The "L-Series" from Quantum is a line of tape autoloader devices, including the DAT capable DAT Autoloaders, the 2U 16 cartridge SuperLoader 3, and the targeted-to-video-pros SuperLoader 3A.

The DAT Autoloader includes a single DAT 72 drive with an Ultra 2 SCSI LVD interface, and is offered in internal, tabletop, and rackmount configurations. The internal and tabletop versions both offer 6 cartridge slots, while the rackmount can be ordered in 6 or 12 slot flavors. DAT 72, DDS-3, and DDS-4 cartridges are all supported; with a listed transfer rate of up to 7 MB/sec.

The SuperLoader 3 is a 2U enclosure and is populated via cartridge magazines, each with 8 cartridges (two magazines can be loaded, with total support therefore for up to 16 cartridges). The magazines can be removed and cartridges inserted directly into them; or can be loaded via a front loading slot. The box is offered with DLT VS160, DLT-V4, SDLT 600, DLT-S4, LTO-2 HH or LTO-3 drives; with performance ranging from 28.8 GB/hour (DLT VS160) to 245 GB/hour (LTO-3), those rates are for native (uncompressed) data. The host interface depends on the selected drive; with Ultra 160 SCSI provided on the DLT-V4, LTO-2 HH, SDLT 600, and DLT VS160 drives; Ultra 160 or 2 Gb/sec nFC for the LTO-3 drive, and Ultra 320 or 4 Gb/sec nFC for the DLT-S4.

Similar in format to the SuperLoader 3 is the SuperLoader 3A, which is targeted specifically to video professionals. The SuperLoader 3A is also a 2U box with support for up to 16 cartridges; but additionally includes a built-in FTP server, a Gig Ethernet interface port, and the ability to store data on cartridges with a file system directory; features that combine to facilitate NAS-like drag and drop file access from individual PCs on the network (Windows Desktops, Windows Server, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X are all listed as compatible). Further, the storage system is MXF (Material eXchange Format) aware, facilitating the restoration of video sub-clips by timecode. Originally offered with a SDLT 600A drive, the new version of the SuperLoader 3A boasts an LTO-3 drive with a maximum data transfer rate of 68 MB/sec (native, uncompressed data). Each LTO-3 drive features a capacity of 400 GB of uncompressed data.

The new LTO-3 based SuperLoader 3A is expected to be available in the fall with a starting suggested retail price of $11,950.

Visit the Quantum Corporation Web site for further information.