Page 1 Quantum ® DLTtape Handbook ™ Your Complete Guide to Today’s Hottest Storage Technology Eighth Edition FROM QUANTUM CORPORATION...
Page 2 DLTtape, the DLTtape logo, Super DLTtape, and the Super DLTtape logo are trademarks of Quantum Corporation. Products mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Quantum is not responsible for typographical, editorial, or pictorial errors in this publication. Product specifications...
Page 3 Since the first Quantum DLTtape Handbook, we now have pub- lished a total of eight editions, plus two editions in Japanese and one in Chinese. And, while the roles of storage and DLTtape tech-...
Page 4 DLTtape family of products, including the newest Super DLTtape drives and media. Welcome to the eighth edition of the Quantum DLTtape Handbook, and to the exciting possibilities of a whole new generation of Super DLTtape systems.
Page 5: Table Of Contents
— 15. Firmware — 16. Using the DLTtape System — 17. Super DLTtape: The Future of DLTtape Technology — Appendix A: Super DLTtape System Products and DLTtape System Products — Glossary — Index QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK Page 10.1 11.1 12.1 13.1 14.1 15.1...
Page 7: Introduction
Introduction This handbook will introduce you to one of the dominant forces in mid-range storage technology – the DLTtape systems, including the new Super DLTtape systems. These systems are the acknowledged market-share leaders in mid-range tape backup and archiving, thanks to their remarkable performance, reliability, and storage capacity.
Page 8 Storage Area Networks. In this handbook, we will show you why DLTtape and Super DLTtape drives and media are the best storage solutions for these and many of the other storage challenges you may face. We will also help you eval- uate your DLTtape storage options and pick the solution that’s right...
Page 9: The Evolving Tape Storage Market
For example, it is estimated that in 1999 worldwide server capacity, one important category of data that needs to be backed up, was less than 500 petabytes (Figure 1.1). By 2004, that figure will have multiplied to over 4,300 petabytes! QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 10 Figure 1-1 Worldwide Server Capacity backed up. The figure is climbing at a much steeper rate than the rate of tape shipments. Backup capacity must increase to match increased storage demands in this and other categories. With the projected amount of data that needs to be backed up climb-...
Page 11 Figure 1-2 SAN and NAS Disk Shipment Revenues quickly as these storage concepts are implemented widely. computing. For storage and backup, this means a shift away from the high-end products used in mainframe environments (reel-to-reel tape), and away from low-end, PC-oriented products (4mm DAT), and toward the mid-range (8mm and half-inch DLTtape systems).
Page 12 Fibre Channel network hardware revenues. DLTtape technology plays an important role in the consolidation of backup to these large storage networks. technology is the rapid growth in Fibre Channel hub and switch rev- enues.
Page 13 Early 2000s Automated Figure 1-4 The Storage Management Evolution centralized storage management and a continuation of distributed data resources. Centralized Management The management of information resources has been evolving from the totally centralized “glass house” systems of the 1970s and 1980s (see Figure 1-4).
Page 14 The system-level trends we’ve been talking about – the move to client/server, the emergence of Storage Area Networks, and the strong trend toward centralized management of distributed storage resources – are increasing the demand for bigger, smarter tape backup systems.
Page 15 Internet/Intranet applications are growing at a very fast rate. They are driving the sales of servers, and they are also driving the sale of a large amount of storage capacity. An increase in storage capacity always drives the need for more backup capacity.
Page 16 Another trend driving the DLTtape system market is the shift in application content. When images, color, full motion video, and audio are added to the content mix, storage requirements explode. This growth is generating demand for high capacity storage, and for backup.
Page 17 PC and small network backup, while 8mm and DLTtape system half-inch products are flourishing in the mid- and high-end ranges. SDLT 220 drive DLT1 drive DLTtape IV Super DLTtape I includes the DLT 4000 drive, QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 18 A new format would have to offer far greater capacity or two to three times the speed of Quantum’s DLTtape system in order to have a big impact. In reality, the new tech- nologies challenge DLTtape technology in some areas, but not in all.
Page 19 Ease of Use Customers also want backup systems that are easier to use. In response, the providers of backup solutions are starting to offer bundled hardware/software solutions, which should lead to a QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 1.11...
Page 20 (especially distribution of video programs and graphics files), near on-line storage, and a host of others. As these applications mature and become better defined, you may see the emergence of different products to fit different sets 1.12...
Page 21 “desktop” DLTtape libraries aimed at video and graphic arts applications, while a class of mid-range to very large libraries may be targeted for Storage Area Network (SAN) applications. The Last Word In any discussion of the market for DLTtape technology, the bottom line has to be market share (see Figure 1-7).
Page 22: What Is The Dlttape System
Speed, Capacity, Reliability From a performance point of view, the characteristics that distin- guish the DLTtape system from other tape storage technologies are speed, capacity, and reliability. When compared to other technolo- gies (see Chapter 11 for a detailed analysis), current DLTtape and...
Page 23 Head guide assembly Cartridge Figure 2-1 Super DLTtape Drive capacity, reliability, and data transfer rate in a 5.25" form factor. Half-Inch Tape The DLTtape system uses half-inch wide tape. That is the widest tape available. The half-inch format was originally used in mainframe products and was adopted by Digital Equipment Corporation when they designed the ancestors of the DLTtape system.
Page 24 Even a very small defect on a helical-scan tape will probably corrupt the data, because such a large amount of data is squeezed into a very small linear space. With DLTtape Helical scan recording QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 25 Track 2 Track 1 Track 0 Bottom edge of tape Figure 2-3 DLT 4000 Drive in linear tracks that run the length of the tape. The system has a capacity of 20GB native and 40GB compressed. Track 4 Track 3 Track 2 Track 1 Track 0...
Page 26 Very small Magneto-Resistive Cluster (MRC) Heads yield data transfer rates as high as 11MB/s (native). Read Heads Write Heads Head Motion writes data with the tape Read Heads Write Heads Head Motion features 8 channels. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK features 4...
Page 27 adjacent tracks. This data recording technique is called Symmetric ™ Phase Recording (SPR). SPR’s herringbone pattern eliminates the need for guard bands and thus allows greater track density. Figures 2-5 and 2-6 show the arrangement of read/write elements on the two-channel DLT 4000 heads and the four-channel DLT 7000 and DLT 8000 heads.
Page 28 Figure 2-9 The Super DLTtape Head Guide Assembly version of the DLTtape Head Guide Assembly. It incorporates only four rollers, further reducing contact and tape wear. Head Tach Take-up Assembly Reel Head Guide Rollers QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK first Take-up Reel is a refined...
Page 29 Figure 2-10 DLTtape System Tape Path Is Key the industry-leading reliability, long life, and accuracy of DLTtape technology. Six precision rollers guide tape to internal take-up reel. Figure 2-11 Super DLTtape System Tape Path pler than that of the DLTtape drive, requiring only four precision rollers to guide the tape.
Page 30 The head guide assembly in the Super DLTtape drives is a refined design that incorporates only four rollers, reducing even further the amount of contact with the tape. must pull tape out of QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 31: Dlttape Media
Access door Tape Drive access Figure 2-13 DLTtape Cartridge byte, high density data storage. Single-reel design eliminates wasted space. Single Reel Design The DLTtape media cartridge is unique in the midrange system market, in that it has only one reel. The take-up reel – the second reel –...
Page 32 A DLTtape cartridge, with only one reel, is packed full with tape. Just pick up a DLTtape cartridge, and you realize that it is heavy, because it is all storage, and very little empty spaces. These characteristics – half-inch format, linear recording, patented tape guide, and the DLTtape cartridge –...
Page 33: History Of Dlttape Technology
Digital’s MicroVAX II workstation system was nearly ready for release, but it needed a backup system. A group of Digital storage engi- neers, led by consulting engineer Fred Hertrick, worked day and night to come up with a drive that could match the MicroVAX performance.
Page 34 In 1987, the year of the first IBM 80386-based PCs and Windows 2.0, Digital rolled out the TK70. This new tape drive offered 294MB of storage on the same square tape cartridge, a 3x improvement over the TK50. This was accomplished by upping the number of tracks to 48 and increasing density on the same half-inch tape.
Page 35 Unless the tape was held rock solid in front of the read/write head, there was little hope of achieving the quantum leap that was need- ed in tape capacity.
Page 36 Head Guide Assembly Probably the most important new feature introduced with the TF85 was the patented six-roller head guide assembly (HGA). This mechanism provides a gentle, solid path to precisely move the tape past the read/write head. This boomerang-shaped assembly con- sists of a forged aluminum base with six precision rollers fixed to it.
Page 37 Two years later, the company introduced the TZ87, now known as the DLT 2000 tape drive. This advanced system offered 10GB of native capacity on a single CompacTape III cartridge (now known as DLTtape III), 2MB of read/write data cache memory, and a data transfer rate of 1.25MB/s.
Page 38 Almost immediately, Quantum announced new tape drives based on the acquired technology. In late 1994, Quantum rolled out the DLT 4000 drive and leapt to the head of the line in performance, capacity and reliability.
Page 39 In 1995, Quantum introduced an improved DLT 2000 system, dubbed the DLT 2000XT for “extended tape.” The new system pro- vided an additional 5GB over the capacity of the DLT 2000 drive for a total of 15GB native capacity. Quantum was able to achieve this...
Page 40 DLT 8000 Drive In 1999, Quantum introduced the DLT 8000 drive, a significant step up in performance and capacity over the market-leading DLT 7000 drive. The DLT 8000 system delivered a 15% increase in...
Page 41 The Next Generation: Super DLTtape Technology Early in 1998, Quantum had also revealed plans from the most important development in the history of DLTtape technology: Super DLTtape technology, the next generation of DLTtape technol- ogy.
Page 42 110GB (uncompressed), and transfer rates of 11MB/s (uncom- pressed). They are the first products based on the Super DLTtape technology, a technology that Quantum will continue to evolve, with coming generations planned to deliver over 1 terabyte of storage (uncompressed) on a single cartridge. And, of course, the Super DLTtape system delivers another and continuing benefit –...
Page 43 Why Customers Want DLTtape Systems When Quantum bought DLT technology in 1994, sales of DLT products were running a modest 20,000 units per year. In just six years, DLTtape drive sales climbed to over 500,000 units a year. Why are so many people buying DLTtape systems? Some of the reasons have to do with big industry trends.
Page 44 These midrange servers support much larger disk storage than desktop systems. That means you need more backup capability – more capacity, more speed, and greater reliability. These backup needs are the strengths of the DLTtape system.
Page 45 DLTtape technology is also available from the leading manufactur- ers of tape storage libraries and autoloaders. DLTtape products are available through major industrial distributors, and from value- added resellers, many of whom serve specialized markets. A good example is Avid Technology, the leader in special effects editing systems for film and video;...
Page 46 4000 Capacity (GB, native) Data Rate (MB/s, native) Bit Density 82.5 (Kbpi) Track Density (tpi) Media Type MP-2 Media Length 1,800‘ Recording Channels Hardware Data Compression Interface SCSI-2/F SE/HVD Figure 4-1 DLTtape Drive Comparison Chart specifications for DLTtape systems, including the industry-leading Super DLTtape system. clock is running out, you don’t want to have to face the long, slow process of putting the ad on tape before you can ship it to the client.
Page 47 (duty cycle) as low as 10 percent. That means that in a 7x24 operation, other drive makers base reliability figures on as little as 2.5 hours of use during every 24-hour period. At Quantum, we have traditionally calculated our reliability figures based on 100 percent usage.
Page 48 11MB/s native transfer rate, the SDLT 220 drive is the value leader in these increasingly common circumstances. Comparing media cost is a similar story. If your total system storage capacity is only one or two GB, smaller capacity, lower-initial-cost tape cassettes may be fine.
Page 49 Room to Grow One of your goals should be to pick a backup technology that has a future. While helical scan technologies, for example, are pushing QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 50 10,000 Media Recording Area (square inches) 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 DA T DA T Figure 4-2 Half-inch DLTtape Media for capacity growth for future DLTtape drives. A single DLTtape cartridge has a tape area of over 10,000 square inches. the upper limits of their potential, DLTtape technology is just hit- ting its stride, with plenty of room to grow.
Page 51 DLT1) 4000) 7000) 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 5MB/s 1.5MB/s 3MB/s 1.5MB/s 5MB/s is maintained throughout the DLTtape media QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK Native Native Transfer Transfer Rate Rate (read (read on DLT on SDLT 8000) 220) 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s 1.5MB/s...
Page 52 DLTtape technology. A cartridge recorded on a DLT 2000 drive three or four years ago can be read on a DLT 4000 drive today. You can put a DLTtape IV cartridge in a DLT 4000 drive today, fill it with data, and two years from now you will be able to read it on a DLT 8000 drive (see Figures 4-5 and 4-6).
Page 53 DLT 7000 and DLT 8000 drives, angles recording tracks to prevent cross-track interference and increase data density. Forward Tape Direction Reverse Tape Direction Figure 4-6 DLT 7000/8000 Head Positioned to read DLTtape cartridge recorded on an older DLTtape drive, provid- ing compatibility and data interchange. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 4.11...
Page 54 Tape direction when in this orientation Figure 4-7 The Super DLTtape Backward Read Compatible Head Assembly tilts to read DLTtape IV cartridges recorded on DLT 7000 and DLT 8000 drives, which use Symmetric Phase Recording (SPR). The DLT1 drive uses DLTtape IV media, so DLT1 drives can read any DLTtape IV cartridges recorded on DLT 4000 drives.
Page 55: Reliability: The Heart Of The Dlttape System
12 to 18 months, you need a fast, reliable tape backup system that will match your needs now and in the future. The DLTtape system was specifically designed for today’s demanding mission-critical back- QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 56 Unlike drives based on consumer video or audio recording tech- nology, such as 8mm and DAT, DLTtape systems were designed from the start for intensive data storage use in mid-range and high end environments. DLTtape drive components and media work in harmony to provide the fastest, most reliable, highest capacity tape drives in the industry.
Page 57 Figure 5-2 The Super DLTtape Head Guide Assembly version of the DLTtape Head Guide Assembly. It incorporates only four rollers, further reducing contact and tape wear. Head Tach Take-up Assembly Reel (HGA) used in the Head Guide Rollers QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK Take-up Reel is a refined...
Page 58 that stress the tape. DLTtape rollers are large and are arranged in a gentle arc along the HGA. This roller arrangement results in much less wear than in helical scan system. When a DLTtape cartridge is inserted into the drive, it is automati- cally locked into position.
Page 59 Push-Me-Pull-You. One motor pulls the tape through the tape path while the opposing motor applies just enough drag to maintain optimal tape tension. When the tape reverses direction, the roles of the motors reverse, too. The is even simpler QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 60 tachometer also helps the system keep track of how much tape is wound onto each reel and adjusts the speed of the two motors accordingly. Each time a cartridge is loaded, the drive calculates and sets the minimum tension required to achieve high-quality, consistent read/write signals.
Page 61 DLTtape drives offer an exceptional level of data integrity. It has been calculated that DLTtape drives have an unrecoverable hard error rate of one in 10 bits and one undetected soft error in 10 bits. That is a standard that no other tape drive comes close to. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 62 7x24 operation, other drive makers base reliability figures on as little as 2.5 hours of use during every 24-hour period. At Quantum, we calculate most reliability figures based on 100 per- RELIABILITY: THE HEART OF THE DLTtape SYSTEM...
Page 63 DLTtape system-based products. The DLTtape system is perfect for heavy-duty-cycle applications like hierarchical storage management (HSM), in which the system is constantly moving data between main memory, disk, and tape, depending on its current level of usage.
Page 64: Demystifying Tape Drive Specs
We intend this chapter to be a helpful guide to reading and under- standing specs for tape drives in the price and performance category of Quantum DLTtape systems. That includes a range of drives typical- ly used for backup, archiving, and near on-line storage applications.
Page 65 4000 Native Capacity 20GB Compressed 40GB Capacity (2:1) Native 1.5MB/s Transfer Rate Compressed 3MB/s Transfer Rate Drive MTBF (hrs) at 200,000 100% Duty Cycle Head Life (hrs) 10,000 Tape Life (yrs) Media Passes 1 million Uncorrected Bit 1 per 10 Error Rate Warranty (yrs) Figure 6-1 DLTtape Drives...
Page 66 However, in many, if not most, applications, the next file sought is near the previous file accessed, and actual access time may be shorter. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 67 4:1, and have had specif- ic instances as high as 25:1. However, for the DLTtape system, Quantum continues to be conservative and uses the industry stan- dard 2:1 figure when using compression data figures. Reliability/MTBF...
Page 68 Media durability is measured in tape passes. How many times can the tape be run through the unit before it wears out? The figure we use for the Quantum DLTtape media is 1,000,000 passes. However, you should not compare that figure directly against competitive drives, which usu-...
Page 69 Figure 6-2 A Gentle Tape Path stress and wear resulting in industry-leading tape life of up to 1,000,000 passes. ally use far lower figures. A DLTtape drive lays down data in a series of parallel tracks that run the length of the tape. As a result, it takes multi- ple passes to read or write the same amount of data on DLTtape media that should be read or written in a single pass on competitive drives.
Page 70 16 data blocks and 4 blocks of Error Correction Code, ensur- ing data integrity. . Therefore, you can expect 100 times more USER USER DATA DATA Direction of Tape Motion is shown above. Each QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK bits. bits. 10 ECC1 ECC2 ECC3 ECC4 CONTROL POST...
Page 71 DLTtape system and competitive products. Next, we’ll take a look at DLTtape media and discover the benefits of Quantum DLTtape cartridges. DEMYSTIFYING TAPE DRIVE SPECS...
Page 72: Dlttape Media
A tape originally recorded on a DLT 2000XT drive will run on a DLT 8000 drive just as fast as it did on the DLT 2000XT drive. Even more important, millions of DLTtape IV cartridges sold in the past few years can be read by Super DLTtape drives. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 73 Tape Type Native (recorded on Capacity drive type) DLTtape IIIXT 15GB (recorded on DLT 2000XT) DLTtape IV 20GB (recorded on DLT 4000) DLTtape IV 35GB (recorded on DLT 7000) DLTtape IV 40GB (recorded on DLT1) DLTtape IV 40GB (recorded on DLT 8000) Super DLTtape I 110GB...
Page 74 HGA to the take-up reel. This procedure is reversed when the cartridge is removed from the drive. Supply reel Write Protect switch eliminates QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 75 Figure 7-3 The Super DLTtape Positive Leader Link both DLTtape IV and Super DLTtape I cartridges. On Super DLTtape I cartridges, a unique new buckling system increases cartridge life and supports heavy-duty-cycle environments. (See Figure 7-3.) A solid metal pin attached to the drive leader links with molded clips that are permanently attached to the tape leader inside the cartridge.
Page 76 A major difference among the types of DLTtape media is capacity. The DLTtape III cartridge has a native capacity of 10GB, the EOT HOLE DIRECTORY AREA Physical End of Tape Used for Fast Search Directory DATA Area BOT HOLE Physical Beginning of Tape features areas for calibration, QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 77 DLTtape IIIXT DLTtape III Figure 7-5 DLTtape Cartridges Are Color Coded DLTtape IIIXT cartridge has a native capacity of 15GB, and the DLTtape IV cartridge has a native capacity of 35 or 40GB. Super DLTtape I cartridges have a capacity of 110GB. What accounts for the difference in capacity between cartridges? There are several factors.
Page 78 AMP uses durable metal powder technology for recording at very high densities, making possible a dramatic increase in capacity. QI C-M C QI C-M C QI C-DC QI C-DC Half-inch DLTtape leaves plenty of room for QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 79: Limited Warranty
Advanced Metal Powder Media in Super DLTtape I media supports even higher density. Media Availability Quantum Corporation sells all types of DLTtape and Super DLTtape I cartridges. By setting up multiple channels of distribution for DLTtape media, Quantum has sought to assure customers all over the world that there will be an adequate supply of media available from multiple sources, ensuring both availability and competitive pricing.
Page 80 DLTtape drives. DLTtape cartridges are clearly marked with the DLTtape logo. Next, we’ll take a look at one of the strongest areas of DLTtape system growth – the automation market. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 81: Automation
The increased speed and capacity offered by Super DLTtape technology is enabling library manufacturers to offer significantly more capability at every point in the product QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 82 And, because both the physical and control interfaces are compati- ble with previous DLTtape drives, Super DLTtape drives can be integrated cost-effectively and seamlessly into existing automated storage solutions. Backup To The Future There are many reasons for the rise in popularity of tape automa- tion systems.
Page 83 Hierarchical storage management (HSM) is picking up momen- tum among high-end installations. HSM systems are used to man- age large, critical databases and near on-line storage, and are not true backup systems. If it’s truly critical that an application or data be kept a key stroke away, a larger disk drive is increasingly the solution used most often.
Page 84: Horizontal Applications
Figure 8-2.) A Storage Area Network is a specialized network that provides servers with fast, reliable access to a large pool of storage resources. A SAN typically includes storage management software, a network infrastruc- ture of hubs, routers, and switches, and may include Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity.
Page 85 Figure 8-2 Evolution of Storage Management QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 86 Manages media rotation and storage. Your backup software and tape automation system will let you set the media rotation strategy that works best for you.
Page 87 This ability to randomly select tapes makes autoloaders appropriate for small- scale network backup and near on-line storage applications. Libraries offer the same type of functionality as autoloaders, but are often equipped with multiple drives for handling large-scale...
Page 88 How To Buy a Tape Automation System What should you look for in a tape automation system? As in buying a standalone tape drive, it’s best to begin with an evaluation of your current situation and your future needs. For instance, how much data do you need to back up? How fast is your data growing? How long is your backup window? How much time do you and your staff spend performing incremental and full back ups? How often will your...
Page 89 Compression is highly variable and data depen- dent and should not be used as a guide in evaluating library capa- bility. It’s best to use total native (uncompressed) storage capacity in comparing libraries. By multiplying the maximum number of tape cartridges your library can hold by the total native capacity of each, you can easily calculate the total native capacity of the library.
Page 90 Each library maker has their own tape handling mechanism. Some of the different mechanisms you’ll find include robotic arms, eleva- tors, and carousels. Some libraries are equipped with multiple mech- anisms. Another feature to look for in larger libraries is a “mailbox.” This is a slot or compartment at the front of the system that allows the opera- tor to load one or more tapes without opening the main door and interrupting library activity.
Page 91 Start with DLTtape Technology A good place to start research on DLTtape libraries on the Internet, at Quantum’s site at www.quantum.com or at www.DLTtape.com. Every DLTtape library maker today has a Web site. They offer at least basic information on library features and options. In addition, ask library makers for user references and make some calls.
Page 92 Software And Centralized Backup Management As computing resources continue to become more decentralized, IS managers are attempting to cope with this situation by centralizing as many network resources as possible. Centralized data storage 8.12 AUTOMATION...
Page 93 Some organizations install dedicated backup servers to offload backup overhead from the main file server. In a Network Attached Storage (NAS) configuration, storage resources are attached as nodes on the network, making available expanded storage resources with minimal management overhead.
Page 94: Horizontal Applications
If you are managing a computer net- work, data warehouse, or large Internet/Intranet application today, no doubt you are experiencing tremendous growth in data storage requirements. At the same time, your backup window may be shrinking.
Page 95 Figure 9-1 Current DLTtape System Applications traditional applications such as backup and archiving, as well as newer applications like HSM. technology. What follows is a look at the leading uses of the DLTtape system and the data management issues you may encounter when implementing them (see Figure 9-1).
Page 96 Some companies, especially those required by law to maintain historical records such as insur- ance companies and banks, archive data to special vaults or storage sites specially designed to protect valuable records. File-by-file vs. Image Backups There are two basic forms of backup: file-by-file and image back- up.
Page 97 DLTtape systems the perfect choice for this application. Tape-as-disk is a form of near on-line storage in which you use a tape drive like you would a disk drive. The tape drive actually acts as a second or third disk drive.
Page 98 IS managers. HSM systems migrate little-used files to and from your server’s hard disk to lower cost storage media, usually tape. The data that is migrated is still 100 percent accessible to the user, but recall speed is slower. In many cases, HSM systems have solid state, hard disk or...
Page 99 Newer or more critical files may be kept on the HSM’s hard disk cache for fast recall. As these files age, they may be moved off to storage in the system’s tape library.
Page 100 The basic concept of virtual tape is that backups can be made dramati- cally faster by using high speed hard disk storage for a part of the backup system. Most of the system's backup capacity is still in a tape library or libraries, but part of it is in the form of hard disk drives, most likely a RAID unit.
Page 101 In general, the most active files are backed up to disk. Then as these files become less active, they are migrated to tape backup. Thus, with a relatively small investment in hard disk storage, system man- agers can use virtual tape to deal with ever smaller backup win- dows, without disrupting established, reliable backup processes.
Page 102 “disaster.” In fact, most disasters are related to human error or system failure, not natural disasters. Among the leading causes of business disrup- tion are computer viruses, power outages, fire, vandalism, terror- ism, and weather-related disasters. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 103 11:05:00 AM 7 6 5 Protected Netware servers Figure 9-4 New Backup And Recovery Systems recovery features. Every business and organization should have some provision for business continuity should a calamity strike. The level of protec- tion that’s right for your business will depend on the resources you need to provide to ensure continuity (see Figure 9-4).
Page 104 The need for a dedicated library management application increases with the number of storage applications running on your system. For instance, a single tape library may be acting as a repository for engi- neering data, as well as providing backup for your e-mail system.
Page 105: Vertical Market Applications
DLTtape cartridges and used by scientists for complex analyses. DLTtape technology has played an important role in ensuring safe storage of this information at Cornell’s Floyd R. Newman Laboratory of Nuclear Studies (LNS). Every detail describing the direction, identity, and momentum of the particles produced by the collisions is stored on DLTtape cartridges.
Page 106 8mm Couldn’t Take It LNS selected DLTtape systems because of the technology’s reputation for reliability in heavy-duty-cycle environments. Twenty-five out of the 30 DLTtape drives used by LNS are running at 75 percent duty cycle or greater, every day. At that rate of usage, the research center’s 8mm dri- ves lasted only two months.
Page 107: Data Mining
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 10.3...
Page 108 ways. Probably the most common difference is the standalone nature of many vertical applications. While these special-purpose systems may be linked to a network system, they often don’t rely directly on the network for their operation. The special-purpose application is usually substantial enough to require its own backup system, rather than share a networked system.
Page 109 In order to meet the varying needs of these and many other appli- cations, Quantum will offer a range of Super DLTtape technology- based products. These products address the individual storage needs of low-, mid-, and high-end system users in the mid-range storage market.
Page 110 Terraserver.com sells satellite images from sources in the West and the former Soviet Union. DLTtape technology provides primary storage for much of the image data on which the business is built. Raw satellite image data, in-process data, and final processed image data are all stored on DLTtape car- tridges in stand-alone drives and libraries.
Page 111 All these characteristics point to the need for a backup strategy that allows large files to be backed up in a short time, fast system restoration in the event of a system-level crash, fast file recovery, and absolutely reliable disaster recovery. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 10.7...
Page 112 A single 30-second echocardiogram, for instance, can take up to 10GB of disk or tape storage. Forty radiology rooms at a major Chicago medical center generate over two terabytes of images each year.
Page 113 It's critical for the exploration company to collect the maximum amount of data from each seismic shot. That means setting up a data acquisition system that can accept masses of data in real-time. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 10.9...
Page 114 Direct Digital Online, a Calgary firm that specializes in handling seismic data. He explains that, “Oil and gas companies can reduce their data storage and insurance costs by transcribing old tapes onto new DLTtape cartridges. We can fit two hundred to three hundred 3480 cartridges onto a single DLTtape cartridge.”...
Page 115 KPMG’s conversion from 4mm DAT backup to DLTtape libraries has also saved the company’s network administrators 31 hours per week on backup administration. In addition, file restores, which used to take half a day or more, can now be accomplished in minutes. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 10.11...
Page 116 A single file for a mid-size color printing project may occupy many gigabytes of storage space. A large printer may have thousands of projects in its archives.
Page 117 Windows NT. With such a heavy daily volume, it’s impor- tant to keep the RAID disks from filling up, so Connected’s propri- etary Hierarchical Storage Management system transfers data to one of eight DLTtape drives. Installed in libraries with automatic cartridge loaders, these units can handle many terabytes of data.
Page 118 Eight Compaq tape libraries handle all server backup, including all remote sites, over high-speed T1 lines. Full server backups are done weekly; differential backups are performed nightly. Law Firm Backs Up Time and Billing Data Few things are more important to a law firm than the integrity of their time and billing records.
Page 119 Game development cycles often overlap, so that several games may be in development simultaneously. Hundreds of gigabytes of storage are required to handle these mul- tiple projects. Of course, backup for this irreplaceable information is a must. That’s why developers rely on DLTtape library systems and DLTtape cartridges.
Page 120 ongoing backup. Typically, the editor will work on one job for a period of time, perhaps several hours. When he or she finishes work on that project – completes a new scene, or completes a set of revisions, or simply needs to get on something with a hotter dead- line –...
Page 121 Film studios and distributors can ship feature films to the VOD service on DLTtape cartridges. A single two-hour movie can occu- py from four to 40GB of storage space. Special MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) encoders are used to compress movies and other programs.
Page 122 Compact and inexpensive. DLTtape media occupies less space than traditional video cassettes or other removable magnetic media. It also provides an inexpensive way to transport projects and raw footage between facilities. Next, we’ll compare DLTtape technology to competing tape storage systems. 10.18 VERTICAL MARKET APPLICATIONS...
Page 123: Dlttape System Technology Compared
How long is your backup window? • How much data do you need to back up? • How fast is your data growing? (It’s alive!) • Does your new backup solution need to be backward compatible with your old? QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 11.1...
Page 124 • How important is backup system reliability? • What will media cost (cost per gigabyte)? • Is the backup system supported by third-party software? • Is there a clear growth path for my backup system? These are just some of the factors you should consider as you embark on your quest for the perfect backup solution.
Page 125 DLTtape media can easily withstand a million passes. Information is recorded on DLTtape media in a serpentine linear format. The DLTtape drive begins recording at the start of the tape reason for DLTtape media’s QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 11.3...
Page 126 Figure 11-3 Typical Helical Scan Tape System pull tape out of the cartridge and around a spinning read/write head. Acute wrap angles and recording-side contact reduce tape life. and records to the end. The drive then steps the head to the next track, reverses direction and records back to the beginning of the tape, and so on.
Page 127 Like DLTtape technology, Super DLTtape technology uses half-inch tape in a single-reel cartridge. It incorporates a modified Head Guide Assembly with four rollers instead of the six used in DLTtape technology. The resulting tape path is very similar to that QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 11.5...
Page 128 of the DLTtape drives, with even less contact between the tape media and the rollers. The dual motor system in Super DLTtape drives is very similar to that used in the DLTtape drives. Super DLTtape drives record data in a serpentine linear format, just like DLTtape drives, but use eight-channel recording, versus four channels for the DLT 7000 and DLT 8000 drives.
Page 129 DLTtape system. This fact results in even greater tape stress in helical scan systems. In addition, the recording surface of the tape is drawn over numerous rollers, resulting in addi- tional wear and increasing the likelihood of errors. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 11.7...
Page 130 4mm DDS technology. Ultrium Ultrium is a high-performance half-inch tape technology being developed by a consortium of leading data processing/data storage vendors. Ultrium is planned to offer native capacity of 100GB and native transfer rate of 20MB/sec. While its proposed specifications are impressive, it is important to note that the Ultrium technology faces a number of hurdles.
Page 131 This was long before PCs came into being. As time passed, QIC became an accepted data storage system offer- ing compact, easy to use cartridges. QIC tapes come in two form factors: 3.5" minicartridges and 5.25" data cartridges. The minicar- tridge uses either quarter-inch or .315"...
Page 132 Optical disk drives fall somewhere in the middle between hard disks and tape backup systems. Optical drives do not have the storage capacity of high end tape systems, nor do they have the access speed of a hard disk. These drives do, however,...
Page 133 Because these drives adhere to the same format used in the CD drive found on most computers, they are limited to 650MB of storage. This limitation places them at the low end in terms of a standalone data backup solution. In addition, PD drives have very slow access times.
Page 134 Magneto-optical (MO) drives use a combination laser/magnetic head to achieve higher storage capacities than PD drives. However, higher capacity comes at the expense of compatibility with stan- dard CD drives. MO disks can only be read by other MO drives.
Page 135: Evaluating The Cost Of A Dlttape Backup Solution
It depends on how much data you need to back up, how often you need to back it up, how much time you have to do your backup, and how valuable the data is. It also depends on what you anticipate your future backup needs will be. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 12.1...
Page 136 Total cost includes the cost of the backup hardware, backup software, perhaps a more comprehensive storage management software package, and high-capacity media. In addition, you must consider the more complex (and bigger) cost of labor, downtime, risk, and future needs.
Page 137 DLTtape cartridge, and the full backup takes five car- tridges, you’ll need ten cartridges for a complete one-week cycle of backups. In that kind of situation, many organizations elect to keep DLT1 DLT 8000 Native Capacity (GB) is a function of QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK SDLT 220 12.3...
Page 138 DLTtape technology is the notable exception. Over the years, Quantum has made a strong commitment to preserving its customers’ invest- ments in media and drives by maintaining a high level of compatibili- ty across generations of DLTtape media and drives.
Page 139 As one DLTtape system customer described his experience with DAT backup, he found himself “getting too many midnight calls” with his DAT system, prompting the move to DLTtape technology. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 12.5...
Page 140 Another DLTtape system user described his experience with labor costs in an application that required maintaining archives of client data. Using a 4mm DAT system, he recalls, he had reached the point at which he was tying up two staff members for a total of about 35 hours per week, simply swapping tapes and replacing failed drives.
Page 141 By contrast, a slower backup unit in the same situation simply delivers hard costs that are hard to swallow! Next, we’ll explore the world of DLTtape system platform connectivity and software compatibility issues. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 12.7...
Page 142: Platform Connectivity & Software Compatibility
Unlike tightly integrated components such as disk drives and RAM, peripherals such as tape drives require extra commands and connectivity protocol to work properly with a given platform or application. At Quantum Corporation, we devote tremendous technical resources to help original equipment manufacturers QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 143 Libraries. Our web-based Platform Connectivity Matrix, Software Compatibility Matrix, application notes, and Platform Solutions Guide are available at www.quantum.com or www.DLTtape.com. The Platform Connectivity Matrix contains information on plat- form type (which operating system is used), hardware used to test connectivity, operating system revision, which DLTtape drives are supported, and comments about the level of support provided.
Page 144 In UNIX, some examples of generic backup commands include tar, dd, dump, cpio, and mt. Most flavors of UNIX come with some unique backup commands. For instance, Sun users are familiar with ufsdump and ufsrestore; Silicon Graphics users know QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 13.3...
Page 145 DLTtape drivers work as expected and to specification. Quantum and its platform partners work together to create a qual- ification plan designed to meet a market introduction target date. Quantum hardware and software specialists provide the partner with technical support at every stage of the qualification process.
Page 146 By running some tests in parallel with Quantum, the customer saves time and expense. Up to 20 drives on several different types of host platforms are typically used during the RQT phase. RQT can last for up to ten weeks and is conducted late in the qualification cycle, after most issues have been resolved.
Page 147 These types of cases are often the source for new application notes on our Web site. Quantum’s customer support engineers will try to simulate the customer’s problem in our test labs. The customer support engineer will pretend he or she is the customer unpacking the DLTtape drive for the first time and attempting to connect and operate it.
Page 148 Once an ISV solution is quali- fied (either by Quantum or the ISV, or both) on DLTtape drives, we encourage the ISV to add us to their Certified Device List as soon as possible.
Page 149: Management Software
Storage Management Software Storage management software is a hot bed of evolutionary activity. A huge number of variables are in the mix, and new ones are popping every day. At the same time, the environment is changing very quickly, and the changing environment will have a lot to do with which vari- ants emerge as successful species, and which disappear down evolu- tionary dead ends.
Page 150: Storage Management Software
The pendulum has already swung from de-centralization to re-centralization. New expectations have emerged to put the pressure on for storage management solutions. Orderly, reliable backup is no longer good enough. For many orga- nizations, the new criteria include nearly instant file restoration, total automation (even for remote sites), and complete visibility of all storage resources.
Page 151 Figure 14-1 Evolution of Storage Management QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 14.3...
Page 152 DLTtape technology the right foundation for enterprise storage management solutions. Capacity. The total size of the storage infrastructure in large organi- zations is growing at a tremendous pace. Storage capacity is absolutely essential, and the DLTtape system offers far more capaci- ty than any other solution.
Page 153 Breadth of product line. Quantum is taking advantage of the suc- cess of DLTtape technology by building an extensive family of DLTtape system products. In an enterprise storage strategy, that means you have a choice among multiple compatible building blocks, all using the same basic technology, but which you can deploy in different situations, depending on the exact needs of each piece of the storage hierarchy.
Page 154: Firmware
Of course, firmware is also a crucial part of every piece of comput- er and telecommunications equipment in use today. Naturally, we’re interested here in how firmware works in your Quantum DLTtape system. Firmware is a computer program that’s stored in a special non- volatile computer memory chip, where it won’t disappear when...
Page 155 Firmware And Your DLTtape System Every Quantum DLTtape system comes from the factory with firmware loaded in EEPROMs on the controller board mounted at the base of the drive. In the DLT 8000 drive, for example, there are approximately 400,000 lines of code written, primarily, in the C and C++ programming languages.
Page 156 SCSI occurs during Vendor Qualification. Firmware Speeds Vendor Qualification Although all DLTtape drives are manufactured by Quantum Corporation (or under license by Tandberg Data), the vast majority of DLTtape drives are resold by system OEMs such as Compaq, Dell, HP, IBM, and Sun, as well as tape library manufacturers.
Page 157 The flexibility provided by firmware enables Quantum to adapt DLTtape systems to meet almost any operating system or vendor requirements. In addition, when compared to hardware modifica- tions, firmware changes usually take less development time and are less expensive to implement. It's important to note that nearly 99 per- cent of DLTtape firmware remains the same from system to system.
Page 158 DLTtape Tools. Firmware upgrades are issued by either your system vendor or direct from Quantum. You should refer to your DLTtape drive Product Manual for complete instructions on updating your firmware.
Page 159 In fact, a DLT 8000 drive can read tapes recorded on even the earli- est DLTtape drives, the DLT 260, 600, 2000, and 2000XT. While Quantum no longer sells DLT 260, 600, 2000, or 2000XT systems, we have continued to maintain compatibility with them in new generations of DLTtape systems.
Page 160 DLTtape drives. Next, we'll look at learning how to use your DLTtape system. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 15.7...
Page 161: Using The Dlttape System
Another excellent source of operational information, including the latest application notes for system integrators, can be found on Quantum’s World Wide Web site; www.quantum.com or at www.DLTtape.com. Along with application notes, you’ll find user success stories, white papers, technical specifications, software and hardware compatibility charts, and announcements of new prod- ucts and options for your DLTtape system or DLTtape library.
Page 162 DLTtape Media Do’s & Don’ts As the importance and volume of information continues to increase year after year, the need for reliable, long-term data storage grows with it. The DLTtape half-inch cartridge provides one of the most efficient and durable ways to store information. A DLTtape cartridge is just over four inches square and one inch thick.
Page 163 Other recovery services can be found by searching the Internet. Stow Loose Labels. Every new DLTtape cartridge comes with a sheet of labels in its storage box. These are non-adhesive labels and are designed to slide into the label slot on the front of the car- tridge.
Page 164 Storage Requirements. As noted above, DLTtape media is ideal for long-term archiving, with a storage life of 30 years or more. To achieve its maximum shelf life, a DLTtape cartridge must be stored in its protective case on its side and kept within a reasonable tem- perature and humidity range.
Page 165 You don’t want to overload the self-cleaning mechanism. For instance, don’t locate your tape drive near line printers, near exit doors, in busy storage areas, or anywhere else that may be excessively dusty.
Page 166 LZ1 (Lempel-Ziv) compression algorithm, which was selected over other algorithms for its superior versatility and effi- ciency. Although Quantum and most other tape drive manufactur- ers use a 2:1 compression ratio as an average, actual compression can be highly variable depending on your input data. Compression algorithms “look”...
Page 167 2.6GB can only read DLTtape media recorded at 2.6GB. In other words, a DLTtape drive cannot read a tape recorded at a density higher than it is capable of recording at. A DLT 2000 drive, for instance, has a maximum native capacity of 10GB, so it can read DLTtape cartridges written at 10, 6, and 2.6GB, but nothing higher.
Page 168 DLTtape drive, DLTtape-based tape automation system, or DLTtape cartridges. Next, we’ll look at the future of DLTtape system products – Super DLTtape technology.
Page 169: Super Dlttape:the Future Of Dlttape Technology
DLTtape Technology Current Trends One reliable way to discern where IS and data storage management might be headed is to project present trends. Every current trend has a built-in momentum that will carry it forward. Some of the IS...
Page 170 Users of low to mid-range systems are beginning to exceed the capacity of standalone tape drives, and are migrating to automated storage management solutions. Library vendors will continue to incorporate DLTtape systems in their products. DLTtape technolo- gy offers library vendors and their users scalability in the same footprint, low cost-per-gigabyte, and built-in market acceptance.
Page 171 Our competitors know they have an uphill battle to match or beat DLTtape technology for high performance backup. Through several generations of DLTtape systems, we have been able to achieve mar- ket-leading performance while maintaining compatibility with previ- ous products. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 17.3...
Page 172 As a result, DLTtape technology has far greater potential for contin- ued capacity improvement. Super DLTtape Technology Early in 1998, Quantum announced the next-generation Super DLTtape technology. Initial shipments of Super DLTtape technolo- gy products started in 2000 (see Figure 17-1), with volume produc- 17.4...
Page 173 Given the superiority of cur- rent DLTtape systems, and the innovative technology offered by Super DLTtape, there is every reason to believe that Quantum DLTtape technology will continue to be the market leader.
Page 174 But if you move from DLTtape to Super DLTtape technology, you continue to handle your backup, disaster recovery, and other storage management functions exactly as you do today. More importantly, you are able to read existing DLTtape IV cartridges on your new Super DLTtape drives.
Page 175 110GB in the first genera- tion, advancing to over 1 terabyte (uncompressed) over multiple prod- uct generations. This is the most compelling road map in the industry. It meets or substantially exceeds every published competitive spec. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 17.7...
Page 176 – provides increased storage space on the magnetic side of the media. By introducing these Quantum-refined optical tracking technologies, the servo tracking capabilities of traditional magnetic systems have been greatly improved. The result is the foundation of LGMR. (See Figure 17-2.) 17.8...
Page 177 Four key technologies contribute to the revolutionary capacity and performance LGMR brings to Super DLTtape technology. Those Quantum-patented technologies are: • Pivoting Optical Servo (POS) • Magneto-Resistive Cluster Heads (MRC) • A new, High-Efficiency PRML Channel • Advanced Metal Powder Media (AMP).
Page 178 DLTtape products.(See Figure 17-3.) Magneto-Resistive Cluster Heads (MRC) Quantum has evolved the Magneto-Resistive Cluster heads to a new level as they are integrated into the POS as an LGMR-enabling tech- nology. MRC heads are small magneto resistive heads densely packed together to form a “cluster.”...
Page 179 LGMR technology and high-performance tape drives. The advanced, high-efficiency PRML channel used in LGMR was developed jointly by Quantum and Lucent Technologies. It provides high encoding effi- ciency recording densities (97 percent efficient) for greater capacity and performance, which enables Super DLTtape technology to sub- stantially increase its transfer rates and capacities over current DLTtape products and other linear tape technologies.
Page 180 Figure 17-5 Advanced Metal Powder (AMP) Media density data storage and embedded information for the Pivoting Optical Servo. Positive Engagement Tape Leader Buckling Mechanism Super DLTtape Systems feature a newly designed Positive Engagement Tape Leader Buckling Mechanism – a robust buckling system that increases cartridge life and supports the heavy duty cycle environments found in high-end and automated environments.
Page 181 New, wear-resistant materials reduce the potential for debris generation and increase the life of the cartridge. Modular Design Quantum engineers have built the Super DLTtape System in five dis- tinct modules: • TCM - Tape Control Module •...
Page 182 Increased structural ribbing Figure 17-7 New, rugged cartridge design damage, and wear resistant materials reduce debris generation. The modules include the best features of current DLTtape tech- nology design and the breakthrough technologies that allow the Super DLTtape system to achieve its exceptional performance. Each module is optimized to perform a specific set of functions and is designed to interface with the other modules in a prescribed man- ner.
Page 183 If industry-leading capacity, reliability, and speed sound good to you, then you owe it to yourself and your organization to explore the DLTtape system with Quantum or one of the many qualified DLTtape system vendors or tape automation system providers.
Page 184: Appendix A: Super Dlttape System Products
Super DLTtape System Products: SDLT 220 Drive SDLT 220 For the mid-range server market, the SDLT 220 drive offers storage capacity of 110GB and data transfer rate of 11MB/sec. This model is designed to provide excellent data backup and archiving storage...
Page 185 DLTtape System Products: DLT 8000 Drive DLT 8000 The Quantum DLT 8000 half-inch cartridge tape drive provides leadership in data storage and retrieval for demanding data back- up, archiving, and near on-line storage applications for mid range systems. The tape drive features a native transfer rate of 6MB/s, with a native capacity of 40GB.
Page 186 DLT1 Drive DLT1 The Quantum DLT1 half-inch tape drive is designed to provide high-capacity backup for small- to medium-size storage servers and workstations in cost-sensitive applications. The DLT1 tape drive offers a combination of 40GB native capacity per cartridge and a native transfer rate of 3MB/s.
Page 187 DLT 4000 Drive DLT 4000 The Quantum DLT 4000 half-inch tape drive is designed for heavy duty-cycle computer applications in the lower to middle level of the tape drive market for mid-range systems. The DLT 4000 tape drive offers a combination of 20GB native capacity per car- tridge and a native transfer rate of 1.5MB/s.
Page 188 DLTtape Cartridges DLTtape III DLTtape IIIXT The Quantum DLTtape family of half-inch cartridges, approved for use in all DLTtape system drives and autoloaders, delivers the highest capacity of any 5.25-inch cartridge – up to 220GB in compressed mode. To ensure accuracy, a patented tape leader ensures consistent tape motion, while a unique tape/reel locking mechanism prevents tape slack.
Page 189: Glossary
Glossary Access. (v) Read, write, or update information on a storage medium, such as tape. (n) The operation of reading, writing, or updating stored information. Access time. The interval between the time a request for data is made by the system and the time the data is available from the drive.
Page 190 Archiving. The removal of data from the computer system on to secondary storage media that is safely stored away. The DLTtape system is an excellent choice for archiving due to its 30-year shelf life. Automation. Refers to tape stackers, autoloaders, libraries used in data backup, archiving, hierarchical storage management, and near on-line storage.
Page 191 Backup. A copy of a file, directory, or volume on a separate storage device from the original, for the purpose of retrieval in case the original is accidentally erased, damaged, or destroyed. Backup Window. The period of time used to back up critical databases and other information.
Page 192 Byte. The basic unit of computer memory, large enough to hold one character of alphanumeric data. Comprised of eight bits. See also bit. CPU. Acronym for central processing unit. The microprocessor chip or group of chips that perform the bulk of data processing in a computer.
Page 193 Compression. Encoding data to take up less storage space on magnetic tape. Compression is carried out in the host (software compression) or in the drive itself (hardware compression). Software compression speed is dependent on host processor power, whereas hardware compression gives optimum performance and is transparent to the user.
Page 194 Data Integrity. The level of error-free storage of data. It is a key factor in the reliability of any technology. Data Interchange. The capability of moving data from one tape drive to another without intermediate processing.
Page 195 Error. A message that occurs when there is a loss of ability to interpret recorded data. Usually due to magnetic issues or defects in or on the media. Error Correction Code. See ECC. Error Detection Code. See EDC. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 196 FCI. Acronym for flux changes per inch. See also BPI. Faceplate. See bezel. Files. A distinct group of data blocks. File-by-File Backup. A recording method that records data a single file at a time as opposed to mirroring a tape or block of data.
Page 197 DLTtape. Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM). A storage system that migrates the least-accessed data to secondary storage. The primary purpose is to ease the management of data while reducing over-all cost by storing this data on more cost-effective media like DLTtape cartridges.
Page 198 ISV. Acronym for independent software vendor. Image Backup. A backup option that takes a “snapshot” of an entire system by writing a volume image to tape sector-by-sector, rather than file-by-file. This method of backup is very fast and allows companies to backup critical information in a limited backup window.
Page 199 MRC Heads. Magnetic Resistive Cluster heads, the read/write heads for Super DLTtape. A cluster of small, cost effective magneto resistive tape heads that can deliver higher data transfer rates and capacity than traditional MR heads of equal size. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK G.11...
Page 200 Media. The material or device used to store information in a storage subsystem, such as a tape or disk drive. DLTtape media is a high-grade metal particle (MP) formulation that takes advantage of the latest advances in binder chemistry. By combining both solid...
Page 201 Near On-Line Storage. The use of secondary storage as a primary storage device. Data that is directly accessible is stored on this media and can be accesssed as if it were in primary storage. The only difference is that it will take longer to access, thus the term near online.
Page 202 Overhead. Command overhead refers to the processing time required by the controller, host adapter, or drive prior to the execution of a command. Lower command overhead yields higher drive performance. Overwrite. To write data on top of existing data thus erasing the original data.
Page 203 The information can be stored or accessed in any order, and all storage locations are equally accessible. RAIT. Acronym for redundant array of independent tape drives.
Page 204 Voyager spacecraft. Restore. To replace data on the hard drive from another media device. SAN. See Storage Area Network SCSI. Acronym for small computer system interface. An American National Standards Institute (ANSI) interface between the com- puter and peripheral controllers.
Page 205 Stepper. A type of motor that moves in discrete amounts with each electrical pulse. Storage Area Networks (SAN). Storage Area Networks give users anywhere on the network access to a large, centralized pool of storage resources located on a dedicated high-speed network, and usually backed up by DLTtape libraries.
Page 206 Surface. The side of the tape that is coated with the magnetic material for recording data. Sustained Transfer Rate. The data transfer rate of a tape drive in native mode. For instance, the DLT 8000 has a sustained transfer rate of 6MB/s in native mode, and up to 12MB/s at 2:1 compression.
Page 207 See also formatted capacity. Volume. The quantity of information written on a piece of media. Typically measured in megabytes or gigabytes. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK G.19...
Page 208 Write Once, Read Many (WORM). An optical disk technology that allows the drive to store and read back data but prevents the drive from erasing information once it has been written. X, Y, Z No entries G.20 GLOSSARY...
Page 209: Index
Backup, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.11, 1.12, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, 5.1, 5.2, 6.4, 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.13, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 210 9.11, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.10, 10.11, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 10.16, 10.17, 10.18, 11.1, 11.2, 11.9, 11.10, 11.11, 11.12, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.6, 14.2, 15.5, 16.2, 16.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.4, 17.6 Backward Compatibility, 1.11, 2.6, 3.10, 4.12, 7.2, 11.1, 16.7, 17.6, 17.12 Backup Management Software, 8.13 Bad Data Blocks, 11.4...
Page 211 DLT1, 1.9, 1.10, 2.3, 3.10, 4.12, 6.2, 7.2, 11.2, 11.5, 17.3 DLT 260, 3.3, 15.6, 16.7 DLT 600, 3.5, 15.6 DLT 2000, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 15.6, 16.7 DLT 2000XT, 3.7, 7.1, 15.6 DLT 2500, 3.5 DLT 4000, 1.9, 1.10, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.6, 3.10, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 6.2, 7.2, 11.2, 11.4, 11.5, 12.3, 12.4, 15.6,...
Page 212 DLTtape IIIXT, 1.9, 3.7, 4.9, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.5, 7.6, 16.7 DLTtape IV, 1.9, 2.2, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9, 3.10, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 10.6, 11.5, 12.3, 12.4, 15.6, 16.6, 16.7, 17.6, 17.12, 17.13 DLTtape Cleaning Cartridge, 16.3 Dantz, 13.3 Data Acquisition, 1.7, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.8, 10.9, 11.9...
Page 213 11.7, 11.8, 17.4 Hertrick, Fred, 3.1 Hewlett-Packard (HP), 4.3, 13.1, 13.4, 15.3 Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM), 1.12, 5.9, 8.3, 8.9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 10.13, 11.11, 13.1, 13.2, 13.6, 14.2 Humidity, 2.6, 6.1, 6.5, 16.3, 16.4, 17.10 QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 214 IDC, 1.3, 1.4, 1.12, 8.1, 8.2 ISV (Independent Software Vendor), 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.7, 16.6 Image Backup, 9.2, 9.3, 9.10 International Business Machines (IBM), 3.2, 4.3, 13.1, 15.3 Internet, 1.4, 1.7, 3.7, 3.9, 4.2, 8.3, 8.11, 9.1, 10.3, 10.6, 14.1, 16.3 Intranet, 1.7, 3.7, 8.3, 9.1, 10.3, 14.1 No entries KPMG, 10.11...
Page 215 Multimedia, 1.7, 3.7, 10.3, 10.14, 10.15, 14.2 NAS, 1.3, 1.4, 8.4, 8.6, 8.13 Native Mode, 3.4, 4.7, 6.2, 6.3 Near On-Line Storage, 1.12, 6.1, 8.3, 8.7, 8.9, 8.12, 9.1, 9.4, 9.7, 10.5, 10.8, 11.10 Newman, Floyd R. Laboratory of Nuclear Studies (LNS), 10.1 Novastor, 13.3...
Page 216 Power Supply, 8.10 Protective Housing, 8.11 Publishing, 1.7, 3.2, 10.3, 10.12 Quantum Service Center, 16.7 Quantum Web Site, 8.11, 13.6, 15.6, 16.1, 16.8 Quarter Inch Cartridge (QIC), 1.8, 1.9, 3.1, 3.7, 4.8, 5.1, 7.7, 11.1, 11.7, 11.9, 11.10 RAIT, 9.1, 9.8, 9.9 Read/Write Heads, 2.3, 2.6, 2.10, 6.5, 7.5, 11.7...
Page 217 11.5, 11.6, 11.9, 12.3, 12.4, 14.4, 14.5, 15.6, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 17.1, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8,17.9, 17.10, 17.11, 17.12, 17.13, 17.14, 17.15 Supply Reel, 2.10, 5.4, 7.3 Sustained Transfer Rate, 6.3 Symmetric Phase Recording (SPR), 2.4, 2.6, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 11.5, 11.6 Systems Trends, 1.2 QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK...
Page 218 TF85, 3.4, 3.5 TF857, 3.4 TF86, 3.5 TK50, 3.2 TK70, 3.2, 3.3 Tachometer, 5.2, 5.5, 5.6 Take-Up Reel, 2.2, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 3.1, 3.2, 5.3, 5.4, 7.3, 11.3 Tape as Disk, 9.1, 9.4, 9.5 Tape Leader Loop, 7.3 Tape Path, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 3.4, 3.5, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 6.5, 6.6, 7.3, 11.3, 11.5, 11.7 Tape RAIT, 9.1, 9.8 Tape Stress, 11.3, 11.7...
Page 219 Video Distribution, 1.7, 10.3 White Papers, 16.1 WORM (Write Once, Read Many), 11.11 Windows 3.2, 3.5, 10.13, 10.14, 13.4, 17.7 www.DLTtape.com, 8.11, 13.2, 13.6, 16.1, 16.8 www.quantum.com, 8.11, 13.2, 13.6, 16.1, 16.8 X, Y, Z No entries QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK I.11...

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