The second challenge with such
fast tape drives is that you cannot stream a modern tape drive that's placed behind a network backup server.
The same technology that is used for compressing the radar video for transmission across the Ethernet network can also be used for economically recording the video on to digital media such as a hard disc or
fast tape drive.
Other helpful features include a direct-drive chassis, which will provide
fast tape loading and reduced maintenance, and a selectable azimuth, which is a head selection process for playback of more than one VHS recording format.
The levels within the archive could be fast cache, slow cache (with binding capabilities),
fast tape, capacity tape, WORM tape separate from re-usable tape, and Iron Mountain or the equivalent.
A secondary or middle tier can be less expensive disk, optical, or even
fast tape, while tertiary storage is usually tape or optical.
In many instances,
fast tape drives have to frequently stop and wait, which can reduce the performance and drive reliability.