INFOBrief
Dell™ PowerVault™ 122T
Autoloader
Key Points
The Dell™ PowerVault™
122T tape autoloader
delivers a rack-optimized,
cost-effective way to
automatically backup
mission critical data on
PowerEdge™ servers or
PowerVault NAS servers.

The Dell™ PowerVault™ 122T is an extremely cost effective
automated backup solution, offering an ideal automation entry point
for small to medium organizations or an excellent distributed backup
solution for remote offices or workgroups within a large enterprise.

The rack dense 2U form factor is ideal for space-conscious
environments, especially for backup of rack dense servers that may
require an external tape backup solution.

Designed for ease of use, the PowerVault 122T has an intuitive LCD
panel. This interface allows users familiar with managing tape drives
to comfortably migrate to an autoloader and operate it just like a tape
drive. Users can also integrate PowerSuites Data Protection software
for advanced backup management features.

DLT VS 80 is a cost-effective solution that boasts backward read
compatibility with previous DLT technologies so it works with existing
DLT infrastructure for legacy protection.
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April 2002

The PowerVault 122T DLT VS 80 provides for a maximum capacity of
320GB native, 640GB compressed.1 The tape drive performance –
maximum data transfer rate – is 3MB/second native, 6MB/second
compressed.1 In a normal 8 hour ‘backup window’ the 122T can be
expected to backup up to 170GB.

The PowerVault 122T has one drive and eight cartridge slots so
customers can perform nightly incremental backups, a full backup on
Sunday, and still have a dedicated slot for a cleaning cartridge.

The PowerVault 122T tape autoloader is certified, tested and validated
to work on Dell servers and is backed by Dell technical service and
support. Customers can rely on Dell’s proven leadership and quality to
help ensure their data is protected and accessible.
Background
Increasing Storage Capacity, Decreasing Backup Window
At the same time that typical server storage capacity is increasing, the
backup window -- the time allotted to perform the backup -- is shrinking,
and for organizations that operate seven days a week, twenty four hours a
day, that window is approaching non-existent. As a result, these
organizations require ever-increasing capacity and performance for
backup products.
In today’s digital economy, information is the fuel that drives business.
Ensuring that one of a company’s most vital assets – its data – is protected
and secure is critical for success. Tape backup is one of the most costeffective solutions in practice today, and is widely used in most networked
environments.
Space Constraints Drive Rack-Optimized Solutions
One of the more dramatic trends in the server market is the recent
movement towards rack-optimized buying behavior. While storage
capacity is always increasing, the requirement for rack-mounted servers
has increased even more. Space is at a premium, some ultra slim servers
don’t have room for internal tape backup, and space conscious
environments often don’t have room for a tower oriented backup solution.
With the PowerVault 122T autoloader, users now have an ideal automated
backup solution for their rack-mounted server applications.
1
The actual compression achieved by the drive depends on the data that is being compressed.
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April 2002
Product Description
The PowerVault 122T Autoloader is a one-drive, eight-cartridge frontloading autoloader that incorporates DLT VS80 tape drives. It is designed
to support the backup needs of Dell PowerEdge servers and PowerVault
NAS servers, offering customers an affordable, rack-optimized, automated
tape backup solution for their mission critical data. Its slim 2U height (1U =
1.75 inches) can be ordered as a rack mountable or desk-side model. If
ordered as a rack mount solution, Dell provides rapid rails for efficient
installation.
Using the PowerVault 122T Autoloader is very similar to using a tape
drive. The features are similar and the user interface allows customers to
operate the autoloader very much like a tape drive. But choosing an
automated solution can have advantages over single drive solutions.
Autoloaders can help reduce IT overhead and eliminate a top cause of data
loss – human intervention. And with the cost-effective PowerVault 122T,
customers can now purchase an automated solution for the price of a
stand-alone drive.
The PowerVault 122T can be direct attached to a single application server
for dedicated backups or shared among multiple servers as a consolidated
backup solution. The PowerVault 122T DLT VS 80 autoloader offers the
capacity and performance tape technology that the space sensitive and
price sensitive market demands, with a maximum transfer rate of 3MB/s
(native) and media capacity of 320GB (native). The reduced parts count
and low power requirements of the DLT VS 80 tape drive help increase
product reliability and maintainability.
The optional barcode reader is ideal for users who want to organize and
document their tapes and backups and have an easy way to find a given
backup.
Highlights

Rack dense automated backup solution

Excellent automation entry point

Ideal for remote or distributed server backups or LAN backups

Great for application servers that need unattended backup

Maximum capacity of 640GB (compressed)

Maximum backup rate of 21.6GB/hr (compressed)

Backwards read compatible with DLT 4000

Backward read and write compatible with DLT1 drive written
cartridges

Easy to use LCD panel and integration with PowerSuites software
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April 2002
Backup Software Supported
The following list of Backup Software is fully Dell tested and supported for
the PowerVault 122T Tape Autoloader:

CA ARCserve 2000 for Windows NT®/2000

ARCserve 7.0 for NetWare

Veritas Backup Exec 8.6 for Windows NT/2000

Veritas Backup Exec 8.5 for NetWare®
The PowerVault 122T offers many advantages over the existing
PowerVault 120T; see Table 1. How to import cartridges into the
PowerVault 122T is shown in Figure 1.
Table 1
Feature Comparison of PowerVault 120T and PowerVault 122T
Autoloaders
Feature
PowerVault 122T DLT
VS80
PowerVault 120T DLT1
Number of drives
1
1
Number of cartridges
8
7
Form Factor
2U Rack optimized or
Table Top
5U Tower
Capacity (compressed)
640GB
560GB
Reliability (MTBF)
250,000 hours
200,000 hours
Transfer Rate
(compressed)
6MB/s
6MB/s
Barcode Reader
Optional at time of
purchase
N/A
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April 2002
Figure 1
Importing cartridges into the PowerVault 122T
The PowerVault122T features an intuitive and comprehensive automated
management interface. The PowerVault 122T can be managed from an
LCD panel or through the backup software. The LCD panel has a 4-button
keypad with a 2-line, 16-character backlit LCD menu. Using the
LCD/keypad, administrators can perform the following functions: export a
cartridge (out of) and import (into) the autoloader, load and unload a
cartridge into the drive, clean the drive, configure and update the
autoloader firmware, diagnostics, and many other functions.
The PowerVault 122T has eight cartridges that rotate in a carousel around
the center mounted DLT VS 80 drive and insert into the drive one at a time.
For an internal view of the PowerVault 122T that shows the carousel, see
Figure 2.
Figure 2
Internal View of the PowerVault 122T
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Markets/Applications
The PowerVault 122T Autoloader is a perfect complement to the small, 1U
and 2U servers and similar NAS storage products that have been very
successful. The PowerVault 122T was designed specifically for users who
are looking for a simple and affordable automated solution for backing up
data on their servers. The low-cost PowerVault 122T provides an
automated solution for the price of a stand-alone SDLT or LTO drive.
Users who would benefit from the PowerVault 122T include the following:

Small to medium businesses with small IT staffs

Distributed workgroups within an enterprise with overwhelmed IT
staffs

Typical drive users ready to move to automation

Cost conscious customers

Customers that require ease of use

Customers that require rack-optimized products
Features and Benefits
The features and benefits of the PowerVault 122T are show in Table 2.
Table 2
Features and benefits of the PowerVault 122T
Feature
Description
Benefit
Eight Cartridges
The eight DLT VS80 tape
cartridges rotate in a carousel
around the center-mounted VS
80 or LTO drive and insert into
the drive one at a time.
Reliability, Data Protection,
Time Savings
Capacity*
The PowerVault 122T can
store up to 640GB of
compressed data.
High Capacity
Optional barcode
reader
The PowerVault 122T can be
ordered with a barcode reader
Time Savings
Cost-effective backup
solution
The PowerVault 122T can be
purchased for the same price
Value
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Automatic cartridge loading
helps minimize human
intervention and error and
can save time spent on
swapping tapes
The barcode reader puts
inventory organization at your
fingertips
April 2002
Feature
Description
Benefit
as a standalone drive
Reliability
The PowerVault 122T is
designed as a highly reliable
automated solution, with an
MTBF greater than 100,000
hours with 50% duty cycle and
life cycle of greater than
120,000 cycles
Investment Protection
LCD Display / LED
Indicators
The PowerVault 122T is
essentially an accessorized
drive with a natural language
menu driven interface. Clear
menu driven commands and
four-button keypad with 2-line,
16-character backlit LCD
menu offer intuitive
management.
Ease of Use
Desk-side or 2U Rack
mount configuration
The PowerVault 122T can be
ordered as a desk-side or slim
2U rack mount solution.
Versatile Solution,
Excellent Data Density
* The actual capacity achieved by the drive depends on the data that is
being compressed
Key Customer Benefits
Cost-Effective Backup Solution
The PowerVault 122T is an extremely affordable automated backup
solution, making it ideal for cost sensitive customers or first time
autoloader purchasers. It provides the power to meet the backup needs of
small to medium organizations, remote offices or distributed workgroups
within a large enterprise.
Revolutionary Rack-Optimized Solution
Using industry standard DLT technology, the PowerVault 122T autoloader
incorporates the optimal configuration of one drive and eight data
cartridges in a small, space saving 2U form factor. With eight cartridge
slots, customers can perform nightly incremental backups, a full backup on
Sunday, and still have a dedicated slot for a cleaning cartridge
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Dell Certified and Supported
The PowerVault 122T tape autoloader is certified, tested and validated to
work on Dell servers and is backed by Dell technical service and support.
Customers can rely on Dell’s proven leadership and quality to ensure their
data is protected and accessible.
Automated Data protection
Automated backups can offer increased manageability, save time,
minimize errors caused by human intervention and help to improve
business productivity by saving staff time. All this while backing up a
company’s critical data, protecting it and helping to ensure it’s secure.
Versatile Backup Solution
The PowerVault 122T can be used as a dedicated backup device for an
email or other application server, or it can be utilized as a network backup
device for a small workgroup. It can be ordered as a slim 2U rack mounted
solution or as a desk-side unit.
Easy to Use
The PowerVault 122T is very similar to using a tape drive, with a similar
user interface that allows customers to operate the autoloader just like a
tape drive. The simple user interface uses an LCD display to operate the
loader and is essentially an accessorized drive with a natural language
menu driven interface.
Optimal Backup Configuration
The design of the PowerVault 122T incorporates one drive and 8
cartridges. The eight DLT VS 80 tape cartridges rotate in a carousel around
the center mounted DLT VS 80 drive and insert into the drive one at a time.
This one drive, eight cartridges configuration is ideal for IT managers as
there is a slot for each day of the week for daily backups, as well as a slot
that may be dedicated for a cleaning cartridge.
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April 2002
Service and Support

Three-year limited warranty1

Three years of standard next business day parts replacement and one
year of next business day on-site2 labor.

Pre-Failure Alert Program for storage systems with a hard disk drive

7-day/24-hour Lifetime Telephone Technical Support for
troubleshooting and diagnosis of Dell hardware

7-day/24-hour E-support services featuring extensive online support
capabilities
1For
a complete copy of our Guarantees or Limited Warranties, please write Dell USA, L.P.,
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682.
2Service
may be provided by third-party. Availability varies. Technician will be dispatched if
necessary following phone-based troubleshooting. To receive next business day service, Dell
must notify the service provider before 5pm (depending on service contract) customer time.
Availability varies.
This INFOBrief is for informational purposes only. DELL MAKES NO WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS INFOBRIEF. Dell cannot be responsible for errors in
typography or photography.
Dell, PowerVault and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation. Other
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©Copyright 2002 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any
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Dell Enterprise Systems Group
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April 2002