It was increasingly obvious by 1996 that small-scale system users, in addition to large-scale system users, were demanding around-the-clock magnetic-tape automation and smaller units for better space utilization efficiencies. In response, Hitachi began shipping the H-6954-1 in April 1996. The H-6954-1 was a cartridge-based magnetic tape library aimed at small-scale system users that was made more compact, more space efficient, and more energy efficient by rethinking the tape cartridge capacity and the onboard components.
Users could select the best configuration for their needs from seven types of tape bays, ranging in capacity from 316 to 3,016 cartridges in 450-cartridge increments, and from one to eight magnetic tape units with one drive per unit. The magnetic tape units themselves were compact units that supported 36-track formatting and retained the same feature set as the H-6488-31 and H-6488-32. Consequently, these units saved space while providing large amounts of tape storage.
| Model name | H-6954-1 | H-6952-1(for reference) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic tape specifications | width: 1/2 inch, length: 165 m / 330 m | width: 1/2 inch, length: 165 m / 330 m | |
| Number of tape cartridges | 316 — 3,016 | 989 — 8,751 | |
| Storage capacity [TB] (with three-times data compression) | 0.4 — 7.2 | 0.6 — 21.0 | |
| Recording density [bytes/inch] | 76,000 | 38,000/76,000 | |
| Average tape transport time [s] | 10 | 10 | |
| Onboard components | Library controllers | 1 | 1 |
| Accessor robots | 1 | 1 | |
| Magnetic tape controllers | 1 — 4 | 1 — 8 | |
| Magnetic tape units | 1 — 8 | 4 — 32 | |
| Entry ports | 1 | 1 | |
| Exit ports | 1 | 1 | |
| Channel connections | 8 | 16 | |
| Power consumption [KVA] | 1.0 | 1.5 | |
