Quantum® Dlttape™ Handbook
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Quantum® DLTtape™ Handbook Your Complete Guide to Today’s Hottest Storage Technology Eighth Edition FROM QUANTUM CORPORATION i Notice Editor Peter McGowan g•m marketing communications Associate Editor Stephen Weekley Quantum Corporation Senior Writer Hank Giles g•m marketing communications Art Director Christine Koch Knockout Graphics Illustrator Steve Hussey Copyright ©1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 Quantum Corporation QUANTUM CORPORATION 501 Sycamore Drive Milpitas, CA 95035 1-800-624-5545 www.quantum.com or www.DLTtape.com Quantum and the Quantum logo are trademarks of Quantum Corporation, registered in the U.S.A. and other countries. DLTtape, the DLTtape logo, Super DLTtape, and the Super DLTtape logo are trademarks of Quantum Corporation. Products mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Quantum is not responsible for typographical, editorial, or pictorial errors in this publication. Product specifications and technical information are subject to change without notice. ii Foreword The world of data storage has changed a great deal since we pub- lished the first Quantum DLTtape™ Handbook in 1997. In just this short time, the role of storage has evolved dramatically. It has become clear that effective storage strategies are fundamental to the success of virtually any information technology strategy, whether it’s in re-energized smokestack industries or e-commerce. Since the first Quantum DLTtape Handbook, we now have pub- lished a total of eight editions, plus two editions in Japanese and one in Chinese. And, while the roles of storage and DLTtape tech- nology have changed and evolved with incredible speed, the objective of the handbook is still much the same as it was original- ly: to educate our various audiences by providing an in-depth look at DLTtape system technology and a comprehensive overview of DLTtape products and solutions. The book will also give you a context for understanding how storage technology has evolved into such an integral part of enterprise IT strategy, and the role DLTtape technology plays. The most notable change in the content of this eighth edition is the inclusion of extensive information on the new Super DLTtape™ technology, the next generation of DLTtape technology. Super DLTtape technology delivers dramatic increases in DLTtape speed and capacity, while continuing the DLTtape commitment to com- patibility with previous generations of drives and media. Incorporating a number of important technology innovations, Super DLTtape technology promises to broaden the role of the QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK iii DLTtape system as the dominant tape technology for backup, recovery, archiving, vaulting, near on-line storage, and multi- media storage hierarchies. Because Super DLTtape technology is the newest development in DLTtape systems, we have included in this edition of the handbook a great deal of new information specific to Super DLTtape technolo- gy. However, it is important to emphasize that, while Super DLTtape technology includes a number of breakthrough innovations, it is not a “new” technology: it is an extension of all the concepts that have made the DLTtape systems so successful since the original linear tape technology was introduced in 1985. So when we use the term “DLTtape systems” or “DLTtape technology” throughout this book, we refer to all DLTtape technology, including Super DLTtape technology, and the entire DLTtape family of products, including the newest Super DLTtape drives and media. Welcome to the eighth edition of the Quantum DLTtape Handbook, and to the exciting possibilities of a whole new generation of Super DLTtape systems. iv FOREWORD Contents Chapter Page — Introduction vii — 1. The Evolving Tape Storage Market 1.1 — 2. What is the DLTtape System? 2.1 — 3. History of DLTtape Technology 3.1 — 4. Why Customers Want the DLTtape System 4.1 — 5. Reliability: The Heart of the DLTtape System 5.1 — 6. Demystifying Tape Drive Specs 6.1 — 7. DLTtape Media 7.1 — 8. Automation 8.1 — 9. Horizontal Applications 9.1 — 10. Vertical Market Applications 10.1 — 11. DLTtape System Technology Compared 11.1 — 12. Evaluating the Cost of a DLTtape Backup Solution 12.1 — 13. Platform Connectivity & Software Compatibility 13.1 — 14. Storage Management Software 14.1 — 15. Firmware 15.1 — 16. Using the DLTtape System 16.1 — 17. Super DLTtape: The Future of DLTtape Technology 17.1 — Appendix A: Super DLTtape System Products A.1 and DLTtape System Products — Glossary G.1 — Index I.1 QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK v vi Introduction This handbook will introduce you to one of the dominant forces in mid-range storage technology – the DLTtape systems, including the new Super DLTtape systems. These systems are the acknowledged market-share leaders in mid-range tape backup and archiving, thanks to their remarkable performance, reliability, and storage capacity. Convergence Emergence Why has a seemingly mundane topic like backup and archiving become such a hot subject in recent years? There are several answers. A number of trends are converging to create a new and seemingly limitless hunger for faster, higher capacity storage back- up systems. These trends include: • The growth of Internet, Intranet, and e-commerce applications, many of which require constant backup of very large databases. • The popularity of storage-intensive applications like multi- media, data warehousing, video editing, medical imaging, financial analysis, and engineering. • Centralized backup management of distributed, networked systems. • Exponential increases in hard disk capacity and performance. QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK vii • A shrinking “window” for backup and archiving. • The emergence of enterprise level storage management strategies, including Storage Area Networks. In this handbook, we will show you why DLTtape and Super DLTtape drives and media are the best storage solutions for these and many of the other storage challenges you may face. We will also help you eval- uate your DLTtape storage options and pick the solution that’s right for you. We’ve Got You Covered To help you understand DLTtape technology and how it fits into your IS backup picture, we’ve included chapters that cover every- thing from the history of DLTtape drives and media to a detailed comparison of competitive backup solutions. Here’s a sample of what we’ll cover: • What is the DLTtape system? • What is Super DLTtape technology? • Why customers want DLTtape drives and media – the DLTtape system. • Applications for the DLTtape system. • What makes the DLTtape system so reliable? • Why the DLTtape system is perfect for autoloaders, libraries, and Storage Area Networks (SANs). • What makes DLTtape cartridges special. • Platform connectivity considerations. • The bright future of Super DLTtape technology. Welcome to the new world of storage management. Welcome to the world of the DLTtape and Super DLTtape systems from Quantum Corporation. viii INTRODUCTION The Evolving Tape Storage Market 1 Before we plunge into the story of the DLTtape system, we need some context. Who’s buying DLTtape drives and media? And, more importantly, WHY? In this chapter, we’ll walk you through some of the market forces that are impacting the industry, including: • Trends in computing systems: moving away from centralized computing, toward a client/server model. • Moving to centralized management of distributed systems. • Growth of mission critical, leading edge applications. • Dramatic advances in tape technology for backup. Market Size The market for tape drives is projected at $6 billion a year for the next few years, with unit shipments holding steady at about 4 mil- lion per year, worldwide. Almost all of those 4 million units are going to be used for backup. But, while unit shipments will remain steady, the amount of data that needs to be backed up is growing rapidly. For example, it is estimated that in 1999 worldwide server capacity, one important category of data that needs to be backed up, was less than 500 petabytes (Figure 1.1). By 2004, that figure will have multiplied to over 4,300 petabytes! QUANTUM DLTtape HANDBOOK 1.1 Worldwide Server Capacity (in Petabytes) 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 Centralized Network 2,500 2,000 1,500 Centralized 1,000 Administration Distributed 500 Workgroups SOHO 0 Networks 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Source: Strategic Research Corp., Network Demographics, 2000 Figure 1-1 Worldwide Server Capacity is one measure of data to be backed up. The figure is climbing at a much steeper rate than the rate of tape shipments. Backup capacity must increase to match increased storage demands in this and other categories. With the projected amount of data that needs to be backed up climb- ing at a rapid rate, and the projected growth in tape drive units shipped staying relatively flat, each of those backup tape drive units must deliv- er more capacity than ever before. Analysts project that there may be the potential for a melt-down if the backup technology does not keep up with that sharply rising demand curve. The continual evolution of DLTtape technology and the dramatic increase in capacity and perfor- mance delivered by Super DLTtape technology are a direct response to this need. What factors are driving this rising demand for backup capacity? Let’s start with computer systems trends. From Mainframe to Client/Server The deployment of client/server systems is accelerating. From 1994 to 1996, the percentage of organizations that said they were actually using client/server systems grew from 25 to 44 percent. Today, client/server is the dominant mainstream approach to enterprise 1.2 THE EVOLVING TAPE STORAGE MARKET Worldwide SAN and NAS Revenues in $ Billions 20 16 12 NAS 8 SAN 4 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Source: IDC December 2000 Figure 1-2 SAN and NAS Disk Shipment Revenues will continue to grow quickly as these storage concepts are implemented widely. computing. For storage and backup, this means a shift away from the high-end products used in mainframe environments (reel-to-reel tape), and away from low-end, PC-oriented products (4mm DAT), and toward the mid-range (8mm and half-inch DLTtape systems).