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Tips, checklist to deploy tape virtualization

12.07.2006
Virtual tape libraries have become a popular storage topic for IBM mainframes as well as Linux, Unix and Windows environments. VTLs are a building block for deploying tiered storage as well as to support disk-to-disk data protection (3DP) including backup, archiving, compliance retention, business continuance and disaster recovery. Among other things, VTLs enable and provide the following:

- Improved performance of backup, restore, archiving and other tape-based processing

- Reduced or eliminated manual handling of tape or optical media

- Coexistence with existing backup and archiving software, procedures and policies

- A phased transition from tape to disk-based processing with minimum disruption

So let's spend a few minutes and look at some issues, problems and hurdles to be aware of when deploying a VTL solution to avoid surprises. VTLs are available from many different vendors in a variety of products and feature sets. Some are positioned as software-based, while others are more encompassing solutions combing hardware, software, storage and management tools and services. Keep in mind the following things to avoid problems and surprises with VTL deployments: