Virtual-Tape-Library

A virtual tape library (VTL ) is a memory based on a disk array that emulates a tape library to the outside. This makes it possible to integrate backup -to -disk backup bestehendene concepts in environments that are usually based on tape drives.

A VTL presents for computers connected to one or more tape libraries represents the number of libraries and contained therein slots and tape drives are freely configurable. Virtual tapes can usually be written by the VTL directly to " real" bands without the backup software or a server is involved in this process.

Advantages arise especially when backing up slow computer (especially those which are connected only with 100Mbit / s to the network ), as tape drives have to work with the start-stop method in such a case, what the band material to heavy wear (see Shoeshine problem).