Improving Information Storage Reliability Using a Data Network

Abstract

Backup and recovery methods using magnetic tapes are common in computer utilities, since information stored on-line is subject to damage. The serial access nature of the tape medium severely restricts the flexibility and simplicity of accessing and managing the stored data. A method using a data network will be described, to present a backup mechanism which takes advantage of a large, inexpensive, random access remote data storage facility to provide data access and management functions that are more flexible than. those provided by a traditional backup facility. Although data transfer rates will be reduced, data access and management will be simplified, and system availability will be improved. The work described is based on a network backup facility built for the Multics computer utility, using the ARPAnet.