Computer Hardware Help Article:

Alternatives to Tape Backup

However, if you have any problems with tape backup, you'll probably be interested to know that there are several alternatives to tape.

Backup to NAS devices

NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices are attached directly to your network and can act as a backup store. Obviously, it's very convenient to backup files to NAS, as there are no disks or tapes to insert and remove. There are many NAS devices specially designed for small businesses. NAS is an excellent choice for network backup.

Backup to REV drive

In April 2004, Iomega released the REV drive -- a new storage device that has greater capacity than tape and is 5 to 8 times faster. Key features are:

* Backup to REV drive is much faster than tape backup.* REV drive units are more durable than tape.* While tape requires regular cleaning, no cleaning is required for REV drive units.* Backup to REV drive may in fact prove more cost-effective for your business than tape, depending on your backup scheme and other factors.

Otherwise, REV backup is very similar to tape backup in principle.

Final notes

Several reliable backup software solutions exist. Choosing one is simply a case of deciding which is most suitable for your business. As always, invest in quality backup software. Rather than purchasing specialist REV backup software and NAS backup software, your choice in software should allow backup to numerous devices. You will then be able to change your backup hardware in the future without buying new software.

Linus Chang is a backup expert and the lead developer of BackupAssist -- backup software that is simple and affordable, and perfect for small and medium businesses. Protect your Windows servers, including SQL Server and Exchange Server, to tape, REV drive, hard drive, NAS and more, at a fraction of the cost of other backup programs. It transforms NTBackup into a script-free and simple-to-use tool.

The LTO-3 ultrium technology is backward compatible with previous versions so the users of ultrium-3 can access the LTO-1 and LTO-2 archives. Therefore, the investment made by the enterprise is secured for the future. Maxell ultrium-3 cartridge can be used in all the LTO tape drives of third generation.

Installing a new hard drive is a pretty simple task and the actual install only takes a few minutes to complete. The first thing to be done in this process is purchase the new hard drive and make sure that it is compatible with your system this can be done by consulting your motherboard manual and your operating systems guidelines on what hard drives are compatible.

Computers play a huge role in educating today's generation. With the necessity of knowing how word processors, internet connectivity, and other software applications work, it is almost a requirement for each student to have their own computer at home.

Buying a computer is not an easy decision. There are a lot of factors to consider other than just the price. You have to consider your needs, the specifications of the computer, aesthetics, and a whole lot more. And when you do get to finally decide on a computer, other decisions come into play, such as picking the best computer accessories.

However, as technology advances, the prices for these smaller and more powerful electronic devices drop. While the prices have not fallen significantly enough for the devices to be considered disposable, within time they just may.