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VXA is a tape backup format originally created by Ecrix and now owned by Tandberg Data. After the merger between Ecrix and Exabyte, VXA was produced by Exabyte Corporation. On November 20, 2006, Exabyte was purchased by Tandberg Data.
Exabyte and Ecrix describe the data format as "packet" technology as opposed to "linear" technology. This is a variation on helical scan technology. Instead of writing data in continuous, predefined linear tracks, data is written in addressable packets along the tape. The claim is that this gives better reliability and error recovery as well as being able to adapt to different data rates.
The VXA format competes mainly against the DDS, SLR, AIT, Travan, and DLT-V formats.
Generations
Overview
Generation VXA-1 VXA-2 VXA-3 VXA-4 VXA-5Release Date 1999 2002 2005 TBA TBA
Max Capacity (GB) 33 80 160 320 640
Max Speed (MB/s) 3 6 12 24 48
VXA-3
Exabyte released two different product lines based on VXA-3 technology, VXA-320 in 2005 and VXA-172 in 2006. VXA-172 drives are limited to 86 GB per tape cartridge, but can be unlocked (for a fee) to remove the limit. They are otherwise the same.
Notes
- Data Capacity figures above are for uncompressed data. Exabyte assumes a 2x compression factor in their marketing material.
External links
- ECMA 316 Specification of VXA-1.
- ECMA 222 Specification of ALDC, the data compression standard for VXA-1.
- VXA Alliance
Linear Three quarter inch (19 mm)
Half inch (12.65 mm)
Eight millimeter (8 mm)
Quarter inch (6.35 mm)
Eighth inch (3.81 mm)
Stringy (1.58–1.9 mm)
Helical Three quarter inch (19 mm)
Half inch (12.65 mm)
Eight millimeter (8 mm)
Eighth inch (3.81 mm)
List of Ecma standards