XenData, the global provider of data storage solutions, has launched the compact X1 Archive Appliance. This connects to a network and allows file-based applications to seamlessly archive to LTO external drives, Sony Optical Disc Archive (ODA) drives or cloud object storage. The appliance runs Windows 10 Pro and is powered by XenData Archive Series and FS Mirror software.
   

The archive appears locally as a single logical drive – the X: drive – and there are multiple ways to write to and restore files from it:

• Share the X: drive over your network and write to it and restore from it like any disk-based share.
• Use FS Mirror to synchronise one or more locally accessible file systems or file shares to the LTO archive.
• Use FS Mirror to create archive drop-boxes on your network that automatically move files to the archive.
• Use third-party applications that integrate with XenData’s XML API to archive and restore files.

The X1 is available in three models: for LTO external drives, ODA external drives and for the cloud. Each model is based on Intel NUC hardware and includes a high-endurance 1.92 TB SSD cache for enhanced performance.

The X1 for LTO connects to an LTO external drive via Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3. For LTO drives with SAS connections, they may be connected via a Thunderbolt to SAS converter. LTO-8 and earlier generations of drives are supported by the X1 which writes to LTO using either LTFS or TAR formats. The managed archive is massively scalable as the appliance manages an unlimited number of LTO cartridges and up to two billion files. It enables file transfers that span across cartridges and, when using two or more attached LTO drives, it supports automatic cartridge replication.

The X1 for ODA supports Gen 1, 2 and 3 drives with cartridge capacities up to 5.5 TB. They connect to the X1 via USB 3. As with LTO, the X1 manages an unlimited number of ODA cartridges and it supports file transfers that use the 1.92 TB cache to span cartridges.

The X1 model for archiving to cloud storage supports multiple clouds including AWS S3, Azure and Wasabi S3. The system may be configured to replicate files to different cloud locations and different cloud providers.

The Appliance securely integrates into an existing network environment. It conforms to the Microsoft security model based on Active Directory and may be easily added to an existing Domain or Workgroup.