This unit was developed to meet the need for automation, improved space efficiency and lower price for peripheral equipment, and was commercialized in 1979 for use with the HITAC M Series.
This was a completely new memory system enabling storage ranging from 35GB (gigabytes) in the smallest configuration to 236GB in the largest configuration. The memory media was magnetic tape cartridges with a capacity of 50MB (megabytes) each.
The main features were as follows:
- Automatic loading of media (Automated handling of magnetic tape cartridges stored in storage case)
- Automation of file management (Mechanization of centralized management of data)
- Random access to large volumes of data (Introduced concept of a virtual memory device)
- Reduced memory cost (Achieved a bit cost close to magnetic tape combined with random access capability)
- High-reliability design (Employed duplication of hardware and new error correction theory)
| Equipment model name | H-8523 High-Capacity Storage System | |
|---|---|---|
| Completion date | 1979 | |
| Max. memory capacity | 35GB–236GB (*1) | |
| Max. number of stored cartridges | 706–4,720 (*1) | |
| Data transfer speed | 874 KB/s(Instantaneous max.)/ 371 KB/s(Effective) | |
| Access time | Stripe search time : 11 msec–13s Load/unload time: Approx. 5s Cartridge movement time: 2.6 s-7.6 s |
|
| Equipment external dimensions | Width :4,623mm–9,186mm (*1) Depth:810mm Height:1,915mm |
|
| Data cartridge | Type of recording media | Magnetic tape (Housed in cylindrical cartridge) |
| Memory capacity | 50.4MB/cartridge | |
| Recording density | Equivalent to 7,023BPI | |
| Recording system | ZM modulation system | |
| Tape dimensions | Width:68.6mm Length:68.6m |
|
| External dimensions | Height:102mm Diameter:51mm |
|
| Connected systems | HITAC-M Series | |
*1: The max.imum number varies depending on the equipment configuration.
