What is a virtual tape library?
A virtual tape library (VTL) combines emulation software for backup tape with hard disk architecture and provides excellent archiving backup solutions. The virtual tape library is faster, more flexible, more robust and more cost -effective than the backup on the tape. Since VTL uses a backup to disk-disc (D2D), it is sometimes referred to as VTL D2D.
While the tape units were the method of choice for the archive backup in the 90's, the medium of the magnetic tape has its share in its own disadvantages. Finding cassettes, accessing information and copying files can take several minutes at best and provide a backup unit and cassette as expected. At the beginning of the new millennium, hard drives have become sufficiently affordable to make them a feasible and welcome alternative to backing up the tape. Enter the virtual tape library, backup solutions that offer all the comfort of the tape methodology with speed and reliability of hard drives. AccessThe files via virtual tape is instantaneous, and although hard drives have moving parts, they are much more reliable than magnetic tape.
The virtual tape library is also comfortable in other ways. Using disk arrays, you can potentially save up to terabyte data or more in several hard drives with a large capacity that take up a little more space than a laptop. Using the raid fields that read the discs as the only large unit, the data are placed on "One Place" rather than spread between the cartridges. The workstation configured with the correct login data has access to the library of virtual tapes without incurring other sources of employees for the processing of the backup unit and managing the backup or renewal services.
Virtual tape library uses software for backup strategies. As a result, it is compatible for implementation into the existing tape backup structure.The virtual tape library can also be part of a redundant bstrategy Ackup, which includes a hard disk backup as a primary source and a backup of the tape as a secondary library. The cartridges can be stored in a safe place outside the premises for maximum security. In the event of a fire or theft, the tape library will still be available to convert the system. This strategy also includes cartridges for transport to other offices or places where the network may not exist.
If your network does not currently use the library of tape, you may be interested in using True D2D rather than virtual tape library or VTL D2D. TRUE D2D is not limited to emulation similar tape and can use external redundant discs as a mobile secondary backup archive. D2D software is available for RAID and non-raid disk fields.