Tape Backup

Overview If you are looking for the most cost-effective way of backing up your important data, tape backup is the clear choice. Tape backup offers a large storage capacity and excellent reliability, as well as a relatively low cost per unit of information stored. Many tape backup systems are available on the market. They range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Higher-priced models have larger storage capacity, faster data transfer, and advanced software. Lower-priced models can easily store the entire contents of your PC’s hard drive on one tape within a few hours time. 

General Information Tape backup units typically consist of a tape drive and a tape cartridge. The tape drive contains the drive mechanisms and the tape head, which records to and reads from the tape. The tape cartridge houses the magnetic tape, which stores the data. The actual tape varies in width, from 4 mm to 1/2 inch, depending on the specific tape technology. Both internal and external tape drives of varying storage capacity are available from a variety of manufacturers. To familiarize yourself with tape backup technologies and their differences, visit this. link or the article "Tape Technology Stretches Out" at Computerworld.com.  This article discusses the advantages of tape backup and tape backup software. To discover which tape backup systems are the most highly rated, read the product reviews on this CNET page. This page also has links to information about such topics as tape backup software, tape formats, and the editor’s choice picks. Visit the tape backup driver discussion forum for more information on the technical aspects of tape backup drivers. Finally, the Web site www.sunrise.uk.com/prod_tape.html provides specifications and descriptions of some of the most advanced tape backup systems that are available. 

Shopping for Tape Backup Supplies Do you need advice on which tape backup system is best suited for your needs? Davis Strom’s article “How to Buy a Tape Backup Device”  will help you to figure out your storage and tape system needs. Then, browse the selection of tape backup devices for sale at a site such as www.pcconnection.com. If you are looking for tape backup software, visit this Google Directory page.

Additional Links Read about external tape drives with an IEEE 1394/FireWire interface at www.nextag.com/. And, are you interested in installing a tape backup device for your Linux system? This article describes one such product.