What is a Tape File System?

A Tape File System allows archived files to be read individually from tape media. Conversely a Backup product will write a stream of content which requires a restore operation before reading individual files. A Tape File System can be open (such as LTFS – Linear Tape File System) or proprietary (such as QStar’s TDO – Tape Disk Object) where both offer different advantages. LTFS is typically used for stand-alone tape drives and allows data to be moved from one place to another. Proprietary tape formats are used in a tape library environment where data security and performance are more crucial.