THE UK DATA STORAGE NETWORK
(DSNet-UK)
C David Wright
School of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics University of Exeter
The UK Data Storage Scene
54 UK Companies
15 UK Universities
According to UK Directory of Information Storage Manufacturing and R&D (2nd edition - DTI Publication - see http://www.mackintoshconsultants.co.uk)
Involved in some aspect of data storage drive manufacture
components and sub-assemblies test and manufacturing equipment consumables and services
HP Bristol - digital tape systems - 1000+ employees
Seagate Northern Ireland - HDD read/write heads - 1500+ employees Infortrend - Surrey - RAID controllers - 5 employees
Background to DSNetUK
Follows on from a successful EPSRC funded network The (Magnetic) Data Storage Network
that ran from 2000-2003 and whose aim was to enhance scientific understanding of storage techniques and processes
had 7 industrial and 10 academic members drawn from around EU
See poster P11 at lunch-time poster session for further information DSNetUK is funded by DTI as part of Link-ISD programme
£50k for 3 years starting April 1st 2004 - with matched funding from company members
Aims of DSNetUK
To promote and grow an inclusive industrial-university network to
determine appropriate goals, aspirations and development strategies for the UK's data storage research, technology and manufacturing base. Routes for the successful implementation of such strategies will
then be explored and put in place. Likely to include: development of UK Data Storage 'Road Map' general and topical meetings and workshops
invited addresses by world-leading (industrial) storage experts staff exchanges
Network targets and scope
A UK Roadmap/strategy document by the end of month 9 (Dec 2004), plus: 1 general and 2 topical meetings per year
1 invited world-leading industrial speaker per year 30 person/days exchanges per year
joint funding applications totalling 1 million per year
Aim to double the number of industrial members by month 18
Technological scope and priorities of the network will of course be heavily influenced by the outcome of the UK Roadmap exercise.
However, likely focus is :
magnetic recording (disk and tape)
optical data storage (particularly phase-change) scanning probe based storage
MRAM and PCRAM memories storage systems
Recent Activities
Establish representative steering committee
two meetings held - May 11th and Nov 2nd
Set up web-site
http://www.DSNetUK.org
Inform community - seek new members
IEEE Distinguished Lecturer Meeting - May 21st, Manchester DTI Photonics Conf presentation - June 2nd, London
Steering Committee Members
Chairman Eddie Townsend (Xyratex, Havant)
Co-ordinator David Wright (University of Exeter)
Secretary Paul Nutter (University of Manchester)
Members
Simon Gittens (Hewlett Packard, Bristol) Eric Mayes (NanoMagnetics)
Barry Middleton (University of Manchester) David Jenkins (University of Plymouth)
Andrew Pauza (Plasmon Data Systems)
Start-up membership
Industrial
NanoMagnetics - Bristol (Eric Mayes)
Philips - Southampton (Simon Bramwell & John Kinghorn) Plasmon - Cambridge (Andrew Pauza)
Xyratex - Havant (Eddie Townsend)
Academic
University of Aston (Prof John Sullivan - tribology)
University of Central Lancashire (Prof Phil Bissell - noise in magnetic media) University of Exeter (Prof C David Wright - storage materials and systems) University of Glasgow (Prof John Chapman - electron microscopy)
University of Manchester (Prof Barry Middleton - storage materials & systems) University of Plymouth (Prof Des Mapps - storage materials and systems)
Industrial members - Xyratex
Sites in UK, USA,
Singapore, China
Malaysia
Fibre channel RAID - 690MBytes/s with up to 35TBytes storage
Industrial members - Plasmon
Sites in UK and USA,
12 inch TrueWorm technology 5.25 inch MO jukebox technology
Ultra Density Optical technology (UDO)
Industrial members - Philips Systems Laboratory
Sites Worldwide
Systems Lab in Southampton focuses on IC design for future
optical disk formats (Multi-layer DVD, blu-ray, MAMMOS,
near-field systems, portable formats etc)
Media Optical Module X-Y mechanism Media Optical Module X-Y mechanism Optical card Portable blue
Industrial members - NanoMagnetics
Site in Bristol UK
Biologicallly inspired particulate media for high-density magnetic storage
regular 8nm diameter with 4nm ferromagnetic core Focusing on low-cost, high-density flexible storage e.g. miniature floppy for removable applications with DVD-like capacity
New members - since start up
Infinite Data Storage Ltd Arithmatica, Warwick
Seagate, Northern Ireland Hewlett Packard, Bristol BBC
P3 Holographics
Ilika Technologies Ltd Alps Electric (UK) Ltd Hiden Analytical Ltd Pulstec Industrial Co Ltd Nordiko XenData Photo-Sonics International Ltd Plasma Quest University of Southampton University of Hull University of Nottingham Imperial College London University of York
Queens University Belfast University of Oxford
University of Salford UCL
University of Durham
Nottingham Trent University University of Leeds
University of Wales, Swansea INSIC USA
Future Activities
Develop UK Data Storage Strategy document - a UK Data Storage Roadmap Focused technical meetings on specific topics
Exchanges of staff (particularly between universities and industry) Invited KeyNote speakers
Co-ordinated action on fundraising - DTI, EU, EPSRC
Mass storage families and markets
Mass storage families Magnetic recording
hard disks
magnetic tapes (analogue & digital), floppy disks etc
Optical recording
CD, DVD, Blu-Ray
magneto-optic (Sony Minidisc) etc
Solid state storage
Compact flash card,
memory stick, USB drive etc
Emerging technologies
-MRAM, PCRAM
SPM-based storage (MEMS-based storage)
Roadmap for storage density
20 25
100 Tbit/sq.in. 1 Pbit/sq.in 10 Pbit/sq.in Atoms ? Molecules ? 30% CGR 100% CGRHDD industry aiming for 1Tbit/sq.in. storage density by 2008 to 2012
