Teracart series DVD libraries
By Michael Lvov

One more company which are producing data archiving system is Japanese firm Asaca.The base system offered to solve material archiving and storage tasks is Teracart series DVD library. One of the main component of this system is software application Universal SuperStor of American company U.S. Design. Recently new version 2.0 of this software came out. It is certified for working with Asaca digital virtual libraries (DVL) of AM 250, 750 and 1450 of Teracart series.

Due to module architecture of these libraries they can carry up to 11,600 double sided 9.4 GB discs (rewritable and recordable). Software is based on Jawa language and provides Teracart system with data cashing and allows the use of algorithm and technology of scheduling in data operations increasing total system efficiency. Before getting into Universal SuperStor (USS) description let's talk a bit about hardware part of Teracart.

These libraries can operate with different disk type (DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-R/W) simultaneously.

AM-1450DVD provides storage density of 33.3 TB/sq. m (this parameter is connected to footprint of device) which allows to pretend for most high storage density in this class of devices. AM-1450DVD can has 3...24 disk drives and to be configured for certain tasks. It is possible to get archive volume up to 13.6 TB stored on 1450 disks in one chassis. Interfaces: SCSI SE/LVD/HVD; RAID/RAIL; Fiber Optics. Maximum of efficiency is being achieved by using of 9.4 GB double sided DVD-RAM disks. Disk replacement time is 3.5 seconds. When combining up to eight systems into one complex total storage volume reaches 109 TB.

AM-1450DVD system is most powerful in the AM line. Other models - AM-750DVD and AM-250DVD - have mostly the same functions but less storage volume.

Library Internet interface

Recently new line of Teracart systems came out - RA-750DVD and RA-1450DVD archive video servers. These devices combine together storage systems and video servers functions. These flexible systems allows expansion and they use rewritable DVD-RAM disks. One of the most important features of new systems is browsing capability of file which is under recording process as well as 1...4 video streams simultaneous playout. For material archiving there are two modes - online and near-line. RA series is module one which allows to start with a single module expand the system up to required size in the future.

Teracart Library

The main characteristics of RA-750DVD and RA-1450DVD archiving video servers:

• MPEG-2/MPEG-1 compatibility
• integrated functions of encoding/viewing/decoding/control
• broadcast quality - bit rate of 1,5...14 Mbps for 4:2:0 and 10...50 Mbps for 4:2:2
• analog and SDI input/output
• 20 or 40 hours storage online (72 or 144 GB HDD)
• up to 30,000 hours near-line storage
• network control and search capabilities

Now it is time to say the few words about Teracart system control software. Platform independent USS 2.0 provides file recording in standard Universal Disk Format (UDF) which allows to share the data with no limits. USS 2.0 is based on Java and HTML languages and RPC protocol. User interface provides simple data control in real time mode, giving authorized corporate users abilities of access to material and browsing it either via local or global network.

Material provided by Asaca/Shibasoku Corporation Of America.