Data backup is essential to protect irreplaceable information. Backing up data to magnetic tape is an easy, cost-efficient method used by many small and medium businesses.
However, most enterprises have so much data that a single backup tape is not enough; the information has to be spread across numerous tapes. To avoid constantly changing tapes manually, many tape backup solutions include a PowerVault 124T LTO-2 autoloader.
Each autoloader is a device that includes a robot, a tape drive and one or two magazines for tape cartridges. The user’s application can automatically load and unload tape cartridges as required for data backup or data retrieval. Dell PowerVault 124T LTO-2 autoloaders provide a compact, high capacity, but low cost method for easy, unattended data backup.
The PowerVault 124T LTO-2 contains a Quantum LTO-2 half-height tape drive, and one or two magazines that can hold up to eight cartridges each. The user can insert a single cartridge directly through a media door (mailslot) that can be password protected. From the media door (mailslot), the user can insert the cartridge into the tape drive provided there is no cartridge already in the drive, or into a magazine slot provided there is no cartridge already in the slot.
The front panel on the autoloader includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and four function keys. A scrolling menu on the LCD screen allows the user to obtain information from the autoloader and enter commands. The front panel also includes two light emitting diodes (LEDs) indicating the autoloader’s ready status and error status.
The PowerVault 124T LTO-2 connects to the user’s host server through a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) connection allowing the host to send data and commands automatically. The unit also can connect to an Ethernet which allows the user to perform administrative functions and download system updates.
The autoloader is SCSI-3 compatible and operates as a single SCSI ID/two LUN data storage device and provides a compressed capacity of 6.4 Terabytes and a sustained data transfer rate of 93.6 GB per hour (native) or as high as 187.2 GB per hour compressed (assuming 2:1 compression).
The autoloader is compatible with the most popular operating systems and environments supporting an Ultra 160 SCSI or an Ultra 320 SCSI LVD interface but requires direct support from the operating system or a compatible backup application to take full advantage of its many features.