Quantum DLT 2000 Handbook page 38

could store up to 50GB of uncompressed data using the
DLT 2000 drive and eventually up to 100GB of uncompressed
data using the DLT 4000 drive.
Early in 1994, Digital began to gear up to sell DLT tape drives out-
side its normal user base. The SCSI-2 interface used by DLT drives
was an industry standard that would allow almost any computer to
work with the drives. At about this time, Digital renamed its disk
and tape subsystem group Avastor.
Quantum Enters the Picture
By 1994, Quantum Corporation, a Milpitas, California-based maker
of high performance disk drives since 1980, had built a healthy $2.1
billion business. The company was the leading supplier of 3.5-inch
hard drives for PCs and the third leading supplier of high-capacity
drives (2GB and up). In DLT technology, Quantum saw the oppor-
tunity to acquire advanced technology that could ensure the compa-
ny's leadership position and open new markets for it. Quantum
acquired Digital's disk and tape divisions and, within them, DLT
technology.
Potential for Success
Quantum recognized the undeveloped potential that DLT tech-
nology represented. This technology was the perfect complement to
their established disk drive business. Almost immediately, Quantum
announced new tape drives based on the acquired technology. In
late 1994, Quantum rolled out the DLT 4000 drive and leapt to the
head of the line in performance, capacity and reliability.
By increasing areal density (bits per inch) from 62,500 to 82,000
and tape length by 600 additional feet (to 1,800 feet), Quantum's
storage engineers were able to up the capacity of the DLT 4000 sys-
tem to 20GB (40GB compressed) on a single half-inch DLTtape IV
3.6 HISTORY OF DLTtape TECHNOLOGY