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Tape backup and tape libraries
How to keep physical backup media storage safe
Data is your organization's most important digital asset. Here are some tips on how to ensure physical data backups are stored at a safe and secure location. Continue Reading
10 steps to creating an effective data backup strategy
A common denominator in well-functioning backup infrastructures is effective process and control. This checklist highlights 10 areas to help build a better backup practice. Continue Reading
Archive vs. backup and why you need to know the differences
Archiving and data backup are both key pieces of data protection. They can complement each other, but both provide distinct and important capabilities. Continue Reading
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Data backup failure: Top 5 causes and tips for prevention
What can you do to prevent data backup failure? Learn how using the 3-2-1 rule, turning to cloud backup and following other practical steps can help protect your data. Continue Reading
Full vs. incremental vs. differential: Comparing types of backup
Evaluate full vs. incremental vs. differential backup, as well as newer types of backup, in synthetic and incremental-forever, to determine what's best for your organization. Continue Reading
7 rules for effective data backup procedures
If you're responsible for data backups on multiple systems, strong policies are highly recommended. This tip gives you seven rules to follow for effective data backup procedures.Continue Reading
Your enterprise data protection strategy should include cloud and tape
The cloud generally makes sense for shorter-term data retention, but find out how it can also play a role in keeping data for longer periods of time.Continue Reading
Double down: When backups and archives beat as one
The purposes of data backup and archiving are quite different, as are the demands each technology places on the storage system. But most data centers, especially those in small to medium-sized organizations, don’t have formal archiving strategies, ...Continue Reading
The zettabytes are coming...fight back
Explosive data growth has brought about a commensurate increase in zettabytes, but a smart, proactive approach to archiving can help.Continue Reading
How to estimate the lifespan of backup tape media
Brien Posey offers advice on how to estimate the useful lifespan of backup tape media based on how it is used, in this Expert Answer.Continue Reading
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Techniques for performing EFS recovery
IT pros face the daunting task of EFS-encrypted data, but Brien Posey offers EFS recovery tricks in this tip.Continue Reading
How to dispose of unwanted backup media
Brien Posey looks at the inherent problems with backup media disposal. Because it contains sensitive data, you must dispose of it safely.Continue Reading
Pros and cons of backup tape encryption
Independent backup expert Brien Posey outlines what's good and what's bad about backup tape encryption in this tip.Continue Reading
Designing a redundant backup solution
Brien Posey discusses the three areas you need to focus on when designing a redundant backup solution.Continue Reading
Understanding your options for virtual tape library solutions
Shopping for virtual tape library solutions can be a challenge thanks to the sheer number of choices available. Learn why in this Brien Posey tip.Continue Reading
Why tape works for active archiving
David Hill, analyst with the Mesabi Group, discusses tape’s role in active archiving.Continue Reading
SAN backup and recovery
Moving data can complicate your backup efforts. In this tip, you’ll learn backup goals for SAN environments and backup methods to achieve those goals.Continue Reading
Magnetic tape’s changing storage role
David Hill, analyst with the Mesabi Group, discusses the changing role of magnetic tape in this Expert Answer.Continue Reading
Data archiving techniques: Choosing the best archive media
Read this tip about data archiving techniques and to discover what's the best archive media for your organization: tape, disk, optical or the cloud.Continue Reading
Data backup management strategies: Combining tape backup and disk-based backup
Even though disk-based backup is all the rage, tape still has its place. Learn how you can get the best of both worlds in this data backup management tip.Continue Reading
Buying your first backup tape library: What you need to know
In this tip, find out what you need to know when buying your first tape library, including when to consider a library, the cost of libraries and which format best fits your needs.Continue Reading
Buying the best backup tape library: Tape libraries vs. tape autoloaders
Learn about how to buy the best backup tape library and the key differences between tape libraries and tape autoloaders in this tip.Continue Reading
Are there any signs that a backup tape cartridge is about to fail?
Sometimes tape failure can be hard to predict, but certain monitoring tools can help detect problematic tapes.Continue Reading
What you need to know about LTO-5 tape: Tips and news on LTO-5 backup tape storage
We've collected our best resources on LTO-5 tape backup to help you stay up to date on this new technology.Continue Reading
Are LTO-4 tapes compatible with other versions of LTO tape technology?
Dave Ellis explains what LTO-4 is and its compatibility with other versions of LTO in this expert response.Continue Reading
The pros and cons of tape media storage for backup and recovery in SMB environments
Learn about the pros and cons of tape media storage, and if tape storage is the right fit for your SMB environment.Continue Reading
An introduction to data backup tape rotation schemes
Learn about the different types of data backup tape rotation schemes to determine which one is best for your environment.Continue Reading
Upgrading from LTO-3 to LTO-4 tape for data backup and recovery
Upgrading from LTO-3 to LTO-4 to take advantage of LTO-4 improvements in speed and capacity is a good idea for many organizations. Here's a look at potential issues.Continue Reading
Fine-tuning tape storage systems for better data backup performance
If you're using tape as your backup medium, you're likely to need to fine-tune your system. Here are some tips on speeding up your tape backup system.Continue Reading
Tape backup best practices: How to improve tape storage performance
Despite all the hype around disk-based data backup and recovery tape storage is still the primary target for most backups. Not only is the most data stored on tape, but most data is backed up directly to tape without using disk as a buffer. With ...Continue Reading
Tape library storage
Greg Schulz discusses how many tape libraries you should have if you have 3 PB of data in your organization.Continue Reading
Symantec Backup Exec troubleshooting performance tips
If you're using Backup Exec and your performance isn't what it should be, some troubleshooting may be in order. Here's a list of potential things to look out for.Continue Reading
Troubleshooting data backup error log messages
Knowing what how to read your data backup error log messages can help you save time fixing common backup problems. Learn about the most common backup error messages in this tip.Continue Reading
Alternatives to tape-based backup and archival systems
Are you thinking of moving away from tape for data backup? Here's a look at some alternatives to tape-based backup, such as online backup and disk.Continue Reading
The pros and cons of host-based vs. appliance-based tape encryption
Choosing a tape encryption method can be tricky. Here's a look at the pros and cons of host-based vs. appliance-based tape encryption.Continue Reading
How to get the most out of your data backup tapes: Caring for magnetic media
Careless tape handling can cut the lifespan of your tapes, or even destroy a tape entirely. Here's how to properly care for your backup tapes.Continue Reading
How to decide what data to back up
Deciding what data to back up can be a delicate balancing act for backup administrators. Here's how to set a backup policy you can live with.Continue Reading
How to optimize your backup tape rotation strategy
Backup tape rotation is an essential part of any good data backup plan. Here's a look at some of the more common tape rotation strategies and the pros and cons of each.Continue Reading
Backing up with Microsoft's Data Protection Manager
There are a number of things that could potentially cause a Microsoft Data Protection Manager (DPM) server to fail. Here's a step-by-step guide to backing up with Microsoft Data Protection Manager.Continue Reading
Using Dump for Linux/Unix data backup
This article describes the major advantages and disadvantages of using dump to back up your data.Continue Reading
Backup vs. archive
Data backups and archives are different things. Backup and recovery expert Pierre Dorion discusses the role of backups vs. archives and why you shouldn't mistake one for the other.Continue Reading
Ten things you should ask a vendor before buying a tape library
Purchasing the right tape library can make or break your backup system. Here are 10 things you should ask any potential vendor before you purchase a new tape library.Continue Reading
Data protection for financial organizations
Protecting data is especially critical for financial institutions with large amounts of sensitive personal data. A variety of government regulations make this task especially onerous. Here are five ways storage administrators can ease their backup ...Continue Reading
Data backup strategies: Migrating from tape to disk
Here's a checklist of things you should consider before you make the transition from tape to disk for data backup.Continue Reading
How to choose the right tape library
Choosing an expandable, modular tape library with sophisticated management features to support your enterprise can be difficult. Here's how to make the right choice.Continue Reading
The advantages of tape for data backup
With the current focus on disk-based data backup technologies, tape seems to be an outmoded technology, but tape is not dead. Here's why.Continue Reading
Top tape rotation strategies
Here's a list of the most common tape rotation schemes used in data backup and the pros and cons of each.Continue Reading
Tape backup failures
Russ Fellows, senior analyst at the Evaluator Group, answers a SearchDataBackup reader's questions about the most common causes of tape data backup failures.Continue Reading
Multiplexing data backup streams vs. disk for data backup
Now that disk is being used as a primary backup target in more enterprise shops, companies need to reevaluate what role, if any, multiplexing should play in their future backup plans. Here are some questions to ask to help you decide if multiplexing...Continue Reading
Four ways to streamline your data backup process
Are your data backup operations out of control? Here are four tips to help you streamline your data backup and recovery process.Continue Reading
The relationship between RTOs and RPOs
Data backup expert Pierre Dorion discusses the differences between RTOs and RPOs.Continue Reading
The cost of tape vs. disk data backup
Here's how to determine the cost of disk vs. tape in your data backup environment.Continue Reading
Five tips for creating a backup service-level agreement
Learn how to write a backup service-level agreement that will keep the peace between IT and information users.Continue Reading
Troubleshooting automated tape libraries
Between shared libraries, LAN free backups, HBAs, drivers and firmware, many things can cause an automated tape library to function unpredictably. Learn how to troubleshoot automated tape library problems.Continue Reading
What you need to know about LTO-4 tape
This tip provides an overview of the Linear Tape-Open update to LTO-4, detailing its new features and what you need to consider before upgrading to LTO-4.Continue Reading
How to destroy data on backup tapes
This tip offers guidelines for destroying data on backup tapes, with information about degaussing, tape cartridge destruction, tape reuse and record keeping.Continue Reading
How to estimate the lifespan of LTO tapes
This tip outlines what you need to consider when estimating the lifespan of LTO tape. It's not as black and white as LTO tape manufacturers would like you to believe.Continue Reading
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager vs. traditional backup
Learn about the architectural concepts behind IBM's Tivoli Storage Manager backup software and the main differences with what are often referred to as "traditional" backup products. This piece is the first of a series of four on Tivoli Storage ...Continue Reading
How faster tape drives can slow down your backups
Today's high-speed tape drives can outrun a network, causing the drive to have to wait for a data stream. This shoe-shining effect can be overcome, but only if you make disk your primary backup target.Continue Reading
Reusing backup tapes: Best practices
Backup expert Curtis Preston offers advice on reusing tape.Continue Reading
Commvault tapes stop writing before full
Backup expert Pierre Dorion offers troubleshooting advice for a SearchStorage reader who asked: Why do our CommVault tapes stop writing before they are full? When I check the tapes, there is plenty of valid data space and the tapes are not marked ...Continue Reading
Best practices: Optimizing your backups
Most organizations back up data one way or another nowadays -- but just how many do it well? This tip will show you some of the areas of backups you should consider optimizing.Continue Reading
Which backup drive should we buy: LTO, DDS or DLT?
Doug Owens offers buying advice on tape drives.Continue Reading
Choosing a tape drive: LTO, DDS or DLT?
Pierre Dorion offers buying advice on tape drives.Continue Reading
The cost of tape storage
The real cost of a GB of tape storage
Is it cost-effective to implement iSCSI on a tape drive?
When is it time to retire your backup tapes?
Pierre Dorion discusses tape lifespan.Continue Reading
How long does tape last, really?
Fear of tape degradation has led many storage professionals to rewrite their critical tapes every year to keep data fresh.Continue Reading
The dirt on WORM tape
In light of new compliance concerns, tape-based WORM can be an inexpensive alternative optical WORMs. This tip has more on this tape option.Continue Reading
How fast will my backups run?
How long should you keep backup tapes? When should they be retired?
How long should you keep backup tapes? When should they be retired?Continue Reading
Find those missing LTO drives
Where did they go?Continue Reading
Be careful with tape labels
Bar code labels on tape cartridges can cause more trouble than you may think. Get the do's and don'ts of using bar code labels in this tip.Continue Reading
How does cyclic redundancy check (CRC) work?
How to select and implement a tape library - effectively
Select and implement a tape library - effectively.Continue Reading
LTO and DLT advantages
Time-tested TAN tip
Ensuring high disk and tape performance via separate HBAs.Continue Reading
The best secondary storage options
What are the best secondary storage options available?Continue Reading
Sizing tape libraries
Looking for a simple, practical way to estimate your tape needs? Here's a great user-submitted tip.Continue Reading
Considerations in choosing a backup tape drive