Data Compression Considerations - Quantum Tape Drive LTO-3 User Manual

Chapter 4 Theory
Data Compression
Data Compression
4
Considerations
36
symbols point back to the original data string, using fewer characters to
represent the strings. Because these smaller symbols are substituted for
the longer strings of data, more data can be stored in the same physical
space.
Some important benefits result from data compression in tape drives:
• The same amount of information can be stored on a smaller length of
tape.
• More data can be stored on a given length of tape.
• Performance can more closely parallel to that of high-transfer-rate
computers.
• More information can be transferred in the same time interval.
In an effective data-compression method, several factors are important:
• The amount of compression. The amount of compression is measured
by the compression ratio. This ratio compares the amount of uncom-
pressed data to the amount of compressed data. It is obtained by
dividing the size of the uncompressed data by the size of the com-
pressed data.
• The speed with which data is compressed and decompressed relative
to the host transfer rate.
• The types of data to be compressed.
• The data integrity of the compressed data.
The amount of compression possible in a data stream depends on factors
such as:
• Data pattern
• Compression algorithm
• Pattern repetition length
• Pattern repetition frequency
• Object size (block of information to be compressed)
• Starting pattern chosen
LTO-3 Tape Drive User's Guide