Key technologies for tape drive backup

DAT (Digital Audio Tape) technology

DAT technology, also known as digital audio tape technology, was originally developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Sony. This technique is based on helical-scan Records (helical Scan recording), converts data to numbers and then stores it, and early DAT technology is used primarily for sound recording, which is later used in the field of data storage as the technology continues to improve. DAT technology is mainly applied to user systems or local area networks. DAT provides high quality data protection at a very reasonable price point. IDC estimates that 70% of the 1995 DAT shipments is for networks and multiuser systems, and 29% for High-performance PCs. 1995 DAT shipments increased by 45% to 1.2 million units.

In the area of information storage, DAT has been a widely used technology, and there are indications that DAT's advantage will continue to remain. The reason this technology is popular is that it has a high performance-price ratio. We take HP DAT Technology for example: first of all, in terms of performance, this technology produces an average of 200,000 hours of downtime for the tape drive (the new product has reached 300,000 hours); In terms of reliability, the write-and-read function is detected immediately after the data is written, This not only ensures the reliability of the data, but also saves a lot of time. Second, this technology has a wide range of tape drives to meet the majority of network system backup needs. Third, this technology has the hardware data compression function greatly speeds up the backup speed, and the compressed data security is higher. Four, because this kind of technology is widely used all over the world, so we can get the continuous supply of this kind of technology products in good after-sale service all over the world. The price of DAT technology products is particularly attractive. This price advantage is not only on the tape drive, but also on the tape is fully reflected.

DLT (Digital Linear Tape) technology

DLT, also known as digital linear tape technology, was first developed by Dec in 1985 and is mainly used in VAX systems. Despite its superior performance, sales fell to its lowest level in 1993 due to the high cost. But later, with the capacity of high-end servers exceeding the capacity offered by other tape drives (for example, 8mm), DLT is again known as a hot topic in the field of information storage. IDC estimates 1994-1995 DLT growth of up to 93.5%.

The DLT technique uses a single spindle 1/2-inch tape cartridge to record the law based on the longitudinal curve. The DLT product is positioned in the medium and Advanced Server market for the tape library application system. Currently, the capacity of the DLT drive ranges from 10GB to 35GB, with data transfer speeds corresponding to 1.25mb/seconds to 5mb/seconds.

LTO (Linear Tape Open) technology

LTO is the linear Tape open protocol that is made up of HP, combined with the advantages of linear multi-channel and bidirectional tape format, the three manufacturers of IBM and Seagate, based on service system, hardware data compression, optimized track surface and high efficiency error correction technology, improve the capability and performance of the tape.

LTO technology is an "open format" technology that allows the three vendors to open production licenses to the producers of storage media, tape drives, and to make the products of different vendors more compatible, meaning that users will have multiple products and media. Openness also brings more inventive innovations that make the price of products fall and users benefit. At the same time, LTO also specifically stipulates that the third party to conduct an annual compatibility test to ensure that the product continuity is better. For this latest tape storage technology ──lto, there are also analysts who argue that "LTO is on top of existing technologies, minimizing the risk of using new technology, which is technological evolution, not technological innovation, and thus reduces the risk of using new technologies." ”

Currently, LTO has two storage formats: high-speed open tape format i.e. Ultrium and fast access to open Tape format accelis, which is customized in two formats because not all users require the same features and functionality. Some applications emphasize "read", requiring fast data access. Other applications focus on "write", which requires the highest tape storage capabilities.

Both of these formats use the same headers, media tracks, channels, and service technologies, and share many common code sections. Because storage users are more focused on storage capacity today, the Ultrium format is a more noteworthy technology for today's storage industry than the two formats.