Iomega debuts 2.5-inch 35GB cartridge format
updated 07:10 pm EDT, Wed August 13, 2003
Iomega today announced that working prototypes of its new Iomega Removable Rigid Disk (RRD) technology, with an expected native capacity of 35GB (70GB compressed) per cartridge at product launch, are now being evaluated by potential OEMs and that server and desktop products incorporating the removeable 2.5-inch RRD drive are expected to be available for shipment in early 2004 (external USB and internal ATAPI) with Serial ATA-based mechanisms planned for the third quarter. [image added]
Iomega's is designed to provide backup solutions at a lower total cost of ownership than traditional tape backup solutions The high-performance RRD cartridge is smaller than a deck of playing cards, more durable than tape (RRD media is rated for over one million rewrites versus a few thousand for tape) and assures data integrity by performing write verification at hard disk speeds, according to the company. In addition, stand-alone RRD drives and autoloaders, when available, are expected to cost significantly less than tape drive alternatives, including Travan40, DDS, DAT-72, VXA, AIT-1, DLT and DLT VS80, according to Iomega.
The RRD system is being designed to work with popular backup and disaster recovery software and will appear to the host computer as a standard disk drive. The disks are expected to support OS bootup for creating emergency startup volumes. It also offers a native maximum transfer rate of 22 MB/sec--with an effective data throughput approaching 44 MB/sec (with 2:1 data compression), allowing users to backup 20GB of data in 10 minutes.
The RRD cartridge is a rugged enclosure holding both a 2.5 inch rigid disk and an ultra-quiet fluid dynamic bearing motor. The motor is sealed inside the cartridge to eliminate the spindle hole, a potential source of dust contamination. The RRD drive, which fits a standard half-height 3.5 inch drive slot, contains the read/write heads and associated drive hardware. The read/write heads are protected from dust contamination by an advanced airlock. When a cartridge is inserted, sophisticated air filtration clears any airborne contamination. The RDD technology features advanced two-stage error correction circuitry that ensures data integrity and automatic internal head cleaning for consistent read/write performance.
Iomega RRD drives and cartridges are expected to be available in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2004, with prices to be announced at product launch.
Originally published on 8/12/03; updated with images on 8/13/03.
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