HPC Storage: SL8500 Tape Library at SC07

[ecallaw2k8]

over 9000 (TB)

[Hussdelrio]

Thanks for the explanation Jeff Bridges!

[OBSysteme]

I am a sucker for TAPE technology.. these machnies are great.

[adelgado75]

Yeah, but why do we still need to unload/load tapes from these machines?

[ChrizRockster]

It's called backup and recovery.

Taking snapshots of the data to tape, then removing them from the read/write rack for storage.

Tape's aren't running when they are not in use (unlike HDD's) so they are seen as more reliable methods of backup. Plus safer to transport without damaging brittle internal components.

[kinmanyuen]

I also think that it doesn't need to have longlife durability as technology on storage moves on quickly. Though the migrating part sucks:)

[ChrizRockster]

@adelgado75 - You don't!

Tape Auto-Loaders have come a long way, most serious ones arrive as a unit in a shipping container these days!

[adelgado75]

I stand corrected. We now have an IBM 3584 (I think) and for the past five months we no longer get request to unload/load tapes from the older silos. The end is truly near for us. I have been there 20 years so I would welcome a package.