.html