Backup Tape Technology Is Clearly The Winner

By Author: Frank Miller
Total Articles: 598
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Hard disk and backup tape are the two major data storage mediums used by most of the organizations.

Performance, scalability, operational cost, durability and compatibility are the fundamental deciding aspects of your data protection strategy. But the backup tape technology clearly out shines the disk storage mediums in the above mentioned performance criterion. Backup tape solutions are much cheaper and their operational costs are many times lesser than the disk storage systems.

SDLT tape, AIT tape, DLT tape, DDS/DAT tape, Travan tape, VXA tape and LTO ultrium are the backup industry’s leading tape formats.

Data compression is a unique feature of backup tape drives that makes it superior and more advantageous than disk recording mediums. Data compression ratio featured by backup tape technologies are 2:1 (SDLT, VXA, LTO, DLT tape), 2.6:1 (AIT tape) and 3:1 (3590 Enterprise tapes). This means that the recording capacity of backup tapes can be double and even tripled like in 3590 Enterprise tape format. That allows the customers to easily pack larger volumes of business critical data onto fewer ...
... cartridges.

Before the introduction of LTO tape technology, the transfer rate of hard disks was greater than the tape formats. But now the transfer rate of LTO tape format outclasses the SATA RAID6 and RAID5 disk-based technologies. The latest LTO5 drives efficiently perform write/read functions at 140 Mbps, while the disk storage systems deliver only half the LTO-5 tape format’s transfer rate.

Disk storage technology took the lead with the development of SATA drives that feature 2 Terabytes of recording capacity. But again the winner is tape storage technology, as 3 TB compressed data can be backed up on a single LTO-5 tape.

Up-gradation of the backup medium is another vital factor to be considered when comparing the backup tape and disk-based technologies. Expansion of disk storage mediums is very costly. The users of disk-based systems have to install a lot more hardware, which leads to higher operating and maintenance costs. On the other hand the backup tape formats can be seamlessly up-graded much less expensively. Backward write/read compatibility is offered by the backup tape drives, which helps to protect your technology investments. With the exceptional backward compatibility, the users can still utilize the previous generation tape resources even after migrating to the next tape version.

Some of the best selling tape cartridges are listed below:

Dell LTO2 tape
340-8701

HP DAT-72 tape
C8010A

Maxell LTO 5 tape
229323

Fuji DLT-4 tape
26112100

Sony LTO 2 tape
LTX200GWW

Exabyte VXA-2 tape
11100221

Dell LTO 4 tape
341-4640

HP LTO 3 tape
C7973A

IBM SLR-100 Tape
35L0968

Tape storage formats feature data encryption, advanced error correction systems and WORM (write once, read many) functionality, which help to assure long term data reliability and regulatory compliance.

Hard disks are not tough and durable like the backup tape cartridges. Backup data tapes can withstand shocks, bumps, heavy duty cycles, repeated loads/unloads, harsh working conditions and even accidental drops. That’s not all; the users can reliably extract data even from damaged tape media.

Finally, the conclusion is that the backup tape technology is more flexible, reliable, intelligent and safer than the disk based systems.

All device and product names mentioned are trademarks and are the sole property of their respective owners.

Frank Miller is the Marketing Manager of Backuptape and markets DLT tape and SDLT tape. He has vast experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping buyers who have the backup needs and guide clients about the technology.

Frank Miller
3984 Washington Blvd #503 Fremont CA 94538
Tel: 888-686-8273
Fax: 888-449-5050
Email: sales@backuptapes.net