History (1994): Netframe With RAID-5 Tape Subsystem for Compaq Servers

Netframe Systems (Milpitas, CA) is making available Datajet, a tape backup and restore RAID system for network servers for users and resellers of Compaq Proliant and Systempro XL servers.

It has the ability to backup and restore 20GB in 2 hours using technology that takes advantage of a multi-thread ed three-stage piped NLM (NetWare Loadable Module).

Because Datajet automatically adjusts to and reads from multiple drives concurrently, it can transfer data up to 10x faster than other backup systems, said the company.

“By filing a ‘network black hole’, Datajet eliminates one of the final barriers to downsizing,” noted Susan Frankie, manager of IDC’s client server research.

Its RAID 5 recording methodologies eliminate the fear of drive failures or tape cartridges that break, jam or become unreadable during a backup or restore.

Datajet consists of a tape array including 4 to 8 tape drives that are housed in a chassis and a NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) that resides on the server.

The subsystem, including software, is available now at $22,995 with 4 tape drives and 1 EISA SCSI adapter and at $44,995 with 8 drives and 2 EISA SCSI adapters.

Netframe Systems Inc. is a public company founded in 1987 by Carlton G. Amdahl, a veteran mainframe computer scientist, and Enzo Torresi, co-founder of Businessland, Inc. The company designs, manufactures and markets a family of servers. Olivetti sells Netframe’s products under the Olivetti label in Europe and Asia.

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 76, published on May 1994.