Implementing Backup and Recovery: The Readiness Guide for the Enterprise

Library?

As stated in the previous section, most enterprise backup strategies will include some type of robotic tape library. There are several library manufacturers, each with an entire line of libraries from small to very large. Part of this decision will be based on the drive technology you select, as some libraries support only certain drives. The considerations for selecting a library are as follows:

• Does it handle the desired drive type?

• Will it handle the required number of drives?

• Does it support the needed number of slots?

• Does it have expansion capability?

• What type of connection, SCSI or Fiber?

• Does it support barcode labels?

As you look at the different libraries available, you should also consider if your strategy is best served by one large library that contains all the drives and media or by smaller libraries that are distributed throughout your enterprise. We will discuss some of the reasons for picking one or the other in a later chapter, but part of this decision is whether you plan to implement a SAN or distributed media servers (or both). Generally, it is cheaper to buy one large library than two smaller libraries that equal the same capacity in drives and slots.

A sample of the library vendors are ADIC, ATL, Compaq, Exabyte, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, NEC, Sony, Spectra Logic, and StorageTek. Each of these companies has a Web site that contains all the information for their entire line of libraries. This would be an excellent place to go for information.