Working out, Petabytes

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An IBM research lab in Almaden, California is working on a storage repository that offers a colossal 120-petabytes of capacity. 120 petabytes translates to nearly 120 million gigabytes.The data repository consists of some 200,000 conventional hard drives. The repository is expected to be able to store around one trillion files and will likely provide the necessary space for detailed simulations of real-world phenomena.The storage array is being developed for an unnamed client that needs a new supercomputer for detailed simulations of real-world phenomena.

The new technologies developed to build this repository could enable similar systems for more conventional commercial computing, says Bruce Hillsberg, Director of Storage Research at IBM and leader of the project.
Most supercomputer storage arrays presently offer a maximum storage capacity of 15 petabytes, which makes IBM's new system considerably larger. The system is said to have a number of tools and redundancies at its disposal so in the event of drive failure, the supercomputer can continue to work at almost full speed.

Rewriter by Joe Saunndalkar and Andy Lui, originally by Jason Huttinson