Tape Storage

For the last 15 years to the modern era of virtual tape libraries, the TS7700 technology has consistently proven its worth to our Z Systems customers, be it ease of use, reliability, durability, and or cost-effectiveness.

Tape virtualization, in particular, has revolutionized the way we manage and access data. It offers the benefits of tape storage, such as long-term data retention and low storage costs, while providing the flexibility and scalability of a virtualized hybrid cloud environment.

IBM's TS7700 Virtual Tape Library stands out in the market for several reasons:  Its advanced features, including high-performance data transfer rates, robust security measures, and seamless integration with various storage environments; make it a compelling choice for corporate organizations around the world.

Moreover, the TS7700's modular design allows for easy scalability, ensuring that it can grow with enterprise business's evolving needs. This flexibility, combined with IBM's commitment to innovation, positions the TS7700 as a leading solution in the virtual tape library market.

On September 23^rd, in a packed London room, we introduced the newest generation enterprise Virtual Tape Library for our zSystem customers, the IBM TS7780 Virtual Tape Library. This high-performance solution introduces several groundbreaking features designed to optimize operations within modern data centers.

Engineered to maximize your data center space, it includes a powerful Power9+ based virtualization engine now delivering up 32Gb FICON bandwidth. 4X the older TS7760 and 2X the current TS7770. With a focus on speed and security, the TS7780 supports internal and external encryption along with the upcoming IBM Z Endpoint Security with end to end in-flight data protection, slated for 2025. Additionally, the new TS7780 boasts double the density per 19 inch frame with HDDs to almost 5X the rack density when choosing SSDs, making it a robust and much more efficient choice for handling extensive Z Systems workloads.

Overview of Key Features

Computational Power & Efficiency

At the heart of the TS7780 lies the powerful Power9+ virtualization engine, featuring two 11-3.9 GHz core processors with a standard 256GB of DDR4 system memory. These enhancements translate directly into improved processing capabilities compared to earlier models which used Power8 and Power9 engines respectively.

Increased Storage Capacities

One significant leap made by the TS7780 involves its vastly increased storage capacity per U of rack-space. While older systems offered limited choices primarily revolving around traditional hard drives, the TS7780 supports both Hard Disc Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs). Specifically, it accommodates up to ten HDD expansion drawers providing a maximum capacity of 1.57 petabytes (PB) for HDD configurations and 2.6PB’s with SSDs. These new capacity points are 2X and almost 5X the previous TS7770. For the HDD option you can add up to 2 expansion frames for a total of just under 8PBs. Note that the initial GA will only support the 1^st expansion frame, with the 2^nd expansion frame coming in late 2025. 

Robust Encryption Protocols

Security remains a top priority in today's digital age, where sensitive business assets are frequently stored and vulnerable to cyber threats. To mitigate these risks, our internal and external encryption solutions are designed to provide robust protection. In addition, in the very near future, the TS7780 will support IBM Z Endpoint Security. This means that our customers can trust that their data is safe and secure, with a strong defense against breaches and unauthorized access.

Synergistic Advancements Across IBM Platforms

The TS7780 introduction continues with synergy across IBM platforms, one of the key attributes that our zSystem customers continually stress as the key reasons for choosing the TS7700 for their backup, archive and object storage needs.  They include, but are not limited to:

• No additional z/OS software required
• Integrated with DFSMS support with full DFSMS volume granular policy management
• Full access to IBM proprietary tape library commands
• Dynamic policy updates
• CUIR automated device online/offline processing
• IBM Z intelligent, allowing efficiencies such as zero RPO synchronous copy speeds
• User commands (i.e. LI REQ) and tools support
• Can partition with z/VM, z/VSE, z/TPF
• End to end FICON CRC protection
• Replication, Logical WORM, Cloud, Physical

Summary Table: Model Specifications Overview

These innovations collectively contribute towards achieving a remarkable increase in overall operational capabilities, providing users with enhanced performance metrics across various parameters. This makes the TS7780 a compelling choice for businesses seeking robust solutions tailored to meet their evolving needs effectively.

Learn more about TS7780 in: https://www.ibm.com/products/ts7700

Data sheet: www.ibm.com/downloads/documents/us-en/107a02ea26c8facc