Back to magnetic tape?

[Magic Carpet]

Sony has developed new magnetic tape technology that can fit more than 185 terabytes of data on a single cartridge, the company announced last week.

The technology allows for the storage of more than 18.5 gigabytes of data per square inch of tape — 74 times the capacity of standard, mainstream magnetic tape in the form of linear-tape open Ultrium technology, whose LTO-6 cartridges can hold up to 2.5 terabytes of data. Sony's technology sets a new record for areal recording density of tape storage, according to Sony. As a comparison, the current standard for Blu-ray Disc storage is a dual-layer disc that can hold 50 GB of data; Sony's tape could fit nearly 3,790 of them.

In a press release, Sony said it reached the record 185 terabyte figure by developing technology to deposit fine magnetic particles an average of 7.7 nanometers in size onto a "soft magnetic underlayer." In order to determine the final capacity of the tape, Sony brought in an "exploratory recording and assessment device" from IBM.

Sony is now working to bring its magnetic tape to commercial production, with an eye toward the ever-increasing need for high-density media in uses such as data systems and cloud-based storage.

Source 1, 2.

Not sure what the price is going to be but hell, this is just what the doctor ordered for my ever growing video collection / backup. Can't wait to start using "cassete recorders" again

 

[Deders]

Imagine having to rewind through all that

 

[Charlie98]

History repeats itself...

I wonder how durable that would be over multiple read cycles?

 

[alzan]

Amazing. When I first started working with computers ~28 years ago, tape density technology was 1600 bits per inch on 9-track 1/2".

It took six tape reels to back up a near full 300MB disk pack ( the round object on top of it's drive in my avatar).

 

[ch33zw1z]

next gen LTO?

other than repairs, my tape knowledge is rather limited.

Still tons of tape out in the world at a mid range and enterprise level.

Virtual tape is gaining confidence by customers in my xp.

 

[rsutoratosu]

I never left tape.. my industry requires monthly tape archives/retention for 7 year..

Either you put everything on hdd and store them for 7 year or tapes..

 

[saratoga172]

We still use tapes for offsite monthly and yearly archives of data.

 

[natto fire]

Imagine having to rewind through all that

At 18.5 GB per sq. inch (not sure what the width is), I think the high density will make it easier.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Imagine having to rewind through all that

Now imagine losing terabytes of data because the tape reader chewed the tape a bit

 

[bigi]

Now imagine losing terabytes of data because the tape reader chewed the tape a bit

That's why you do 5 copies of backups.

 

[gbeirn]

Back to magnetic tape? It never went anywhere!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I bought a cartridge-tape backup system for a server I'd built from an old 486 -- back around the millennium. It was a pain in the a**.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Now imagine losing terabytes of data because the tape reader chewed the tape a bit

well, most companies that I frequent(I'm in field support, hardware repair for a profession) that use tape don't keep just a single backup. It's typically a weeks work of incrementals, or something like that.

 

[Dahak]

We still use tape for our customers as well for off site.
Usually about 20 tape in rotation.
2 weeks of dailies, full on Friday, full monthly and a 3 quarterly and 1 year