Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Tape Devices

Tape devices are used to back up to tape. Tape devices must be directly connected to the server, and parallel backups to multiple drives are supported to increase throughput. Tape backups have the advantage of being scalable, portable, and secure. Scalability is important as a database grows; available disk space often precludes the use of disk backups for large databases. Because tapes are removable media, they can easily be transported offsite, where they can be secured against theft and damage.

SQL Server supports the Microsoft Tape Format (MTF) for backup devices, which means that SQL Server backups and operating system backups can share the same tape. This capability is convenient for small sites with shared use servers and ...