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Three reasons to avoid virtual tape libraries

Rick Cook
02.29.2008
Rating: -1.83- (out of 5)

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Virtual tape library (VTL) technology is a subset of disk-to-disk (D2D) backup. Like other forms of D2D, a VTL often uses inexpensive Serial ATA (SATA) drives, usually with some level of RAID protection, to provide near-term backup and restoration. Unlike other forms of D2D, a VTL is engineered to look like a very large tape library to the system. Most VTLs can emulate a variety of tape drives and tape libraries.

VTLs can be purchased as software only, as a complete standalone system from vendors such as Copan Systems Inc., Diligent Technologies Corp., FalconStor Software, Network Appliance Inc. (NetApp), Overland Storage Inc. and Sun Microsystems Inc.'s StorageTek, or as a controller for an existing RAID array from companies like Ultera Syst

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ems Inc. In addition, some backup software includes a VTL module that uses the existing file system and storage to function as a virtual tape library.

Speed is probably the main reason for installing VTL. Compared to tape, VTLs widen backup windows and make it easier to recover files. VTLs also perform encryption and data deduplication without cramping tight backup windows. While a VTL combines strengths of both tape and disk, it combines some of their weaknesses, too. Storage administrators should consider the drawbacks of VTLs as well as their strengths.

Some reasons not to use a virtual tape library include:

About the author: Rick Cook specializes in writing about issues related to storage and storage management.

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