What is the library?

generalized tape library products include autoloaders and tape libraries. Autoloaders and tape libraries are actually a combination of tape and tape drive. The autoloader is a tape drive and automatic tape changer in a single machine that picks up the tape from a magazine loaded with multiple tapes and places it in the drive, or performs the reverse process. It can back up 100GB— 200GB or more of data. The autoloader supports the routine backup process and automatically loads new tapes for daily backup jobs. A small company or branch office with a workgroup server can use an autoloader to automate backups.

A tape library is a tape-based backup system like an autoloader. The library consists of multiple drives, multiple slots, and robotic arms, and the robot can automatically disassemble and load the tape. It provides the same basic automatic backup and data recovery features, but with more advanced technical features. It can work in parallel with multiple drives, or it can be backed up by several drives to different servers. The storage capacity reaches PB (1PB=1 million GB) level, which can realize continuous backup, automatic search for tapes, etc., and can be used in management software. With the support of intelligent recovery, real-time monitoring and statistics, it is the main equipment for centralized network data backup.

Tape libraries not only have a much larger amount of data storage, but also have unparalleled advantages in terms of backup efficiency and manual footprint. In a network system, a tape library can form a network storage system through a SAN (Storage Area Network) system, which provides a powerful guarantee for enterprise storage, and can easily complete remote data access, data storage backup, or implement multiple tape mirror technologies. Tape library backup is undoubtedly a good storage device for large network applications such as data warehouse and ERP.