History of Data Backup Storage Tapes

INTRODUCTION:

Computer Backup tape is a most essential and important field of data backup need. Now a day’s most organizations are using backup tapes for the purpose of restoring the data after loss event. Backup tape trend is increasing just because of the major issues of hardware failure events. With the increasing risks of computer viruses, cyber-damage and hardware failures, implementing a systemized backup data plan is a most necessary part of any business plan for risk management.

HISTORY OF BACKUP TAPE:

In 1951, backup tape was a nice idea but the reality is also little scary. With the passage of time it became a reality and more reliable data storage field. It was a great effort by inventors who created this advance tape technology on that time and also was the great achievement for source of data storage. Data tapes were more efficient and affected because of their storage capacity, reliability and also for design.

Backup tape is the activity of copying files or databases, so that their additional copies may be restored in the case of the data loss happening. So, we can generally emphasize first two aspects of backup tapes the first is use for storage of data and the 2nd aspect is backup tapes also use for storage of backup media.

 The first computer backup tapes were made on big reels of magnetic tape, and even paper: punch cards and paper tape. In the next age, backups were mostly stored on floppy disks of various sizes. But today’s PCs don’t even have floppy drives, not to mention punch card processing devices also. Backups are now just written on CDs, hard drives, flash drives or also via network and data tapes. But on that time and until now some old and efficient technologies, such as tape backup, still remain very popular and developed. So, here is some type of data storage devices for backup.

There are different mediums of data storage: 

•     Magnetic Tapes
•     Hard Drives
•     Floppy Disks
•     Punch Card
•     CD-R/RW
•     DVD - New Backup Media
•     Flash Drives
•     Blu-ray Disks - The New Generation of Backup Media
•     Data Backup Tapes

Sony LIB-81/A3, Tape Library is Ideal for AIT-3 Backup Tape Technology

Long term storage and protection of vital corporate data is the top priority of all types of companies. That’s why the backup storage demands over the years have gone sky-high. This is compounded by rigorous business requirements, stiff data retention laws and tight budgets.

The 21^st century enterprises call for AIT backup storage solution.  This highly compact tape-based format was invented by Sony.  AIT technology provides faster throughput rate and greater media capacity in a smaller footprint.  Smaller size is the most advantageous feature of AIT technology, and you can easily carry the AIT backup tape in your shirt pocket.  The AIT backup tape format is the perfect solution for small businesses to enterprise class environments.

 Sony offers a complete range of AIT tape products including drives, tape media and libraries. Sony LIB-81/A3, tape library has been specifically engineered to address the growing demands of mid-sized businesses, busy data centers and emerging backup applications. Sony LIB-81/A3 library supports AIT 3 generation.

The library delivers an exceptional native capacity of 0.8 TB. The capacity seamlessly extends to 2.08 TB in compressed mode.  Sony LIB-81/A3 library is very space-efficient and saves more data-center space. You will be amazed to know that this high capacity library occupies only 1U rack space.  It can house up to 8 tape cartridges and a single AIT-3 drive.  Backup rate of LIB-81/A3 library has been enhanced, clocking in at an exceptional speed of 86.4 GB/hr (compressed).

Sony AIT-3 tape cartridge is compact and significantly smaller than rival tape formats, which makes it the perfect option for space-constrained IT environments.  A single Sony AIT3 cartridge can hold 100GB uncompressed data for a longer time period of 30 years.  Good news is that WORM feature has been introduced in AIT 3 technology to help customers satisfy the stringent mandates of government regulations. Sony SDX3-100W, AIT-3 cartridge supports WORM mechanism. The part number of re-writable AIT3 cartridge is SDX3-100C.

Sony AIT-3 technology mainly competes against dds-3 tape, dat160 tape, Travan TR5 tape, dlt-iv tape, slr100 tape, dat72 tape, RDX cartridge, dds4 tape and sdlt tape technologies.

With Sony’s exclusive DLC “diamond like carbon” media coating, the archival life of AIT-3 backup tapes has been prolonged.  So the users can be assured of long-term investment protection and superior business value.  File searching and data access times have been significantly shortened with the introduction of MIC technology. MIC (memory in cassette) stores file log and directory information. This AIT drives reads this information from MIC chip, which helps the drive to quickly advance to the specific file location. As a result, the average cartridge access time has been reduced to less than 10 seconds. 

LIB-81/A3 library ensures superior cost-efficiency and provides a perfect balance of value & performance. It is ideal for unattended backups and demanding data centers. LIB-81/A3 library allows remote monitoring and management of backup operations, thus providing the customers more flexibility and convenience.

For broader compatibility and higher throughput, ultra-160 Wide SCSI LVD interface has been introduced in LIB-81/A3 tape library.

When you select Sony AIT tape solution, you are certainly making a wise decision.

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