In addition to storage of data for sequential data processing applications, one of the primary uses of magnetic tapes is to serve as backup storage medium for data stored on on-line devices such as a disk. During back-up or recovery process, backup mechanisms process backup tapes continuously from beginning to end because there is no need for selective access of records. Hence, there is no need to start and stop a backup tapes continuously from beginning to end because there few records. Based on this idea, researches came out with a special type of quarter-inch streamer tape eliminating the need for start/stop operation of traditional tape drives for half-inch tape reels or tape cartridges. As there is no start/stop mechanism, streamer tape drives can read/write data more efficiently than traditional tape drives, which stop and restart tape movement at each IBM. These tapes are1/4-inch wide and sealed in a cartridge. Their tape drives are very similar in look and mechanical operation to the tape drives of half-inch tape cartridges.
As there is no start/stop mechanism, streamer tape drives can read/write data more efficiently than traditional tape drives, which stop and restart the tape movement at ech IBM. Moreover, streamer tape drives also utilize tape storage area more efficiently.
Streamer tapes are so called because they read/write data serially as streams of bits. They use a data format known as the QIC (Quarter Inch Cartridge) standard. Standard data format helps in easy use of these tapes for exchanging data between different computers. That is, data recorded on a streamer tape by one computer can be read by another computer, if both of them use the common QIC standard data format. QIC stands for Quarter Inch Cartridge.