IBM Tape Systems
Storage managers are finding themselves in a quandary. On one hand they are being asked to do more with less, reduce the infrastructure, reduce costs and maintain service level objectives. On the other hand they are asked to store ever increasing amounts of data. They are challenged to manage bulging backup and restore windows. They are asked to meet existing and emerging regulatory requirements including the access to reference data for extended periods of time. And, last but not least, they protect data to support business continuity goals.
Users are trying to manage the need for fast access to some data, long term data retention, data protection and costs. Tape and disk can work together to help address these needs. Disk backup can help address the need for fast retrieval of some data applications, while tape can address most data backup, long term archive and data protection needs in a cost effective manner.
Tape continues to figure significantly into IT infrastructures for high-capacity storage backup. Its unique attributes can help users manage their storage requirements and contribute to the ever-present value of tape in the storage hierarchy.
Tape is:
• removable: store it away to help protect it from viruses, sabotage and other corruption
• scalable: add more cartridges, not drives
• portable: move it to another site to avoid destruction in the event the first site suffers threat or damage
• fast: lightning fast — up to 140 megabits per second (with 2:1 compression) for IBM's LTO™ (Linear Tape Open™) Generation 5 systems
• reliable: trust IBM servo technology, read after write verification and advanced error correction systems, to help maintain reliable and dependable storage
Tape can help you address compliance requirements and WORM applications. Tape has a low total cost of ownership, costing up to 10 times less than disk. Using today's disk to disk to tape methodology, tape is a key element.
As new storage formats and devices are developed and refined, industry experts periodically forecast the demise of tape, pronouncing it slow and outmoded. However, tape continues to be the most cost-effective, flexible and scalable medium for high-capacity storage backup. There is less of an initial investment than other formats and tape is easily transportable for outside sharing. IBM has 50+ years of industry knowledge and a commitment to continued innovation.
