ADSM-L

Re: Tape Library Recommendation

1999-12-03 11:47:35
Subject: Re: Tape Library Recommendation
From: Richard Sims <rbs AT BU DOT EDU>
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 11:47:35 -0500
> Just image the scenario where you need to restore a critical file with
>you CEO watching and have to explain that it is going to take an hour
>because there are 5 tape mounts involved and each has to seek across 75GB of
>tape surface.

Depends upon the choice of tape technology.  Magstar 3590 technology's
"serpentine" layout is like having N tape surfaces side-by-side, in parallel,
so positioning is Capacity/N rather than Capacity in terms of skipping over
data; and the servo track facilitates positioning.  But as you say, the
tape mounts and positioning still account for much of the restoral time.
It's the usual matter of how much one wants to spend or can afford to,
inherent technology reliability, native speed, etc.
     Richard Sims, BU
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