| In our world where data is power, large companies put | | | | systems and networks that DLT previously couldn't |
| a high priority on their data back-up and data storage. | | | | handle. Competing technologies can offer very fast |
| Unfortunately, this kind of data storage is typically very | | | | backups, but the tapes themselves contain very little |
| expensive and impractical for the small home PC user. | | | | data - hundreds of megabytes as opposed to the |
| Luckily, with the introduction of two new formats of | | | | hundreds of gigabytes that DLT offers. |
| digital storage that are now available, there is a solution. | | | | 5. Linear Tape Open |
| With the DLT or Digital Linear Tape and the LTO or | | | | Another technology that has recently emerged that is |
| Linear Tape Open, the need for data storage has far | | | | comparable, if not a bit more advanced than DLT is |
| exceeded past levels (as compared to previous had | | | | LTO or Linear Tape Open. A consortium product from |
| 8mm or DDS backups). | | | | Seagate, IBM and Hewlett-Packard. LTO can put 100 |
| 1. Recent Boost In Performance | | | | gigabytes on a cartridge and can store data at |
| The Digital Linear Tape or DLT systems have been | | | | speeds up to 15 megabytes per second. But there are |
| available for use to everyone since 1985, and recent | | | | a lot who still prefer to use the more known and |
| increases in both speed and capacity has given this | | | | reliable Super DLT. There are very cautious system |
| technology a new lease on life. In fact, they have been | | | | administrators who don't wish to try LTO, one |
| the leading technology in the past several years for | | | | technician even said that DLT is a more than |
| small to medium-sized systems. The only competitors | | | | acceptable choice: Thirty million cartridges and a million |
| for DLT were DDS or DAT tapes. The advantage of | | | | tape drives can't be wrong. Of course, LTO can't be |
| DLT tapes above these two leading competitors is | | | | totally neglected. Of course, Super DLT uses a good |
| that the tape heads had a tendency to drift that meant | | | | deal of new technology as well, so even though LTO |
| technicians had to constantly monitor them to ensure | | | | is a completely new technology, it has able to pave a |
| storage. Unlike DLT reliability that is based on a straight | | | | nice pathway for it that may help establish itself for |
| up and down recording mode. | | | | future preference. |
| 2. Super DLT | | | | 6. Long Life |
| A newer version with higher capacity and improved | | | | These kinds of storage media are guaranteed to last |
| features is called Super DLT (SDLT). Super DLT uses | | | | for 30 years of data retention under very specific |
| a new recording format, but it also maintains a limited | | | | environmental conditions; however, mishandling can |
| form of backwards compatibility with previous | | | | easily damage these storage devices for example, |
| iterations of DLT. It incorporates the ability to read | | | | dropping or improper packaging during shipment may |
| older tapes, although it cannot write to them. This | | | | easily damage or destroy the device's capability to |
| means it would probably be quite useful in allowing | | | | store data properly. With today's ever increasing |
| organizations to maintain their present archives in a | | | | demands for storage capacity because of our need |
| useable form. This would mean that there can be a | | | | to protect and store our data, it is possible that there is |
| very big saving both in time and money for companies | | | | going to be more pressure on hardware developers to |
| because older tapes don't have to be re-recorded | | | | produce a lot more faster and bigger storage and |
| onto newer ones. | | | | backup devices to back up, store, protect and retrieve |
| 4. Tremendous Boost In Speed And Capacity | | | | important data be it business or personal. Now both |
| With the introduction of Super DLT earlier this year, the | | | | medium and small size users are given a choice: Super |
| capacity has soared as much as 110 gigabytes on one | | | | DLT, based on generations of thorough development |
| cartridge, at a speed of 10 megabytes per second. A | | | | and refinement, or LTO, a new technology from a |
| tremendous boost in performance was seen with the | | | | high-powered and stable group of advance |
| speed of backup doubled, and capacity more than | | | | technological companies. |
| doubled, the technology is now capable to handle large | | | | |