Tape Or Disk: Why Not Both?

By Spectra Logic Corporation

Both disk and tape were created for purposes aside from protecting data; both have moved into the data protection arena; and both look to be there to stay. The arguments that some disk-only vendors use to push consumers away from tape and to promote only disk use are built on a shaky foundation made up of:

• unrealistic expectations of disk (easy to use, fast, never fails)
• an idea (heavily promoted by disk-only vendors) that disk and tape cost the same
• outdated perceptions of tape (unreliable, slow, hard to use)

These claims rest on outdated evidence. Such claims both dilute the potent advantage and use of disk in secondary storage - very rapid access to data - and discount the long term advantages of tape - cost effective, easy to use storage that ensures unmatched longevity. This paper teases out the facts obscured by these biases. It supports an understanding of the value of each kind of media so that each can be used to its best advantage.