Spectra Logic: Novel Storage Solutions for HPC Environments

In today’s highly competitive and complex business realms, high performance computing (HPC) is gaining momentum considering enterprises’ ever-evolving desire for sound ramp-up and performance delivery. Simultaneously, all industry verticals are experiencing a pronounced increase in the quantity of data along with its growing significance in their bottom-line operations. The need for advanced storage solutions to aid HPC has become more imperative than ever, and addressing this is Colorado-based Spectra Logic. “We are committed to delivering data storage solutions to the global HPC industry that protect and cost-effectively store massive amounts of irreplaceable data allowing our customers to meet their performance, growth, and environmental goals,” says Matt Starr, Chief Technology Officer at Spectra Logic.

With its long-standing experience in the industry, Spectra recognizes that the increasing rate of data generation, collaboration levels, and diversity of workflows are driving enterprises toward seeking a newer model for data storage. To this end, the company adopts an industry-best approach by developing a sensible combination of different storage technologies, including the deployment of NAS, object storage, tape and hybrid cloud solutions. Spectra’s innovation merges traditional file-based storage interfaces, which are well suited for in-progress workflows, and object storage, which is built for scale and more complex workflows, to effectively deliver better outcomes.

Supporting the preservation of massive amounts of valuable HPC data, Spectra designed and delivered the TFinity^® ExaScale Tape Library— the largest single storage system in the world. In fact, customers with vast storage requirements can store as much as 2 exabytes (EB) of data in a single TFinity tape library. The TFinity library solution is deployed in many well recognized HPC environments, delivering the highest possible value for its customers. It has the unique ability to support multiple media and drive technologies including LTO tape technology, IBM’s TS11XX tape technology, and Oracle’s T10000 tape drives and media in a single tape library. This unique capability enables customers to migrate between different media technologies within the same library and eliminates vendor lock-in.

Spectra supports object storage with the BlackPearl^® Converged Storage System which writes data to tape using the Linear Tape File System (LTFS), making archives non-proprietary.

With native support for HPSS, SGI DMF, and Versity Storage Manager, the TFinity ExaScale can meet the storage needs of any HPC environment.

Providing increased performance, enhanced reliability and superior media handling of all three tape media formats, Spectra’s TFinity Tape Library ushers in a streamlined and economical way to backup and archive data. The tape library’s High Performance Transporter (HPT), which is an elegantly engineered and well-built robotic picker, reduces cycle/tape mount time, achieves faster performance, and increases mean time between failures, translating into better reliability. Each TFinity ExaScale tape library is built with two HPTs for dual robotic operations and full redundancy.

Using TeraPack^® containers in place of individual cartridge slots, TFinity ExaScale’s industry-best density delivers up to a 50% reduction in data center floor space versus competing offerings. The highly compact library design fits into a standard rack-row layout, fitting co-located and standardized data center designs that don’t easily accommodate non-standard equipment footprints.

Spectra has continued to advance the technology of its tape libraries with new features such as Time-Based Access Ordering System (TAOS) and TFinity Zoning that provides unsurpassed performance, reliability and scalability.

In addition, Spectra Logic maintains a solutions delivery approach which embodies the entrepreneurial spirit it had during its humble beginning as a startup in 1979. Spectra Logic also embraces a corporate culture that allows it to adapt and innovate at a much quicker rate than its competitors. “Our deep expertise in the HPC storage market and special focus on R&D operations help us to position ourselves among the key players in the industry,” adds Starr. With its ability to understand the challenges in the HPC landscape proactively, the company can develop and incorporate many HPC-specific features into its products. Zealous to sharpen its edge in the industry and to be cohesive toward customer satisfaction, Spectra Logic continues to innovate its family of solutions by investing 18 percent of its annual revenue into R&D.

Furthermore, Spectra’s technical team customizes the build, software and support for their products, which further helps it in expanding its customer base. The company adheres to Agile principles for the manufacture of its products while being attentive to the highest levels of quality. While applying extra emphasis on testing, the firm also deploys a cross-functional quality council to review topics and issues pertaining to designing, building, and delivering best-in-class products for its customers.

Envisioning a solid future, what Spectra has on the anvil is plans to modernize its solutions further to well align with the evolving needs of the industry. With an eye consistently focused on industry trends and customer requirements, Spectra is constantly working with its partners as well as end users to enhance its solutions with cutting-edge features. It also has an extensive roadmap and will be announcing new solutions to the market that will advance their customers’ ability to affordably store, manage, access, share, and preserve their data indefinitely.