Spectra Logic MLM Reader: Portable Device to Check Tape Health

Spectra Logic Corp. has extended its Media Lifecycle Management (MLM) technology outside the library with a new MLM Reader, which is now shipping. The MLM Reader is a portable device that allows customers to check tape health on any computer through USB, without loading the tape into a library, and is designed to proactively identify faulty tape media before it is required for a data restore.  Spectra’s MLM Reader gives users fast access to tape media health scores as well as specific information on individual cartridges to facilitate proactive identification of media that pose a threat.

Because a cartridge’s media quality can’t be determined visually, MLM accesses the media’s health statistics which are stored in each individual tape cartridge.  MLM comprehensively analyzes each tape’s health, and indicates when to proactively migrate data from an at-risk cartridge onto new media and avoid data loss. The new MLM Reader now extends this same ability outside of the library allowing users to conveniently view MLM’s tape health information.

"Spectra’s MLM technology provides advanced media tracking and reporting for the life of a tape to proactively identify and avoid potential media failures, and therefore help eliminate data loss," said Matt Starr, CTO of Spectra Logic. "The new MLM Reader extends these benefits outside the library and will particularly interest large enterprises and supercomputing users that export large numbers of tapes from their libraries for offsite storage."

Media Health: What MLM Tracks
The MLM software is a feature of Spectra’s built-in BlueScale’ management interface that is included with Spectra’s entire T-series product line. MLM tracks over 30 non-volatile statistics about data tapes, such as export details; remaining capacity; encryption information; number of reads and writes; date of last access; born-on date; and cleaning log.

Pricing and Availability
Spectra’s new MLM Reader is now available with pricing starting at $2,500, and is designed specifically to operate with Spectra Logic’s Certified Media. MLM and the BlueScale library management software are compatible with all major backup applications, including: BakBone, CA, CommVault, EMC, IBM Tivoli, Symantec and Syncsort.