Data8
Tape Data Recovery - Data8
Data 8 refers to the 8 mm Backup Format introduced by Exabyte Corporation for magnetic tape data storage in computer systems. These systems could offer backups up to 40 GB of data.
Data 8 systems were mechanically similar to the tapes used in 8 mm video format recorders and camcorders. They were the first form of helical scan tapes used commercially for data storage.
Exabyte was the sole vendor of 8 mm format tape drives. They also built a reliable mechanism and data format that used the common 8 mm video tape technology available in those days.
Exabyte released the first 8 mm tape drive in 1987. These drives used Metal Particle (MP) tape. It was followed by their Mammoth tape drive in 1996 and Mammoth-2 (M2) in 1999.
Mammoth was the largest and fastest tape drive available for the midrange market in those days. With this model, Exabyte introduced the innovative Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) tape. AME was far more advanced and durable than other types of media. Mammoth tapes could also read (but not write) MP tapes.
Mammoth-2 drives used (AME) tape with a 2-m integrated cleaning tape header called Smart Clean. Since its launch, M2 grabbed significant user base and was one among the very few tape drive products that met the needs of high-end automated backup in networked environments.
The introduction of DLTtape technology by Quantum Corporation, compounded by delays in Mammoth product, dampened the enthusiasm for Exabyte’s newest products.
AIT and VXA formats and some other less common formats also use 8 mm wide tape, but are completely incompatible.
