Ecrix, Exabyte Merge
Ecrix, makers of the VXA-1 tape drive, and Exabyte, makers of high-performance MammothTape drives used in large network backup situations, have announced plans to merge. The merged company will be able to offer a broader range of products (keeping both the VXA and MammothTape brands) and plans to integrate VXA’s innovative packet technology and non-tracking format with MammothTape’s high performance read and write technologies. The merger improves Exabyte’s cash position and also brings Ecrix co-founder Juan Rodriguez back to Exabyte, which he had previously helped found. From the standpoint of owners of the Ecrix VXA-1 tape drives, the merger would appear to be good news, because it puts the format closer to widespread industry support. For more details on the Ecrix VXA-1 tape drive, see "Ecrix’s VXA-1 Tape Drive: Big Fast Backups" in TidBITS 569.