How long is an LTO tape?
Table of Contents
How long is an LTO tape?
609 m
Tape specifications
| Generations | LTO-1 | LTO-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Native data capacity | 100 GB | 12 TB |
| Tape length | 609 m | 960 m |
| Tape width | 12.650 mm ± 0.006 mm | |
| Tape thickness | 8.9 µm | 5.6 µm |
What is tape library in backup?
Tape libraries and autoloaders automate backups and archives with multiple tapes. Tape libraries offer more capabilities than autoloaders, but are often far more expensive, as well as more complex because they have more tape drives. A tape autoloader is a step up from a single tape drive for backup and archiving.
What is tape storage?
Tape storage is a system in which magnetic tape is used as a recording media to store data. With data volumes growing rapidly worldwide, tape storage is the most suitable system for data storage requiring large capacity. Software controls the reading and writing of data.
How does LTO tape work?
The LTO cartridge has a single reel of tape. When in the tape drive, the tape gets wound into the drive to the take-up reel. Tape length started with 600m and is now at 960m per cartridge. Capacity usually doubles from one generation to the next and now is at 12TB native.
How long do tape backups last?
30 years
According to a handful of sources, manufacturers claim that tape can last up to 30 years. This can make it a useful medium for archiving, but magnetic tapes will last that long only under absolutely optimum environmental conditions.
Where are tape libraries used?
backups
Because of their slow sequential access and huge capacity, tape libraries are primarily used for backups and as the final stage of digital archiving. A typical application of the latter would be an organization’s extensive transaction record for legal or auditing purposes.
How does a tape library work?
A tape library contains racks of cartridges and multiple tape drives with a robotic system used for automatically changing tape cartridges. A filing system that uses a barcode reader or an RF scanner allows the tape library to find the correct tape to load either for writing or for reading.
Are tape backups still used?
Just as with any other form of technology, tape has evolved over the years. Even though its role as the main backup medium has largely been taken over by disk and cloud storage, tape backup is still actively used in modern data centers.
How do I backup with tape drive?
Run Windows Backup
- Do this by going to the Start Menu > Accessories > System Tools > Backup.
- If the Backup or Restore Wizard appears, click on Advanced Mode as shown below.
- Click the Backup tab as shown below, and under Backup destination, your tape drive format should appear.
How does tape media work?
Tape drives work either by using a traditional helical scan where the recording and playback heads touch the tape, or linear tape technology, where the heads never actually touch the tape. Drives can be rewinding, where the device issues a rewind command at the end of a session, or non-rewinding.