This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
TapeTrack Primer
The purpose of this section is to describe the history, design methodology and benefits of TapeTrack.
It is not required reading, but it might provide users with some insight into how to get the best out of their use of the product; it effectively a FAQ of the non-technical questions we are asked from time-to-time.
What is TapeTrack?
TapeTrack is computer software designed specifically for the purpose of managing computer backup tapes.
Who uses TapeTrack?
TapeTrack is used by over 4,000 enterprises around the world.
These enterprises fall into the following categories:
- Data protection companies who store backup tapes on the behalf of multiple other companies (a list of these companies can be found here).
- The direct customers of data protection companies who use TapeTrack both manage their onsite tapes, and the tapes stored offsite with their vendor.
- Data Center customers who manage their own on-site and offsite tape inventories.
- Data Center customers who manage their own on-site inventories and use the services of a data protection company who do not offer TapeTrack services.
What is the history of TapeTrack?
The first version of TapeTrack was released in 1999, and the product has been consistently developed and since that date with the input from a growing customer base.
The original developer of TapeTrack was Tape Management Services Pty Ltd, who then became TapeTrack Pty Ltd, and is now GazillaByte LLC.
What is the design methodology of TapeTrack?
TapeTack is designed around the 5 Pillars of Tape Management:
- Asset Management (a complete list of every single tape)
- Chain-of-Custody (where each tape has been and who has touched it)
- Library Management (where each tape needs to be)
- Disaster Recovery (are all my critical tapes off-site)
- Quality Control (am I managing my tapes properly)
TapeTrack Jargon
TapeTrack has a whole bunch of terms that you should familiarize yourself with.
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Adapter | An ODPAPI web service interface, represented by a URL address. The TapeTrack ODPAPI Adapter allows TapeTrack App software or user written queries to interface with TapeTrack via a convenient REST interface. |
| Confirmation | The process of telling TapeTrack that a tape is now in its Target Repository. |
| Client | A TapeTrack software component used for interfacing with the TapeTrack Framework Server. |
| Mirroring | The process of replicating selected TapeTrack objects from one TapeTrack Framework Server to another. This is often used by data centers who run their own TapeTrack system globally and wish to keep their off-site vendor's TapeTrack up to date in a local location. |
| Movement | The process of requesting a tape be moved from one location to another (updating the Target Repository). |
| Reconciliation | The process of comparing an external inventory (such as an off-site vendor list or ATL query output for the purpose of ensuring that there are no missing Volumes, and to confirm any pending incoming movements |
| Synchronization | The process of setting the Target location of a Volume based upon a the value of a field, or combination of fields in an external backup product. |
| Target Repository | The location that a tape should ultimately/ideally be found in. |
An example sentence using TapeTrack Jargon:
When I came in this morning, volume 000001L5 had a current location of the SL8500 Library, but then the Synchronization task ran against TSM, and updated the target Location (putting the tape into a Move Status from the SL8500 to Iron Mountain). Later that day, when the Reconciliation task ran, we noticed that the tape was not yet confirmed at Iron Mountain, and as a result had been marked as Overdue. We contacted Iron Mountain and confirmed that the tape has arrived but had not been scanned into SecureSync. We later re-ran the reconciliation and the tape was confirmed as being at Iron Mountain.
What are the TapeTrack Software Components?
TapeTrack Software falls into the following categories:
What are the TapeTrack Sub-systems?
While TapeTrack is designed around the 5 Pillars of Tape Management, it is comprised of many interconnecting sub-systems. These sub-systems work together to automate the process of tape management.
These sub-systems are:
- Alerting.
- Consignment Control.
- Catalog Management.
- Reporting.
What are the TapeTrack Objects
- Data Cluster
- Simple Management Rule
How often are new versions of TapeTrack Released?
TapeTrack software is released quarterly, and the version numbers reflect these releases:
- Q1 Major Release is released in January of each year.
- Q2 Minor Release is released in April of each year.
- Q3 Minor Release is released in July of each year.
- Q4 Minor Release is released in October of each year.
We recommend that users upgrade at least once per year to the Major release and that no user become more than 2 years behind in their current release.