[Extreme Tech] Sony has developed 185TB tapes, yes, those tapes

[GoldSrc]

I like this, I had no idea tape was used for digital storage.

These things existed quite some time ago, but I never saw one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape

[Tr3vor]

If you are using any magnetic media (ie, Hard Drives), and complaining about tapes, please do us a favor and shut up.

 

btw, that is a HUGE amount of data. Have they figured out ways to prevent media degradation? I know that cassettes and VHSes are older and all, but those got messed up pretty easily. I'm guessing they're using extremely controlled environments.

[Ragnaroken]

Guess i'll be installing a VHS on my rig soon.

[Capone]

Space for storage is generally good, but what about the used method of accessing those data? Is or will it be direct access or sequential access? Sequential access could extremely slow down the access time to pick up data from a fully used tape. 

Maybe sound levels will also be a matter.

 

I think this will be good and useful for industrial purposes.

[jam3s121]

Precisely, Datacenters heavily rely on automated tape backups just because they are cheap, have large storage and not as fragile as a HDD. Just because we don't use them as consumers (I still do for server archival) doesn't mean that they aren't used anymore. I think this is a ballistic amount of data... but I dread to think of the write speed (I'll give you a hint... slow as balls)

 

Yup, everyone here who thinks tapes are useless does not know anything about backuping data for a large cooperation or company. Tapes are still around and will be around for a loooong time.

[MisterZero]

My father once showed me the server room at his work, and guess what they had this big... fridge?

 

And he told me that it was a tape backup system, and just like @asquirrel said, it is still pretty common on a larger scale of data, for big companies. You can even buy some kind of pro-sumer version of tape storage in europe, could become handy for LinusMediaGroup once it gets up to a certain size.

 

And tapes aren't old, I don't have an iPod, I still use my walkman ^^

[RexinOridle]

More SONY proprietary shit coming. 

[RH00D]

If you are using any magnetic media (ie, Hard Drives), and complaining about tapes, please do us a favor and shut up.

 

btw, that is a HUGE amount of data. Have they figured out ways to prevent media degradation? I know that cassettes and VHSes are older and all, but those got messed up pretty easily. I'm guessing they're using extremely controlled environments.

It is a very controlled environment. The system is entirely automated with a robotic arm that can retrieve any tape in the library. This is an example, and imagine if each one of those tapes were 185 TB

 

[kushari]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why Sony is struggling. 

You have no idea what you're talking about. A lot of companies backup to tape. It's not meant for home users.

[DeletThis]

...with ancient technology. It's like strapping a rocket on a 1950s car. Might sound impressive, but what are you going to do with it? Bringing tapes for storage back in the digital world is just silly.

Could you be any more  ignorant or oblivious? Tape is still in widespread use in almost every data-center for archival and storage purposes. Just because your gaming PC doesnt have a tape drive, doesnt mean its "ancient technology".

[Legion]

http://mobile.extremetech.com/#/latest/221324-sony-develops-tech-for-185tb-tapes-3700-times-more-storage-than-a-blu-ray-disc

So 148GB per SQUARE INCH, wow, that is quite impressive...but this is...tape. Tape isn't necessarily used anymore for the most part...I mean, sure this technology is cool and all, but just...why?

 

 

Because backups need to exist. Try backup a data centre or a large firm with consumer storage.

[jayjay_]

how about them 1080p security cameras that run 24/7 to see peoples face clearer?

[Akolyte]

Tapes are alright in general but anyone else remember your dog pulling out all the tape???  

 

Or, is it just me?

 

My Dog Is Crazy... Dont Judge Me. 

[AllstaRawR]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why Sony is struggling. 

 

 

+1. Though you have to admit that it IS terribly amusing...

[Altecice]

I believe banks still use tape drives to backup up the last 3 days transactions so its useful to them

[AlwaysFSX]

...with ancient technology. It's like strapping a rocket on a 1950s car. Might sound impressive, but what are you going to do with it? Bringing tapes for storage back in the digital world is just silly.

Find a wider spot.

[Giddyguy]

aren't tapes use in data centers?

[hal9001]

Standby for Titanfall 2!

[lnxpro]

I use LTO4 tapes personally in a tape library holding 16 tapes. that gives me about 12TB~25TB of space depending on compression to backup my servers, workstations and laptops to. And each blank tape I can get for about $25-$30. Each tape holds 800GB~1.6TB data depending on compression.

[Solarisfire]

Tapes are used a MASSIVE amount in industry. You may not know the legislation, and it changes from country and country and department to department but just for a companies financial data (data on every single financial transaction made, and all the paper trail that goes with it) has to be kept for a minimum of six years in the UK and longer in certain circumstances.

 

Hard drives SUCK at this task. If you turn off a hard drive and stick it in a cupboard for 6 years its spindle will stick, and the head will more than likely glue itself to the platter. If you leave them running they will likely fail and even in RAID you'll have the cost of replacing disks and power to contend with. SSDs will deteriorate with 6 years of not being turned on. Even ink fades on paper over the course of 6 years.

 

Tape is by far the best method for storing large amounts of data you don't need quick access to long term. And imagine how much data a large company such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, etc have to keep on their millions of smaller financial transactions. This is the data that runs into the hundreds of TB and this is what these tapes are designed for.

[Solarisfire]

Tapes are alright in general but anyone else remember your dog pulling out all the tape???  

 

Or, is it just me?

 

My Dog Is Crazy... Dont Judge Me. 

I have never seen a dog in a data centre in my 10 years of working in them....

 

I might take my puppy to work tomorrow.

[TheEpicCanadian]

Holy balls.

 

I would be pissed if someone were to write over all of my porn on one of these.

poooorn? What is this? I have never heard of such a thing.

 

 

EDIT: A Quick google search revealed that you are a very dirty person. Shame on you! 

 

ahaha im so funny.

[flibberdipper]

poooorn? What is this? I have never heard of such a thing.

 

 

EDIT: A Quick google search revealed that you are a very dirty person. Shame on you! 

 

ahaha im so funny.

Very funny indeed.

[RainColt]

...with ancient technology. It's like strapping a rocket on a 1950s car. Might sound impressive, but what are you going to do with it? Bringing tapes for storage back in the digital world is just silly.

Imagine recording in 4-8k it takes a lot of storage and maybe this is a viable and inexpensive way to store that footage.

[MangoJuiceStain]

Tape isn't used anymore? TELL MY FUCKING TECH TEACHER THAT. He makes us record ALL our projects on crappy 15+ year old cameras on fucking tapes. TAPES. Jesus christ I would rather record on my phone... (sorry if this is a little off-topic)