Quantum Scalar i7 RAPTOR Now Available

Rhea-AI Summary

Quantum (NASDAQ: QMCO) has announced the availability of the Scalar i7 RAPTOR, a new tape storage solution offering up to 200% higher storage density compared to traditional libraries. The system provides 2,008 usable data slots in a single cabinet, delivering over 36 PB of storage using LTO-9 technology.

Key features include enhanced serviceability with components replaceable in under five minutes, 80 PLUS Platinum power supply efficiency, and advanced security features like Active Vault and Logical Tape Blocking for ransomware protection. The solution integrates with Quantum's StorNext file system and ActiveScale object storage, supporting AI workflows and S3 Glacier-compatible cold storage services.

Positive

• Up to 200% higher storage density than traditional libraries
• 36 PB storage capacity per cabinet using LTO-9 technology
• Reduced operational costs through improved power efficiency
• All components serviceable in under 5 minutes
• Enhanced security features for ransomware protection

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Expert

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR represents a significant technological advancement in enterprise tape storage, particularly notable for its 200% higher storage density compared to traditional libraries. The system's capacity of 36 PB per cabinet using LTO-9 technology positions it as a compelling solution for data-intensive AI workloads and cloud infrastructure. Key technical differentiators include the 80 PLUS Platinum power efficiency rating and advanced security features like Active Vault and Logical Tape Blocking.

The system's integration capabilities with StorNext and ActiveScale, combined with support for major backup software, make it particularly valuable for organizations building hybrid cloud architectures. The sub-1kW power consumption for a fully populated library is remarkably efficient, addressing both cost and environmental concerns. The RAIL architecture and S3 Glacier compatibility provide enterprise-grade durability and accessibility advantages over traditional multi-copy tape systems.

Market Research Analyst

With IDC projecting a 40.5% CAGR in AI datacenter capacity through 2027, Quantum's timing for this release aligns perfectly with market demands. The product addresses critical market needs: cost efficiency in data storage, environmental sustainability and robust security against ransomware threats. The ability to reduce acquisition costs, support costs, floorspace costs and power/cooling expenses presents a compelling total cost of ownership proposition for hyperscale customers and MSPs.

For Quantum (QMCO), this product launch could strengthen its position in the enterprise storage market, particularly as organizations seek cost-effective solutions for AI data lakes and cold storage. The focus on sustainability and security features differentiates it from competitors and aligns with current enterprise priorities.

Innovative tape solution delivers up to 200% higher storage density and advanced serviceability, sustainability and security for cloud infrastructure and data lakes

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quantum Corporation (NASDAQ: QMCO) today announced the availability of the Scalar^® i7 RAPTOR, the latest advancement in tape storage technology tailored to support growing AI and cloud use cases. Originally announced in March of this year, the Scalar i7 RAPTOR is designed for hyperscale customers, managed service providers (MSPs), and large enterprises and is the densest, most scalable tape solution on the market. As organizations look to retain more data than ever for AI, analysis, and business insights, this new offering gives customers an ultra-low cost, green, and secure solution for data lakes, data protection, and private and hybrid cloud deployments.

(Graphic: Business Wire)

“IDC expects the surging demand for AI workloads will lead to a significant increase in datacenter capacity, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, with AI datacenter capacity projected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.5% through 2027,” said Greg Macatee, research manager, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies Group at IDC. “With this increase of energy consumption, enterprises require new and innovative infrastructure to improve power and datacenter efficiency.”

Features and Benefits of the Scalar i7 RAPTOR:

Highest Storage Density, Lowest Costs

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR is a significant advancement in storage density, up to 200% better than traditional scale-up enterprise libraries and up to 82% better compared to newer scale-out high-density libraries. The Scalar i7 RAPTOR has an industry-leading 2,008 usable data slots in a single tape library cabinet or frame that delivers over 36 PB of storage using LTO-9 (native 18 TB/cartridge). This density advantage provides customers with significant cost savings, reducing customer library acquisition costs, support costs, floorspace costs, power/cooling costs and colocation costs.

Enhanced Serviceability, Minimal Downtime

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR design greatly simplifies service with all components being customer serviceable and replaceable in less than five minutes. In addition, all replaceable components are hardened to minimize damage from handling, also enabling customer replacements. This service simplification reduces downtime and improves customer service level agreements (SLA). In addition, all tape hardware is installed in the factory, simplifying onsite installation and allowing customers to self-install if desired.

Maximum Sustainability

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR leads the industry in sustainability with the highest 80 PLUS Platinum power supply efficiency rating—outperforming the Silver or unrated supplies found in most competing libraries. This power efficiency, combined with industry-leading storage density, makes the Scalar i7 RAPTOR the most power-efficient tape library per PB of storage available, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while cutting operational costs.

Unmatched Security and Immutability

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR offers many security features only offered with Quantum tape libraries, including advanced, patented ransomware recovery features like Active Vault and Logical Tape Blocking. Quantum libraries have unique features that protect libraries from unauthorized access, ensuring data integrity and providing enhanced air gap protection beyond the normal protection of other libraries.

Seamless Integration

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR offers seamless integration with other Quantum solutions like StorNext^® file system and ActiveScale^® scalable S3 object storage, and with all major tape management software like Veeam and Commvault. The Scalar i7 RAPTOR also fully supports AI workflows and environments that store files or objects.

ActiveScale and the Scalar i7 RAPTOR together deliver cost-effective, S3 Glacier-compatible cold storage services. By deploying multiple Scalar i7 RAPTORs in a Redundant Array of Independent Libraries (RAIL) architecture, ActiveScale manages and optimizes data placement across the libraries for industry leading availability, performance, and storage efficiency. The turnkey solution provides far greater durability than multi-copy tape systems, enhances data accessibility compared to hyperscale cloud storage and S3-to-object gateway solutions, and allows organizations to simply deploy low cost, high density, self-service data lakes, storage clouds, and large-scale archives.

Additionally, the Scalar i7 RAPTOR integrates with StorNext data services such FlexTier^® to deliver full data lifecycle management from data creation to long-term retention and recall. As data moves across storage media, from Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) or solid-state drive (SSD) to hard disk drive (HDD), tape, or cloud, StorNext provides continuous access. Data requiring preservation over time can be copied or moved manually or by policy to the Scalar i7 RAPTOR for the lowest cost long-term retention.

Scalar i7 RAPTOR Technical Highlights:

• Library Design
  • Single cabinet/frame, scale-out architecture
  • Fast robot with dual picker
  • No tape swapping required
  • Comparable 48U height
  • Fits within standard 19-inch data center rack footprint
  • Optional rack space available for integration of non-tape hardware
  • Capable of shipping with media installed for ease of installation
• Scalability
  • Up to 2008 data slots
  • Flexible growth with capacity-on-demand starting at 100 slots and incrementing in 100 slot increments
  • Up to 20 LTO full-height tape drives, more than any other scale-out library
• Security
  • Quantum Secure Framework, unmatched tape cyber protection
  • Active Vault for enhanced air gap protection
  • Patented Tape Blocking for enhanced data immutability
  • Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Media removal alerts
• Tape Drives
  • Supports LTO-7, LTO-8, and LTO-9
  • FC and SAS drive interfaces
• Power System
  • 80 PLUS Platinum power supplies, the most efficient in the industry
  • Full 2N power included standard
  • AC and DC power supported
  • Fully populated library <1kW, typical configurations <0.5kW

“As unstructured data growth continues to grow exponentially, large enterprises need a low-cost, highly secure, highly scalable archival storage system that delivers more storage density than any other solution on the market,” said Bruno Hald, vice president of secondary storage at Quantum. “We continue to deliver the most innovation in tape technology that help solve customers’ needs for massive storage that fits their budget, reduces their footprint and scales easily as their needs grow.”

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR is now available for general distribution, with initial units already in customer testing and certification. For more information about the Scalar i7 RAPTOR and Quantum’s comprehensive infrastructure solutions for AI, please visit www.quantum.com/scalar-i7-RAPTOR.

About Quantum

Quantum technology, software, and services provide the solutions that today's organizations need to make video and other unstructured data smarter – so their data works for them and not the other way around. With over 40 years of innovation, Quantum's end-to-end platform is uniquely equipped to orchestrate, protect, and enrich data across its lifecycle, providing enhanced intelligence and actionable insights. Leading organizations in cloud services, entertainment, government, research, education, transportation, and enterprise IT trust Quantum to bring their data to life, because data makes life better, safer, and smarter. Quantum is listed on Nasdaq (QMCO). For more information visit www.quantum.com.

Quantum and the Quantum logo are registered trademarks of Quantum Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information provided in this press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"). These forward-looking statements are largely based on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting our business. Such forward-looking statements include, in particular, statements about the anticipated benefits and features of the Quantum Scalar i7 RAPTOR solution as well as our business prospects, changes and trends in our business and the markets in which we operate.

These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipates", "believes", "can", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "may", "plans", "projects", "targets", "will", and similar expressions or variations of these terms and similar phrases. Additionally, statements concerning future matters and other statements regarding matters that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance and are subject to business, economic, and other risks, and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including without limitation, the following: the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including potential disruptions to our supply chain, employees, operations, sales and overall market conditions; the competitive pressures we face; risks associated with executing our strategy; the distribution of our products and the delivery of our services effectively; the development and transition of new products and services and the enhancement of existing products and services to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; whether the market for the Quantum Scalar i7 RAPTOR solution develops as anticipated and whether our products meet the developing needs of this market; and other risks that are described herein, including but not limited to the items discussed in "Risk Factors" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any subsequent filings with the SEC. We do not intend to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204254488/en/

Sara Beth Fahey

Matter Communications

quantum@matternow.com

401.351.9507

Source: Quantum Corporation

FAQ

What is the storage capacity of Quantum's Scalar i7 RAPTOR (QMCO)?

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR offers over 36 PB of storage using LTO-9 technology, with 2,008 usable data slots in a single tape library cabinet.

How does the Scalar i7 RAPTOR's storage density compare to traditional libraries?

The Scalar i7 RAPTOR provides up to 200% better storage density than traditional scale-up enterprise libraries and up to 82% better compared to newer scale-out high-density libraries.

What security features does the Quantum Scalar i7 RAPTOR include?

It includes Active Vault for enhanced air gap protection, Logical Tape Blocking for data immutability, Multi-Factor Authentication, and media removal alerts.

How long does it take to service components in the Scalar i7 RAPTOR?

All components are customer serviceable and replaceable in less than five minutes, minimizing downtime and improving service level agreements.