Terry,
        I think it's time is here all right. But, looking a bit further
ahead, why restrict it to tape formats? Why does it have to look like tape
drives or tape libraries at all? The file device does just about all you
would want of a virtual jukebox.

        Do you think that a Networker server, connected to a SAN and having
several large LUNs on that SAN each configured as a file device would do the
same thing? Maybe even leveraging the SAN's utilities to copy the data to a
remote SAN for DR purposes?

        Don't get me wrong, I think the idea of a virtual tape device is
good but I think that it is a short term goal to virtualise the tape. If you
are going away from tape to disk storage or even solid state storage as the
main backup/recovery media it is an ideal opportunity to 'rethink' the whole
backup scenario. 

        You've got to keep asking yourself 'Is there a better way?' I think
there is, and I think we're going to see it in the next few years...

Regards
Bob


-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Lemons [mailto:lemons_terry AT EMC DOT COM] 
Sent: 08 November 2002 13:45
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: [Networker] virtual tape library / tape emulation products

Hi

A posting to this mailing list about a specific virtual tape library prompts
me to learn more.  Please reply if you are using, or considering using a
virtual tape library or tape emulation product.  If you are using one, which
one, and how well is it working for you.  What do you think of the whole
idea of a virtual tape library - great idea whose time has come, or do you
just not see the need for one?

Thanks for the ensuing discussion!
tl

Terry Lemons
CLARiiON Application Solutions Engineering
        EMC²            
where information lives

4400 Computer Drive, MS D239
Westboro MA 01580
Phone: 508 898 7312
Email: Lemons_Terry AT emc DOT com

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