July 20th, 2010
In this two part series, we will highlight some of the many the benefits of utilizing tape libraries for short and long term data storage.
While the role of tape storage may have evolved since its first generation was introduced in the 1970’s, it still remains an integral part of most data center operations. Here are but a few of the benefits of tape storage:
- Scalable and Secure Encryption
Complex or simple: end-to-end data security is easily accomplished, ensuring that data is uncompromisable and compliant with national, state and local regulations.
- Storage That Grows Easily
Is your company growing? So is your data. Many tape solutions can be put in place that will grow as you do. Manage up to 70 PBytes of data in a single library by selecting a model that can add capacity seamlessly.
- More Energy Efficient
Tape has a documented lower TCO (total cost of ownership) than disk storage – up to 99% less. Utilizing tape storage can significantly reduce the power and cooling requirements of a data center.
- Multi-Generational Compatibility
Most tape libraries will accept tape drives of different generations, enabling the accessibility to data from several drives – all in one library – enabling your firm to leverage its current investments with newer technologies. Upgrade in smaller steps vs. a large hit to the budget and data center floor space.
- Repairs/Replacements During Operation
Large tape libraries allow for robotic replacements and repairs during the continued operation of the library. This reduces downtime and keeps the data available.
Stay tuned for Benefits of Tape Storage – Part 2!
Tags: compatible, efficient, encryption, energy, pbytes, repair, replace, solutions, storage, tape, tco
Posted in Data Recovery, Data Storage, Disaster Preparedness, Tape Libraries, tape drives | No Comments »
July 15th, 2010
Found this one today. The original patent for the tape drive Recessed Bezel filed by HP. Neat to see!
Posted in Data Recovery, Data Storage, Fun, tape drives | 1 Comment »
July 6th, 2010
When you are purchasing a storage and archiving solution for your company, remember to run ALL of the numbers, don’t just look at the purchase price. Many times the long term cost of ownership will outweigh the smoking deal your VAR has offered. Make sure you are evaluating the cost of the entire purchase, not just the price you’ve been quoted. Items that will factor into your decision should include:
- Equipment pricing
- Software costs
- Staff training
- Service contract
- Floor space
- Power consumption
- Cooling/Heating
- Personnel
Spectra Logic has a great white paper entitled “Tape Storage TCO” that details points for consideration when purchasing a backup option.
Another consideration is purchasing new or refurbished hardware. If you would like more information on how refurbished hardware can help you meet your storage and archiving requirements – on budget – contact InStock.
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June 9th, 2010
InStock is sponsoring the Storage Decisions Backup School in Phoenix at the Hyatt Regency on June 17, 2010. Register today to attend this FREE seminar. The Keynote Speaker is renowned storage author and speaker, W. Curtis Preston aka Mr. Backup.
Agenda:
8:00 – 9:00 am Registration and Breakfast – Exhibit Area is open
9:00 – 9:05 amWelcome/Introduction by Lindsay Mullen, Editorial Director, Storage Decisions
9:05 – 10:00 am W. Curtis Preston: “Understanding Deduplication “
10:00 – 10:45 am Vendor Showcase: Top backup technology providers present their latest products
10:45 – 11:15 am Break — Exhibit area is open
11:15 am – 12:15 pm W. Curtis Preston: “Using Deduplication in Backup Systems and Using Data Reduction in Primary Systems”
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch — Exhibit area is open
1:15 – 2:30 pm W. Curtis Preston: “Using the Public Cloud, Recent Backup Software Advancements and Backing Up Virtual Servers s”
2:30 – 2:45 pm “Stump the Expert – a Q&A with Curtis Preston,” plus a raffle for 2 gift checks for $100 each
2:45 pm Adjourn
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June 8th, 2010
At InStock we both buy and sell tape and disk storage equipment. We are constantly amazed at the shipping practices we see. 99.9% our suppliers are professionals, they know how to package expensive, delicate, sensitive computer equipment. But others….(needless to say they receive these back!)
A few pieces foam…..and tossed in the box, not quite enough!
Ditto!
Don’t go crazy with that itty-bitty bubble wrap!
6 Drives with boxes in between, a box around the outside, on a pallet.
Here’s a beauty – a little leaning going on….. this picture is on the
truck.
And here’s what it looked like on the inside!
14 tape drives, bubble wrapped (barely) with boxes around them.
And here’s how InStock ships!
Every tape or disk drive is stored and shipped in static guard wrap.
InStock utilizes the Instapack foam system. Mike, our warehouse manager, securely wraps the item and adds the foam product. It hardens to a custom fit for the tape or disk drive being shipped to ensure the safe arrival of your product.
When you invest in tape or disk product from InStock, we will get it to you safely.
Tags: disk, shipping, tape
Posted in Data Recovery, Data Storage, Disaster Preparedness, Questions, Tape Libraries, tape drives | No Comments »
May 18th, 2010
The Good News: Sun StorageTek Will Live On!
Oracle met with its largest tape customers the first week of May (1 PB+ of data in StorageTek libraries). The folks from Oracle affirmed their commitment to tape storage. They announced that they are close to launching new products in tape libraries, tape drives and virtual tape libraries for mainframes. So tape lives on!!!
The Bad News: VAR vs. Oracle Rep Skirmishes, Support to Be More Expensive and Rigid
Doubled costs, radically less flexible policies and very little resemblance to the Sun StorageTek days. Ongoing rumors of VAR’s being undercut in their customers’ offices by Oracle reps does nothing to assure partners of Oracle’s commitment to them.
The Net: Oracle will continue in the tape and disk storage world for the near future. Their commitment to new products and ongoing development is encouraging. Yet the rumored actions of their direct team, their policies on purchased equipment coverage and the support start time lines are challenging – to say the least.
Tags: drives, libraries, Oracle, storage, StorageTek, Sun, tape, virtual
Posted in Data Recovery, Data Storage, Disaster Preparedness, Tape Libraries, tape drives | No Comments »
May 4th, 2010
If you’ve spent any time on SearchStorage or TechTarget.com you’ve been prompted to take one of their Snapshot Surveys. They ask just a few questions but are getting some powerful data.
The latest survey results published “Tape may be teetering, but it’s still a big part of backup ops” confirms what we hear from our clients every day. Tape is still a part of their backup and archiving plan and will continue to remain so – in fact 40% of the survey respondents indicated that they plan to purchase tape equipment this year. Below are some of the graphics from the article:
Thanks to Ben Earle @ Tech Target for sending me this great article!
Tags: archiving, backup, disk, survey, tape
Posted in Data Recovery, Data Storage | No Comments »
April 30th, 2010
At InStock, we’re just full of great ideas! Give us a call at 877-786-2533.
Tags: great, ideas, InStock
Posted in Fun | No Comments »
April 28th, 2010
InStock has just received over 50 ADIC FastStor2 Tape Libraries! These LVD autoloaders are equipped with SDLT320’s.
Call Tonny at 877-786-2533 for more info or to place your order today!
Tags: ADIC, FastStor2, lvd, SDLT320, tape library
Posted in Data Storage, Tape Libraries | No Comments »
April 12th, 2010
Fujifilm hosted their second annual Global IT Executive Summit, February 24-27, 2010 in Austin, Texas. This event brought together over 50 IT managers, executives and consultants for three days of presentations from top storage manufacturers and gurus to discuss the roles of disk and tape in the future of data management. Mark Ferelli, Computer Technology Review, noted, “The conference theme, “Into Tomorrow with Tape Storage”, was an affirmation that tape technology persists as a dynamic, useful IT resource for large and small data centers alike.”
The presentations were information packed, presented by leading industry consultants, authors and manufacturers from IBM, Crossroads Systems, StorageIO, Dell and AT&T. Key points from this group of experts in Ferelli’s article included:
- Cindy Grossman, IBM: “Tape continues to shine for low-frequency apps, archive, and offline data protection.”
- Rob Sims, Crossroads: Sims recommends “an assessment of how current drives are being used rather than upgrade or replacement of drives. Re-balancing drive usage or backup process improvements could be the more productive alternative”.
- John Menzik, AT&T: Menzik presented “fine tuning strategies for the petabytes of data that fall under his responsibility for backup and archive. He is making use of de-duplication in his installation, and has determined that de-duplication and tape coexist well in his environment”.
- Conference Key Note Speaker, Jon Toigo, consultant, author and consumer advocate, noted that “computer storage is key to purpose-driven infrastructure design, given that storage represents between 33 and 70 cents of each IT hardware dollar in the budget”.
It’s great to see tape’s continuing relevance reinforced by the leaders in the storage industry.
Tags: budget, computer, drives, savings, storage, tape, tape library
Posted in Data Storage | No Comments »
