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855.558.3856
Start Your Data Recovery

Tape Services

Migrate And Consolidate Tape Data

Moving or consolidating your magnetic tape data to a new storage system can be quite stressful. Rely on Ontrack for our specialised services that can help you in any situation.

Overview

We can migrate data, merge tape data or in the end destroy tape data, thanks to our tape migration and other tape services. We help you through these processes with ease.

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Migrating Tape Data to a New System

Digital data storage does not last forever and is constantly changing!


On average, a company renews its IT infrastructure, storage and backup solutions every four to five years. Access to business information, such as contracts, customer data and design plans, must be available for longer than that cycle. Ontrack has years of experience and offers specialized services for tape data conversion and tape data migration from various media and formats.

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Signs you need to migrate data from your legacy tapes

Not sure if it’s time to migrate your legacy data over from tapes?

 

Key signs that it’s time to migrate tape data:

  • You’re going to replace or upgrade your backup infrastructure – migration is required to ensure you can still access data for compliance or regulatory reasons
  • You’re going through a merger or acquisition and need to merge your backup infrastructures with another company
  • You have regular requests to access old tapes, but want to avoid costs involved with maintaining multiple backup environments
  • You aren’t sure what data is stored on each tape and don’t have the internal resources to complete a request for information within the required time frame
  • You can’t read your backup tapes because data seems to be corrupt, or the files have been physically damaged. 

If you need to migrate your magnetic tapes, our team of data migration experts can help.

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Types Of Migration

If you’re looking to migrate your archive data to another storage medium, we can assist with the following services:

Tape to Tape Icon
Tape to Tape
We can help you migrate from one tape generation to another, or consolidate multiple types of tape into one common format.
Alternative Storage Icon
Alternative Storage
Need to move your tape data to disk or another format of choice? We can migrate your data to any form of storage.
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New Backup System
If you are migrating to a new backup system we can assist in aligning all of your archive tape data so that it is compatible with your new infrastructure.
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Any source to tape

Wherever you have your old data stored today, we can support you to migrate this data to your desired Tapes format. This way you finally have your data stored safely and cost-efficiently for decades.

Tape Data Migration Process

Tape data migration often involves unexpected pitfalls, such as poorly marked tapes, incomplete listings or unknown data formats. Ontrack advises companies in detail prior to a data migration.

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Detailed analysis and extensive consultation

The goal of tape data migration is to keep your archive and production data permanently accessible and available, if possible. A detailed analysis and consultation with an Ontrack project manager is the first step for a successful tape data migration. Together we will define the project requirements and success criteria. The result is a work statement that accurately describes the scope of the project, including the planning and cost estimate.

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Process flow of a data management project in 10 steps:

Ontrack works on the basis of established standard processes, which we adapt to your needs. A complete tape data migration can take place in the following steps:

  1. Storage Media and Data Audit:   Inventory of existing tape and data formats
  2. Proof of Concept:   Feasibility study as a possible intermediate step for very complex data migration projects. Further determination of the project scope and the necessary expenditures
  3. Logistics:   Collecting storage media at the company and transporting them to our laboratory
  4. Indexing and Cataloging Your Data Storage:   Analysis and Assessment of Stored Data
  5. Data extraction and recovery:   Mapping and restoring data using in-house developed tools.
  6. Data Deduplication:  Removing redundant data to reduce data volume
  7. Data Conversion:   Transfer data from source to destination format, such as backup, database, email format, EBCDIC to ASCII format conversion
  8. Data replication:   Copying the data to the target format, depending on the chosen file type and data format
  9. Reliable data destruction:  Secure data destruction and removal of storage media if required
  10. Project follow-up:  Evaluation at the end of the project including revision of the objectives and recommendations for further data management and storage.

The Ontrack project manager will guide your company throughout the project and help you meet objectives, budgets, and ensure quality assurance.

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Related Topics To Data Migration

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Convert and consolidate.

As part of a tape archive migration, we can convert and consolidate your archives onto one, unified platform of choice.

Each project is tailored to your needs, but here are just some of the services we can provide:

  • Recovery of any inaccessible data
  • Replication and de-duplication
  • Catalog and indexing report for future data mapping
  • Development of custom software and tools for the retrieval of archived data
  • Conversion of your legacy media in a secure, efficient and cost-effective manner
  • Accurate bit-for-bit copy of the source data, supplied back to you in the required format
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Migrating to Nebula Archive™

Nebula Archive™ is an advanced archiving solution designed to meet modern enterprise data management needs at scale.

Intelligent retention policies, defensible deletion and retention controls are built in, enabling organizations to automate the capture and management of critical data, reduce labor costs per hour and mitigate risk.

In addition, a comprehensive set of connectors makes Nebula an end-to-end platform for Information Governance and eDiscovery in the legal industry. It supports all phases of the data lifecycle, from creation to production in a legal case and finally to destruction.

Nebula Archive™ Usage Options:

  • Searchable data storage
  • Information management
  • Sanitizing 'dark data'
  • Phasing out legacy applications
  • Data management of departed employees
  • WORM storage for regulatory compliance
  • Office 365 backup
  • Ransomware and the fight against 'malicious insiders'
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Related Backup Tape Services

Ontrack offers a wide range of backup tape services: audit, cataloging and indexing, migration, restore, recovery, certified data destruction, managed tape services, offsite vaulting, cloud to tape, information management and eDiscovery services

Learn More
Information security

Information Security

We invest significant resources to protect your most sensitive electronically stored information (ESI). 

  • ISO/IEC 27001-Certified 
  • SOC 2® Certified 
  • HIPAA Security Rule Compliance 
  • Accreditation Under the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield Frameworks 
  • Multi-Zoned, Segmented Networks 
  • Role-Based Access Controls 
  • Redundancy Across Critical Systems 
  • Annual Third-Party Penetration Tests and Monthly Vulnerability Scans 

KLDiscovery’s data centers feature multiple layers of security and safety devices—including 24x7 monitoring—to protect the integrity of critical data. 

Information Security

Tape Migration FAQs

I want to change from NetWorker to another system. What should I do if problems occur?

NetWorker is one of the most advanced backup storage solutions on the market. As with other solutions, the migration of an existing NetWorker system to another product is extremely problematic.The best approach to such a project is to get access to the data stored inside NetWorker with the built-in recovery function. In doing so, the compressed NetWorker files will be extracted to another storage space from where you can import the data into the new system. Normally, it is nearly impossible to import the metadata managed by NetWorker into the new hardware and backup solution. In most cases, you have to build the metadata of the new system from scratch and import the content into the appropriate folders or archives. Furthermore, NetWorker has a lot of features integrated into the system which makes it - if problems arise during the migration process - difficult to recover the backup.Whether the NetWorker backup system is based upon tapes or hard disks, or a combination of both, the integration of deduplication and virtualisation of backup files when recovering a NetWorker backup is a complicated task. Only specialised professionals can - if a backup is damaged - recover the backup and rescue the data inside. In such a case, we review the accessible data and search for references, which lead to the original structure of the underlying and compressed data files, whether they were stored in virtual machines or deduplicated for faster use and file size reduction.

How can I migrate my current Atempo Time Navigator, CA ARCserve or HP Data Protector to CommVault without any issues?

Achieving a successful migration of Time Navigator, CA ARCserve, or Data Protector backups or archives is a difficult task. Currently, there are no tools on the market that serve as an interpreter for the structure and/or the data to import them into a new CommVault system. Since the flagship CommVault product, Simpana, is specially designed as an archive storage solution, it would be wise to develop a detailed backup plan for the whole enterprise before establishing a unique Simpana archive structure. The migration is carried out the usual way, by creating or restoring an existing backup out of the current Time Navigator, CA ARCserve or HP Data Protector software solution and importing the data into the new CommVault solution.If you experience problems or if you just don't have the resources or time to perform this timely and costly project, you can contact our backup migration experts at Ontrack.

How can I migrate my current NetBackup or NetWorker backups to TSM?

You could import old NetBackup or NetWorker tapes to build a recent catalog, then either restore the data so you can access the content stored on tapes and disks and import it into Tivoli. Beforehand, you have to build the system from scratch, deploying all the policy domains, jobs, and structures. You can also try one of the special software solutions that are on the market, which can import NetBackup or NetWorker backups without the need for restoration. However, if this connector software doesn't work properly and the import fails, you will have even more problems.If the original data structure - both the files inside the backup and the NetBackup or NetWorker policies, schedules and other solution data - is damaged by the process, it is hard to carry out a restore to the original state to begin the project again, or to make a traditional restore and import into TSM. In this case, our experts can both recover the lost data and migrate your old NetBackup or NetWorker system to TSM.

How can I migrate my current TSM, NetBackup or NetWorker to CommVault without any issues?

In contrast to other backup storage software solutions, CommVault offers an easy way to migrate from other products. Its External Data Connector enables future or new clients of its current Simpana backup software to import the metadata which is stored inside a backup as well as details which are required regarding the current TSM, NetBackup or NetWorker storage structure, such as client information, policy details, job information, policy schedules, and tape inventories. With this information available, IT professionals then can translate the old clients to Simpana clients, deploy the client hardware and inherit the defined policies from the old TSM, NetBackup or NetWorker system.In the unlikely event that migration doesn't work because of hardware or software failures, this can result in problems that even a talented IT administrator cannot solve by themselves. Broken tape library linkage or tape catalog files make it hard even for experts to recover the original structure of the entire backup system and the attached tape library. If a migration from TSM, NetBackup or NetWorker backup to CommVault stops midway through, then you can find yourself in deep trouble. In most cases, our experts can recover the data lost during the failed process and they can complete the migration.

How do I carry out a backup software migration?

Changing or migrating your current backup software to a new backup software solution or product is not an easy task. You might say that executing some backup software commands that start a general restore from tapes to server can cause no problems. However, many of our clients have told us that the application always crashed doing when trying to do it. The backup software usually tries to recover files, entire servers and databases extremely fast, but it does not support a process of switching to different backup software.Currently, there is only one product on the market that can help you migrate from TSM and NetBackup. However, for other backup software solutions there are no such applications available. Therefore, you have to do your migration job the traditional way: extract all the data stored in your current backup solution to an appropriate storage space; build the new backup system (both hardware and software) from scratch, create the archive architecture and import the new backup system. Additionally, all necessary clients, policy details and schedules, and tape inventories and catalogues have to be generated.A task this bit can become overwhelming, even for an IT department in a large corporation, as it is very time-consuming. You should consider contacting a specialist tape migration service provider - make sure they have experience in successfully completing several migration projects for all kinds of enterprises, regardless of industry or size.

Tape migration blogs

Aug 24, 2017 12:00:00 AM

Why Tape Migration is Still Important

The magnetic tape is by no means dead. The advantages for tape media are obvious: low cost for the capacity and a long s

Aug 23, 2016 12:00:00 AM

The Top Five Triggers for Migrating Tapes

Change is rarely comfortable, but as Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.

Jul 6, 2016 12:00:00 AM

Understanding the Importance of Tape Migration – Part 1

No other storage medium is lasting longer than tape. What is great news for everybody who is archiving data long-term be

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Any tape format.

From reel-to-reel to the latest LTO tapes, we can cater for any type of magnetic storage, no matter how new or old the technology is.

Even if your media is damaged, our engineers can help using  proprietary tape recovery techniques. Here are just some of the tape formats we support, in any generation. Can’t see yours? Don’t worry, we can still help you.

Reader

Tape

Tape Capacity

IBM
3500 Series

3500 MP Series

5 to 700 GB

Sony
AIT Series | SAIT Series

8mm (AIT)

35 to 500 GB

Oracle (formerly StorageTek)
9800 Series | 10000 Series

9800 Series
10000 Series

40 to 1,000 GB

Quantum
DLT Series | SDLT Series

DLT Series
SDLT Series

80 to 800 GB

Tandberg Data
DAT Series | LTO Series
SLR Series | VXA Series

4mm, 8mm (MP)
Ultrium (generation 1-5)
SLR
VXA

38 to 6000 GB

Quantum, HP, Sony
DDS Series | DAT Series

DDS 4 mm

20 to 40 GB

IBM, HP, Quantum, Sony
LTO Series

Ultrium (generation 1-8)

200 GB to 30 TB

Any backup system.

Our expertise doesn’t end with tape; we also provide additional services to assist with the migration of backup systems:

ARCserve®

Veritas NetBackup™

Veritas Backup Exec™

Microsoft® Backup

Catalogic® DPX™

Retrospect®

CommVault®

Data Protector

IBM®

TapeWare

UltraBac

EMC®

Veeam

We support any backup software, so if you don’t see yours here we can still assist you.
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