Who said purchasing a tape drive was an easy process? Below is guide to where you should start and what to take into account before you start the research process and the decision making around your tape drive purchase.
- Think about the quantity of data you have to store. You must select a drive with enough capacity for your needs, both now and in the future. It is wise to bear in mind the rate that your data quantities are increasing and accommodate for this in your purchase decision.
- Bear in mind the type of connection interface your equipment supports. Ie. SCSI, SAS, fibre channel or others. Choose an interface with is appropriate for your operating environment. SCSI is the most common due to its reliability, although SAS is becoming more popular.
- Decide on the tape generation which works for you. Ie. LTO-4. This will largely be determined by the amount of data you have to store. Generally, the more modern the generation, the more capacity it has. LTO-6 is being released this year and will be able to hold up to 8TB of data.
- Factor in the cost of particular drives and the types of tapes that it supports. The cost of a drive entirely ranges depending on its speed, capacity, brand and connection interface. This is where it helps to know what option is appropriate for your operating environment.
- Make sure you know what type of software you’d like to operate and that your new tape drive supports it. Software can feature many capabilities including data compression, therefore you must know what fits with your goals.
Connexion Point has a highly experienced, educated and friendly team of engineers and support staff who are more than willing to help you with your tape drive purchase. We can recommend a wide range of options and brands. For more information contact the tape backup specialists now.