Tape Services

Tape Restore and Extraction

With unique in house developed technology, Ontrack tape engineers can read, restore and extract all your data from almost all tape types, regardless of the Backup Software used.

When you need tape archives restored, you often don’t have time to wait for your busy IT department. We restore and repair data from backup tapes, no matter how tight the deadline.

Benefits of the Tape Restore And Extraction Service

Ontrack has the ability to read, restore and repair data from corrupted, broken and inaccessible backup tapes. We can help you alleviate common tape restoration headaches and meet even the strictest of deadlines.

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Targeted Restores
Looking for a specific item? Our granular search capabilities enable you to restore exactly the data you need to the format of your choice.
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Lightning Speed
No matter how short the timeframe, we can help you. We can work 24/7/365 to restore your data so you can meet even the tightest of deadlines.
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Any Media Type

We can recover from any type of storage media, regardless of the backup system that was originally used to store the data.

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Cloud Migration
We can prepare the extracted data, such as email, to formats ready for import into your cloud environment.
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Extract
Self-developed data recovery tools provide the option to extract data, such as mailbox information from exchange databases, data from VEEAM vbk containers and virtual machines.
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Restore to all types of target media

Cloud, Snowflake, Server, RAID Server, or on HDD or SSD drive. Whatever your preference as target media, we can meet your requirements.

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Tape restore and extraction proces

We use a project-based approach tailored to your exact requirements. A typical tape restoration project can include:

  • Restoring data from a tape backup
  • Recovery of inaccessible data
  • Replication and de-duplication
  • Catalog and indexing report for future data mapping
  • Development of custom software and tools
  • 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

All of these steps are flexible and can be adjusted to suit your needs, particularly when the delivery deadlines for data restores are very tight.

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VEEAM Restore & Damaged VEEAM VBK Files


Ontrack has years of expertise and its own software, specially developed to restore data from VEEAM backup files.
Our exclusive recovery methods also tackle damaged VBK files. This allows data to be rescued, even in cases where malware or other causes, has corrupted VEEAM VBK files. Ontrack has internal development teams that maintain and improve our self-developed tools. For new versions or special cases there is a special process for urgent development, our Custom build JIT solutions.

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Restoring IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager (TSM) data


Technical tour de force; Ontrack specialists have developed a new technique for restoring IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager (TSM) data.

The new technology enables the recovery of data from individual tapes of the IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager (TSM). Regardless of the TSM version used during the backup and regardless of the current tape backup environment. By eliminating the need for an IBM TSM environment to restore, recover and migrate files from tape, administrators can restore the specific files they need, saving significant time and costs.

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Tape Restore from an Exchange backup


PowerControls exchange backup Extract Wizard is a powerful tool that allows you to restore data from exchange backups from tape to another location.

The Extract Wizard restores EDB, STM and LOG files from tapes and restores them to any other location, eliminating the need for a Recovery Server. Because no connection to the Exchange Server is required (which is sometimes already phased out or defective), the Extract Wizard saves a lot of time during repair and recovery.

With Ontrack PowerControls you can then search all mailboxes in Exchange server backups, unmounted Exchange databases (EDB file) and information storage files (STM information stores). Our technology selects only the items that match the exact search parameters. These mailbox items can then be restored to a live Exchange environment or to a new or existing PST file. Items that can be recovered include:

  • Complete mail accounts, folders or individual messages.
  • Attachments, contacts, calendar items.
  • Shared folders and databases.

Simple Single mailbox recovery: you can retrieve a single mailbox, multiple mailboxes or mail items within a few minutes, which saves considerable time.

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Managed Tape Restore Services


The way for companies to escape the challenges associated with archiving data. With Managed Tape Services, the complete management and storage of your legacy tape archives is provided by Ontrack.  This ensures that the tapes and their data remain accessible in case the data is needed for a restore, internal investigation, a compliance request or a claim from authorities.

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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

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Why work with Ontrack?

  • World-leading data management services and software since 1985
  • International coverage with locations around the world for multi-site / jurisdiction cases
  • 24/7/365 availability
  • Unrivaled technical experience and R&D capability to solve even the most challenging tape situations
  • Proprietary software tools that work independently of backup infrastructure/software
  • Strong security culture
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. 

Tape Restoration FAQs

How do I restore archives to a new backup environment?

Simply put, you must restore your tape archives and then extract the data. Then you can either import the content into the new backup environment, after you recreated the archive structure, or if your new backup system allows it, you can copy or import the complete archives into the new data structure.There are several options available to organisations when it comes to dealing with upgrading your archive systems, each one with its own considerations. In any case, restoring and migrating an old archive structure which includes data is not an easy task. Each backup system has its own way of saving data in its tape library and onto the tapes themselves, so you must dig deep into the manuals in order to achieve a problem-free new backup environment.Additionally, problems may arise when a client software is not available or if the paths to them have changed or are not working properly. This is often the case when only snapshots or dumps were taken instead of a full backup and the source consists of database files. In such a case, getting expert help is a better way of dealing with this issue. Our specialists have all the required knowledge and equipment for all the current and old software and hardware for tape and backup solutions. They use standardised processes for tape services, meaning that it is both time and cost-effective for you.

My tape restore failed. What can I do now?

If your tape restoration fails, try another device. Sometimes tapes that aren't playable on one drive can work just fine on another. This is a common problem due to the incompatibility between different branded players, as well as different branded tapes. This happens often and the best solution is to figure out which tapes work best with your drives.If that doesn't help, you can try cleaning the drive using a cleaning cartridge and checking the cable connections. In the worst-case scenario, your player no longer works. It is therefore advisable to contact Ontrack for professional restoration of your tapes as we stock a large number of readers of different brands and models.

How can I recover/restore a damaged tape?

In the case of tapes damaged by water, fire, or broken cartridges, you should not try to recover the data yourself! In most cases, you could make the issue worse and prevent any chance of tape restoration. If you try to access a damaged tape by inserting it into a drive, you risk destroying the machine, which is probably still worth a lot of money. In this situation, it is better to contact a data recovery specialist such as Ontrack.

How are custodian extractions and restores performed from tape?

Extractions and restores for investigations and legal cases are normally performed the same way as normal extractions and restores. The content of the tapes is restored either by a full or a brick-level backup (to get access to the tapes content) or by using Ontrack PowerControls for Exchange or Ontrack PowerControls for SharePoint. Using this specialised tool, you can completely eliminate a brick-level backup for single item restore. Additionally, Ontrack PowerControls provides the ability to search, collect and extract the data stored inside a backup without changing the original data source.For further investigation and legal purposes, Ontrack Legal Technology and Computer Forensic experts offer a wide range of services for every possible legal- and compliance-related situations. They provide standardised and unique processes ranging from data identification, data preservation, data collection as well as data analysis and data processing in order to gain complete insight and more control over digital document evidence.

What is the difference between a legally compliant tape restore and a normal tape restore?

Since tape content is sensitive to legal compliance and, in some cases, to legal prosecution, it is absolutely essential that the material is original. No additions or changes to the content and its metadata are allowed to be made by the backup or restoration software in use. With this in mind, only specialised software can be used to avoid inadvertent damage to evidence.Even though it is possible to restore the tape content with your standard tape backup software, it is wise to use a forensically-sound email and content management tool, like Ontrack PowerControls. It allows IT personnel to meet all critical requests from the legal department and other external enquiries. Ontrack PowerControls software can also help administrators search, recover, restore and export data efficiently in Microsoft Exchange Server and/or Microsoft SharePoint Server environments.
Supported tape types & back-up software

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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. Don’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®

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

Supported backup formats for an exchange restore with the PowerControls Extract Wizard

Ontrack PowerControls Agent

Versions Supported

Disk Backup

Tape Backup

Agent for Windows NT Backup

All Versions

.BKF Files

Microsoft Tape Format (MTF)

Agent for Symantec Backup Exec

8.x, 9.x, 10.1, 11d, 12.0, 12.5, 12.5.3 SP4, and 2010 through 2010 R3SP1 (Direct Mode only): 2012

.BKF Files

Microsoft Tape Format (MTF)

Agent for EMC NetWorker

6.x and 7.0 through 7.6 SP3 1

.0 Files

NetWorker Tape Format

Agent for CA ARCserve Backup

9.x, 11.5 2, 11.5 SP3 2,3, 12.0 SP1 2,4, 12.5 SP1 2,4, 15 2, 15 SP1 2, 16 2, and 16 SP1 2

.CTF (ARCserve) Files

ARCserve Tape Format

Agent for Symantec NetBackup

4.5, 5.x, 6.0, 6.5 5, 6.5.3.1 5, 6.5.6 5, 7.0 5, 7.1 5,6 through 7.1.0.4 5,6, and 7.5 5,6

_C1_F (NetBackup) Files

NetBackup Tape Format

Agent for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager

5.1, 5.2, 5.3 7, 5.4 7, 5.5 7, 6.2 7, 6.2.3 7, and 6.3 7

.BFS and .OST Files

Tivoli Tape Format

Agent for HP Data Protector

4.2, 5.x, 6.0, and 6.20

User-Defined File Extension

HP Data Protector Tape Format

Agent for CommVault Simpana

5.0, 5.9, 6.1, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 through 9.0 SP7

Backup Path

CommVault Simpana Tape Format

Agent for UltraBac

7.1 and 8.0

Magnetic Library

UltraBac Software Tape Format

Agent for Native Backups

STSADM and Site Administrator

.BAK Files

Microsoft Tape Format (MTF)

EMC NetWorker 7.2 through 7.6 SP3: For backups created using Advanced File Backups, the Advanced Method for extraction is recommended.
CA ARCserve 11.5, 11.5 SP3, 12 SP1, 12.5 SP1, 15, 15 SP1, 16, and 16 SP1: For multiplexed backup tapes, the Advanced Method for extraction is recommended.
CA ARCserve 11.5 SP3: For backups of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, the Direct Method for extraction must be used.
CA ARCserve 12.0 SP1 and 12.5 SP1: For backups of Microsoft Exchange Server, the Direct Method for extraction must be used.
Symantec NetBackup 6.x and 7.x: For backups created using Bare Metal Restore™ or Off-Host Backup, the Advanced Method for extraction must be used.
Symantec NetBackup 7.1, 7.1.x, and 7.5: For Advanced Method restores of VSS backups, restoring a single database at a time is recommended.
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 6.2, 6.2.3, and 6.3: For backups created using Export mini format, the Advanced Method for extraction is recommended.

KLDiscovery Ontrack, LLC, 9023 Columbine Road Eden Prairie, MN 55347, United States (see all locations)