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Tape backup, also known as streamer, is a reliable and cost-effective way to archive data by copying it onto magnetic tape. The process is initiated by software and allows for sequential access. Improvements in equipment have minimized delays and accidents. Tape backup is often used in conjunction with other data storage options for added security.
Sometimes referred to as a streamer, tape backup is a form of data archiving used to create a copy of data stored on a system at a specific point in time. The data is copied onto a reel of magnetic tape and can be stored permanently for future reference. Before the advent of compact data disks, using such a backup was common for many businesses that relied heavily on computer databases. Even today, magnetic tape’s reliability and relatively low cost make using a tape backup an attractive option.
The actual backup process is no different than copying data to a remote server or CDR. Software is used to initiate the process and monitor its progress. In general, magnetic tape backup can read data from a hard drive as fast as other data storage options and copy the data to tape with relative ease. Once finished, the tape can be archived and archived, effectively creating a snapshot of all data within a system at a specific date and time.
While backing up data to a disk is fine for creating a copy of current information on the system, the process of accessing archived data is slightly different than a magnetic tape backup. The disk drive allows for so-called random access. Essentially, this means that you can search and skip saved data. In contrast, most tape backup systems only allow sequential access. The data is accessed at the beginning of the captured data and then moved in the order it was recorded.
The equipment used in a tape backup has been improved over the years. Systems used decades ago with large mainframes often had to pause and sometimes rewind slightly to accurately capture data. This was because the magnetic tape that ran on the reels didn’t always move at a constant speed. In the 1980s, buffering equipment was added to minimize the potential for delay and reduce this stop-rewind-start activity.
In recent years, the ability to use more than one speed level for the tape backup process has been added to recording systems. This allows you to regulate reading and acquiring data on the magnetic tape so that the process runs smoothly. Together with the buffers, this has helped to further reduce stop and start accidents due to delays.
It’s not unusual for many businesses to use a tape backup and encourage the use of other data storage options. For example, a company can copy data to a remote server, providing instant access in the event of a primary server failure. A tape backup is still performed daily, usually at night, as a means of taking a snapshot of what the data looks like at any given point in time. A strategy of this type translates into great security for the company, making permanent data loss practically impossible.
