ALTO Archive & Content Library

A secure, high performance media archive with low total

cost of ownership and excellent green credentials.

ALTO is a scalable, flexible & affordable alternative to a Tape Archive offering

faster access for many more users and a very low total cost of ownership
The Tape Archive Legacy and Background
A number of historical arguments favoured data tape as a backup
medium for hard disks, including low cost, high capacity and
robustness. But ultimately the performance of a Data Tape Library
is limited by the complex mechanical systems for selecting and
loading the data tapes; sequential access to the data and the need
to share a limited number of Reading and Writing decks. Tapeless
workflows are already firmly established in Media acquisition and
production and with ALTO the same benefits are now available for
the Archive and Content Library.
Superior Performance Disk Archive
ALTO is a Disk Archive system based on hard disks with
superior performance and lower total cost of ownership
than a Data Tape Archive
Lower Cost of Ownership
ALTO Archives use green disk drives which support spin-
down operation. Any disk which is not reading or writing is
switched off saving power and extending the life of the
disks. Good for the environment and good for the budget.

Alternatives to Data Tape

Hard Disk Drives offer the advantage that each disk is inherently a
self-contained reading and writing device capable of random-
access rather the sequential access of data tape. The next
generation Green drives used in ALTO are designed to be spun
down and switched off when not reading or writing, reducing
power consumption and greatly extending disk life, but new
techniques are needed to protect the media from disk failure.
Data Replication for Archive Protection
Following a disk failure, the lengthy rebuild time for a simple RAID
array can leave content vulnerable to subsequent disk failures.
Alternative protection strategies significantly increase capital cost
and running cost. ALTO uses Data Replication techniques to
offering user selectable protection, minimal recovery time, and
disaster recovery configurations in geographically separated
locations. ALTO disks can be removed for vault storage, or project
transport. Media files can be accessed on an external computer.
Faster Access for more Concurrent Users
ALTO is a purpose-designed Archive with similar data rates
to a Tape Library but much faster access for many more
concurrent users and no planned maintenance
Higher Security than RAID
The ALTO user-configurable Replication offers higher
security than simple RAID systems without the cost and
complexity of Clustered storage, and the ability to remove
disks for vault storage, or project transportation. Media
can be read offline with PC or Mac computers.
Simpler installation
ALTO is easy to install and easy to integrate. It uses low-
cost off-the-shelf Disk Drives which can be added as
needed without downtime. ALTO supports any current or
future disk drive capacity in any combination.

NEWS PRODUCTION - POST PRODUCTION - VOD - INTEGRATED PLAYOUT - ARCHIVE

 ALTO Archive & Content Library
A secure, high performance media archive with low total
cost of ownership and excellent green credentials.

ALTO is a scalable, flexible and affordable local storage or enterprise

archive solution, that makes your media assets more accessible.
Compact, High Density Storage Up to 150 Terabytes in 5U

Scalable for Enterprise Archives Up to 1.2 Petabytes per Rack

Secure Content Replication No RAID Rebuilds No Robotics

User Selectable Protection 2x and 3x Replication

Distributed Systems High Availability & Disaster Recovery

Random Access Faster Find and Load Partial File Restore

Removable Media with Encryption Shelf Storage Options

Powerful Internal Database and Media Management

MAID Architecture Low TCO Good Environmental Credentials

Standard Green disk drives Extended life and low maintenance

Hot Swappable Disk, Fans and Power Supplies

Plug and Play Connectivity Easy to interface and expand

Embedded 64 bit Linux OS Fast & Secure

48 Slots, any Disk Drive size No Migration, no Repack, full utilization

Hybrid solutions Extend the Life and Reduce TCO of Robotic Archives

ALTO IN BROADCAST OPERATIONS CONTACT US

Making your media assets more accessible makes good ALTO Archives & Content Libraries are available through
business sense. News Sports and factual programs are more Broadcast System Integrators and Resellers worldwide. Disk
appealing and your content can be more easily re-purposed Archive Corporation Ltd partners with the industrys leading
for new revenue streams. Media Asset Management; Archive Management and
Workflow Automation specialists to offer high value best-of-
For High capacity Local Storage or Enterprise Archives ALTO is
breed solutions for Broadcast & Media operations
the most cost effective and proven solution for a totally
tapeless workflow. Disk Archive Corporation Ltd.
1210 Parkview, Theale, Berkshire
ALTO is in use in Broadcast operations around the world,
RG7 4TY United Kingdom
optimised for longevity and security of media assets combined
Tel: +44 7712 586543
with low total cost of ownership and low environmental
Mail: no_more_tapes@diskarchive.com
impact. Web: www.diskarchive.com

Disk Archive Corporation Ltd. Registered in England & Wales No. 07594902. Copyright 2011 - All Rights Reserved.
Disk Archive Corporation reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without prior notice. Doc Ref 281011-7