Features - Storage Innovations:

KANO INTROS BLUE-LASER RACK-MOUNTABLE LIBRARY

Kano Technologies will introduce AXIS BLUE, its first 67-disc, rack-mountable PDD library May 11 at NETWORLD+INTEROP in Las Vegas. The new library features one to four Sony blue-laser optical-disc drives mounted in a rack-mountable 6U chassis -- and brings the popular PDD (Professional Disc for DATA) format to the network storage environment. With 67 single-sided 23.3GB rewritable or write-once (worm) PDD disc media, the AXIS-BLUE provides 1.56TB of data storage. It is ideal for professional data-intensive storage applications such as document and medical imaging, enterprise data management, graphics design, audio/video and others.

"Our policy is to offer the best library systems in the industry," said Richard Young, president of Kano. "We chose the Sony PDD drive for our AXIS-BLUE line because, with an 11 MB per second sustained transfer rate, it is an excellent candidate for replacing aging, outmoded MO systems. It has speed, high capacity and an airtight structure that protects both the drive mechanism and the disc. We believe that the PDD format has the best-planned path for future higher capacity and performance improvements."

Kano's AXIS-BLUE libraries are scalable and are equipped with SCSI interfaces which allow up to three libraries to be daisy chained together in a standard network rack. The industrial-grade robotic disc changer and SCSI controller are designed for an MSBF of 1.5 million cycles. AXIS-BLUE is available now at a starting MSRP of $18,870.

"All of our libraries are manufactured for us by Kubota Comps Corporation of Japan," Young added. "Kubota has been building large-capacity library systems for more than 10 years and has demonstrated their engineering expertise in obtaining 24-7 reliability."

All Kano products feature exclusive, custom-designed industrial enclosures that minimize vibrations and dust infiltration. Each chassis has high-volume, low-noise fan ventilation, specially engineered to maintain the optimum operating temperature for maximum drive life and dependability. All enclosures are CE-certified and UL-approved. Kano products are available from Kano solution providers.