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- If the content of a file changes a new archive copy has to be produced. (You can not modify just the relevant bits on the tape.)
- The previous archive copy becomes useless (aside from having an additional backup of a previous version).
- If a file is deleted, the archive copy becomes useless, too.
- Both processes result in unused (invalid) sections on a tape.
- Eventually only a small part of a tape contains relevant (up to date) information. The residual data can be archived on other tapes, the old tape is erased and can be used for future archive copies. This process is called recycling.
Hardware
Tape Library
- 2 TFinity Tape Libraries in two buildings
- each has 3100 licensed slots for LTO tapes
- 600 LTO-9 tapes in each library (600x ~20 TB → ~12 PB)
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