Sun Microsystems has introduced its StorageTek Virtual Tape Library Value System, the first storage offering built on the Sun Fire X4500 server and the latest addition to the StorageTek product family powered by the Solaris OS.

The offering is designed to meet the needs of small to medium businesses or remote office/back office operations for the enterprise.

The device is an all-in-one, pre-configured appliance, which Sun claims simplifies storage management with a single, simple user interface and works with the ZFS file system to eliminate volume management.

The Sun Fire X4500 server, code-named Thumper, is a single, integrated system that combines a high-performance four-way x64 server with 24TB of SATA disk storage in a four unit rack space.

"Our customers are swimming in a sea of data – a company's most important asset – and need tape storage integration solutions that don't break the bank," said Nigel Dessau, senior vice-president, Storage with Sun.

"The new Virtual Tape Library Value system is an economical answer, as it runs on the Solaris OS, delivers 24TB of disk capacity and is available at a very affordable price-point."

The Sun StorageTek VTL-Value is available immediately for the starting price of $84,995.