Data Storage Tapes Are Extinct – Aren’t They?
Many people consider the use of tape for data storage as a thing of the past. Those people are generally not in any major business field, or are running perhaps a small computer based business without a guaranteed requirement to recover information in any unforeseen event. However for those who are serious about data storage, tape has been in the computer industry for several decades now and is certainly not something that has phased out over time.
Why is this you ask? Well the main reason is that data tape storage gives a supremely robust means of data storage. The tapes store data and code and are generally a lower cost system than hard disk options. However we are all aware that hard disk data storage options are reducing in cost very quickly, that does not however mean that they are increasing in the ability to be more solid storage options. Tape is still the preferred choice of professionals for long term archives, often in conjunction with a disk data storage system, if the reasons are not purely cost based.
In what some consider the dark ages of computer data storage systems, tapes were the predominant medium used for storage. What is not common it seems is that they are still used and are in fact considered fast reliable and more likely to be permanent storage options than data disks are.
The idea of “near-line” storage was developed, and still exists in the world of mainframe, AS/400 and large scale UNIX computing. Many years ago if a request to recover a file was received this would be in the format of a message displaying on the operators screen requesting that they physically locate an open reel tape. The message would also advise the tape ID or label reference and would also tell them which drive the reel should be loaded to. After the instructions were followed this would then result in a short delay where the operator would recover the data from the tape.
Now however the operator has been replaced with a form of robotic tape library, and the open reel tape by tape cartridge that can be handled mechanically (for example IBM 3590 and TS1120, STK 9840, 9940 and T10000, and of course LTO Ultrium and DLT). The process developed from there to the Hierarchical Storage Management, often called HSM, and offers a more “infinite” storage. The use of the term infinite refers to the amount of space available, tape drives and media available.
There were attempts to introduce HSM into the market with intermediate storage options such as Optical Disk and the use of tape for longer term archival. However this process came and went throughout the 1990’s and generally tape was used as a backup and retrieval medium.
What is the Difference with Tape and Disk?
Aside from the obvious differences physically, the low-level recording technologies using general concepts are no different between data tapes and data disks. Both use magnetism to encode data on their respective receptive recording mediums. The main difference relates to their implementation and usages.
The short answer to “what is the difference” is that disk is a random access medium and tape is a sequential one. Disks are usually pre-formatted with a set number of recordable “sectors” whereas tape is written on-the-fly.
What is Better – Data Tape or Data Disk?
Perhaps one of the most important facts to consider with a risk management program related to data storage is that recovery of data from a data tape that has had impact or water damage is a more likely proposition than data recovery from a data disk that has had impact or water damage. While storage of a data disk may be a more compact option, the ability to recover important information is more likely the reason that you are creating the backup system for your information and therefore there really is no question.
If you ask the data recovery professionals which is the preferred method for data storage they will almost always tell you that data tape is the best option available to a business that is serious about data retention and the possibility to recover previous data that has been archived. They will in many cases of course suggest that you use both systems, one for the ease of data access with data disks for quick information recovery but the use of data tapes as well to ensure long term retention of important business information.
You save your information because you want the opportunity to get it back if there is a requirement in the future therefore you should be looking at the best option for information retention more so than just ease of use, ease of storage or any misconceptions you have regarding data tape. Ask the experts and see what response they give you for your important business backup data.
About the Author
Michiel Van Kets writes articles for Altirium, an expert tape data recovery company in the UK providing high end specialists with deep understandings on tape recovery formats whether on ARCserve, Windows, Tivoli or NetWorker platforms, giving on-going litigations and investigations an edge with the evidence uncovered. The company has also successfully dealt with data challenges in LTO Ultrium formats leading to LTO tape recovery, even if data appeared to be erased or written over.
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