Tape Drive Backup Software

written by: Joe Karaka; article published: year 2006, month 10;


In: Categories » Computers and technology » Storage devices » Tape Drive Backup Software

The most important decision you can make after you choose the tape standard and capacity of your backup tape drive is the backup software you will use with it.

The three sources for tape backup software are

  • Software bundled with the drive
  • Software bundled with the operating system
  • Software obtainable from third parties

Use the following checklist to evaluate the software you plan to use with your tape backup drive:

  • Device support. You might prefer to use tape for most backups, but can you change your mind and use high-capacity removable magnetic or optical storage if you need to? Some backup software bundled with a particular drive will work only with that drive; check whether a full version with more options is available.
  • Compatibility with existing backups. If you have replaced an older tape drive with a new one, can the backup software as well as the tape drive read your old data?
  • Adjustable compression options. If you are using a drive without hardware data compression, you should be able to adjust the compression methods used, or even turn them off to make sending the tape to the user of another drive easier.
  • Data safety options. In addition to verification, good tape software should also include some form of ECC error correction to make recovering the data in case of media damage easier.
  • Disaster recovery. Many bundled or operating-systemstandard backup programs require you to reinstall the operating system before you can restore the contents of a crashed drive. Insist on a disaster recovery feature that will allow you to restore a drive from bootable disks and the tape backup without taking the time to reinstall the operating system first. Keep in mind that you need to verify that the tape drive and interface support disaster recovery. If you want to use a USB or an IEEE 1394a drive for disaster recovery, you usually need to make a boot disk or CD with disaster-recovery software that supports these interfaces. Some backup programs support only SCSI or ATAPI drives for disaster recovery.

Other useful features to look for include

  • Unattended backup scheduling. Enables you to schedule a backup for a time when you won't need to use your computer. You might be able to use the scheduling features in Windows if the software itself lacks this option.
  • Macro capability. Use when selecting options and the files to back up.
  • A quick tape-erase capability. Use when erasing the entire contents of a tape.
  • Partial tape-erase capability. Use when erasing only part of a tape.
  • Tape unerase capability. Use when recovering erased data.
  • Password-protect capability. Enables you to protect backup data from access by unauthorized persons.

Read reviews, check compatibility, look for trial versions, and be sure to test the backup and restore features as you look for the best tape backup program for your needs.

Tip

Backup software vendor Novastor (www.novastor.com) has a unique solution for a major problem caused by moving from an older backup system to a new one: What to do with the data on the older tapes? Its TapeCopy 2.1 software enables you to move data archives from your outmoded SCSI, ATA/IDE, USB, or FireWire tape backup to a new backup system. You can also use it to make hard disk copies of your tapes and to duplicate a backup tape on a similar drive. If you have extensive backup data and don't want to retain your old tape backup drive, TapeCopy v2.1 might be the answer. See the website for specific model compatibility and to download a trial version.

legal disclaimer

1) Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article as well for any and all copyright infringements by authors and writers. E-articles is a free information resource. If you suspect this article for any copyright infringements, please read the Terms of service and contact us to investigate the problem.
2) The E-articles directory team is not responsible for inaccuracies, falsehoods, or any other types of misinformation this tutorial may contain and will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by a user through the user's reliance on the information gained here. Please read the Terms of service

Useful tools and features

Translate this article to...    Send this article to you or to a friend

Link to this article from your page   
If you like this article (tutorial), please link to it from your web page using the information above. Linking to this page, this is the only way to help us improve our service, the same time providing your visitors with a way to improve their online experience.

related articles

1. How to choose a Tape Backup Drive
Choosing a tape backup drive can be a simple job if you need to back up a single standalone system with a relatively small hard drive. The decision becomes more complex if the system has a larger hard drive or if you must back up a desktop system as well as a laptop. Choosing a tape backup drive type can be an even more complex program if you must back up a network server's hard drives and perhaps even back up the workstations from the server. As you ponder which backup tape drive you should select, consider the following facto...

2. DVD Copy Protection
DVD video discs employ several levels of protection that are mainly controlled by the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) and a third-party company called Macrovision. This protection typically applies only to DVD-Video discs, not DVD-ROM software. So, for example, copy protection might affect your ability to make backup copies of The Matrix, but it won't affect a DVD encyclopedia or other software application distributed on DVD-ROM discs. Note that every one of these protection systems has been broken, so with a lit...

3. How to Manually Resolve Motherboard Conflicts
In the past, the only way to resolve conflicts manually was to take the cover off your system and start changing switches or jumper settings on the adapter cards. Fortunately, this is a bit easier with plug-and-play because all the configuration is done via the Device Manager software included in the operating system. Although some early plug-and-play cards also had jumper switches or setup options to enable them to be configured manually, this feature was found primarily on ISA PnP-compatible cards. Be sure you write down or print o...

4. Hard Drive Advancements
In 1957, Cyril Northcote Parkinson published his famous compilation of essays titled Parkinson's Law, which begins with the statement, "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." A corollary of Parkinson's most famous "law" can be applied to hard drives: "Data expands so as to fill the space available for its storage." This, of course, means that no matter how big a drive you get, you will find a way to fill it. I know that I have lived by that dictum since purchasing my first hard disk drive more than 2...

5. How Magnetic Fields Are Used to Store Data
All magnetic storage devices read and write data by using electromagnetism. This basic principle of physics states that as an electric current flows through a conductor (wire), a magnetic field is generated around the conductor. Note that electrons actually flow from negative to positive as shown in the figure, although we normally think of current flowing in the other direction Electromagnetism was discovered in 1819 by Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted, when he found that a compass needle would deflect away from p...

6. Hard Disk Form Factors
The cornerstone of the PC industry has always been standardization. With disk drives, this is evident in the physical and electrical form factors that comprise modern drives. By using industry-standard form factors, you can purchase a system or chassis from one manufacturer and yet physically and electrically install a drive from a different manufacturer. Form factor standards ensure that available drives will fit in the bay, the screw holes will line up, and the standard cables and connections will plug in. Without these indus...

7. Magneto Optical Drives
One of the most neglected types of removable-drive technologies is the magneto-optical (MO) drive. Introduced commercially in 1985, magneto-optical drives are now available in capacities exceeding 9GB. Two sizes of magneto-optical media and drives are available for desktop computers: 3 1/2" and 5 1/4". The 3 1/2" drives have capacities up to 2.3GB, and the 5 1/4" drives have capacities up to 9.1GB. 12" MO drives are also available for enterprise systems. Originally, magneto-optical drives were strictly WORM (write once, r...

8. Introduction in the Microdrive Technology
If you prefer magnetic storage for digital camera or other electronic device data storage, consider the Hitachi Microdrive, originally developed by IBM and now manufactured and sold by Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. The Hitachi Microdrive has also been sold by various other companies under OEM agreements. The Microdrive is a true hard disk that spins at 3,600RPM and features a 128KB cache buffer. Since its introduction by IBM, the Microdrive in its Compact Flash Type II-compatible form factor has increased in capaci...