Cache-A V3.1 Software Boosts LTO-5 Archiving Productivity

Cache-A Corporation has released its v3.1 software that boosts the productivity of LTO-5 tape archiving.

The v3.1 release includes enhanced LTFS capabilities and new operational features, enabling users to archive, copy, access and exchange archived content faster, and more easily.

The v3.1 upgrade is available across all Cache-A archive appliances – the desktop Prime-Cache5, flagship Pro-Cache5, high-performance Power-Cache, and flexible Library 24/48 automation systems.

Enhanced LTFS capabilities:
Chief among the productivity-boosting features of v3.1 are trailblazing LTFS enhancements.

These include: high-speed LTFS tape-to-tape duplication, enabling users to make duplicate copies for off-site storage, or exchange material, at unprecedented speed; plus, seamless LTFS tape-spanning, which allows large projects to be automatically archived across multiple LTO-5 cartridges. The advent of LTFS tape-spanning delivers time savings by eliminating the tedious task of users having to break up a project into cartridge-sized chunks.

LTFS is an open format that other applications and platforms can read, and provides futureproof independence from specific software applications. It is compatible across solution environments, allowing increased data mobility and content interchange.

MD5 checksums:
To provide users with the highest confidence in the integrity of the archives they manage, Cache-A has added calculation of MD5 checksums of each file in an archive session into the v3.1 release. This makes possible a range of double-checks to give users an even higher level of assurance in the data accuracy.

Operational improvements:
Based on customer feedback, Cache-A has introduced new operational tools and improvements with v3.1, which also increase archiving efficiency.

Users can now receive e-mail notifications upon the completion of archive/restore sessions on their smartphone or computer, giving them the freedom to engage in other activities, and the confidence that they will be emailed upon successful completion, or advised in case of any error. The v3.1 update also features dialogs that confirm the status of archive/restore operations and improve management of Cache-A Library systems.

Cache-A’s command queue feature lets users stack up archive and restore operations for each LTO drive in their library. With the v3.1 release the command queue can now be edited and prioritized, delivering maximum flexibility in automated archive/restore operations.

"The blistering speed of Cache-A’s new v3.1 upgrade is a huge advantage in our editing and archiving workflows," said Richard Price of NOW Productions, LLC, in Los Angeles, CA. This company produces video and archives materials for MSIA.org, which holds over 80,000 pieces of video and audio media covering 45 years of recordings. NOW Productions uses the Power-Cache, and several Pro-Cache units, as the final archive for all projects and digitized original media. "The incredible performance, combined with the new LTFS features and improved user toolsets, allow us to confidently use LTO media into the foreseeable future."

"This latest v3.1 upgrade delivers new features and performance enhancements to make archiving faster and more efficient than ever," said Phil Ritti, CEO of Cache-A. "The boost in productivity is particularly advantageous for media and entertainment companies wanting the long-term assurance of LTO archiving, but with increased data mobility and the ability to share content organization-wide."

The v3.1 upgrade is available.