
ALTO-III Data Archiving
Scalable in capacity, bandwidth, availability and
geographic distribution, ALTO-III is an easy to deploy, secure and affordable alternative to a tape library, offering faster access for more users and ultra-low lifetime cost of ownership
ALTO-III

Arguments have favoured data tape as a backup medium for hard disks, including low cost, high capacity and robustness. But ultimately performance is limited by the complex mechanical systems, sequential access to the data and the need to share a limited number of reading and writing decks. ALTO offers the same benefits and support established workflows, but with further benefits.
Hard disk drives offer the advantage that each disk is inherently a self-contained reading and writing device capable of random-access rather the sequential access of data tape. The next generation sub-nearline drives used in ALTO are designed to be spun down and switched off when not reading or writing, reducing power consumption and extending disk life, but new techniques are needed to protect the media from disk failure.
Following a disk failure, the lengthy rebuild time for a simple RAID array can leave content vulnerable to subsequent disk failures. Alternative protection strategies significantly increase capital and running cost. ALTO uses data replication techniques to offering user selectable protection, minimal recovery time, and disaster recovery configurations. ALTO disks can be removed for vault storage, or project transport. Media files can be accessed on an external computer.





Superior Performance Disk Archive
10TB, 12TB, 14TB and 16TB Disks. Any size, from any vendor, in any slot at any time - Diskless options for local disk purchasing.
Lower Cost of Ownership
Any disk which is not reading or writing is switched off with significant power saving and greatly extended disk lifetime.
Faster Access for Concurrent Users
Faster access than a tape library with more concurrent users, no migration, no repack and no routine maintenance.
Higher Security than RAID
Protects your files with user-selectable data replication offering much higher security than RAID systems.
Geographically Distributed Systems
Protects your files with user-selectable data replication offering much higher security than RAID systems.