datdata.com - Dat Data - datdata.com

2008-08-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

History of DAT

DAT Generations & Specs

DAT Uses #1

DAT Uses #2

Future of DAT

HP StorageWorks DAT

HP StorageWorks continued

2008-08-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Transfer rate on DAT technology is determined partly by the wrap angle (amount of tape wrapped around the rotating helical scan drum) and the speed of rotation of the drum. The wrap angle of the DAT160 drive is 180 degrees compared to only 90 degrees for previous generation DAT technologies, so the DAT-160 drive actually makes more efficient use of tape in contact with the head to increase transfer rate. Further generations will increase the drum speed.

The HP approach of using independent tape threading mechanisms was the breakthrough that enabled the DAT160 drive to write and read DAT-72 and DAT-40 media. When the concept of loading two different heights of cartridge with two different tape widths was invented, HP used extensive computer simulation techniques to model the tape threading and routing for each tape type. The results of these simulations indicated that the design concepts were both practical and yielded good levels of margin in allowing the design to be successful.

The most difficult challenge has been accommodating all the mechanical components in the physical space available. However, using the HP standard product design and testing methodology, the necessary mechanical solutions and enhancements have been evolved. The robust engineering and margin in these tape guides are the keys of a successful interchange.

-Shawn Paul
http://www.tape4backup.com

History of DAT

2008-08-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Development

The technology of DAT is closely based on that of video recorders, using a rotating head and helical scan to record data. This prevents DATs from being physically edited in the cut-and-splice manner of analog tapes, or open-reel digital tapes like ProDigi or DASH.

The DAT standard allows for four sampling modes: 32 kHz at 12 bits, and 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz at 16 bits. Certain recorders operate outside the specification, allowing recording at 96 kHz and 24 bits (HHS). Some machines aimed at the domestic market did not operate at 44.1 kHz when recording from analog sources. Since each recording standard uses the same tape, the quality of the sampling has a direct relation to the duration of the recording – 32 kHz at 12 bits will allow six hours of recording onto a three hour tape while HHS will only give 90 minutes from a three hour tape. Included in the signal data are subcodes to indicate the start and end of tracks or to skip a section entirely; this allows for indexing and fast seeking. Two-channel stereo recording is supported under all sampling rates and bit depths, but the R-DAT standard does support 4-channel recording at 32 kHz.

DAT "tapes" are between 15 and 180 minutes in length, a 120-minute tape being 60 meters in length. DAT "tapes" longer than 60 meters tend to be problematic in DAT recorders due to the thinner media.

Future of DAT

2008-08-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

In November 2005, Sony announced that the final DAT machines would be discontinued the following month. However, the DAT format still finds regular use in film and television recording, principally due to the support in some recorders for SMPTE time code synchronization, although it is slowly being superseded by modern hard disk recording equipment which offers much more flexibility and storage. In 2004, Sony introduced the Hi-MD Walkman with the ability to record in linear PCM. Hi-MD has found some favor as a disc-based DAT alternative for field recordings and general portable playback.

Archived audio problem

The discontinuation of DAT player production leads to a significant problem regarding audio archives, since a tremendous amount of recordings from the mid-80's until about 2000 exist solely on DATs. This means that this material is locked up on these tapes.

Even if some larger broadcasting facilities or studios still have some DAT recorder/players in their internal stock or could find a handful of second hand models, each unit can inevitably suffer from wear-out in the spinning drum heads, winding mechanisms, brakes, etc. The best solution would be to transfer the information off the DAT "tapes" and into computer-based hard drive systems via an AES/EBU digital connection. Even though these "transfers" have to happen in real-time which can make this process tedious and time consuming, an exact clone can be made using this process, where no digital information will be lost or compromised. Running the DAT through an analogue soundboard and then into the hard drive system, would forever defeat this purpose.

Uses of DAT

2008-08-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

Amateur and home use

DAT was envisaged by proponents as the successor format to analogue audio cassettes in the way that the compact disc was the successor to vinyl-based recordings; however, the technology was never as commercially popular as CD. DAT recorders remained relatively expensive, and commercial recordings were generally not made available on the format. However, DAT was, for a time, popular for making and trading recordings of live music, since available DAT recorders predated affordable CD recorders.

In the U.S., the RIAA and music publishers continued to lobby against DAT, arguing that consumers' ability to make perfect digital copies of music would destroy the market for commercial audio recordings. The opposition to DAT culminated in the passage of the resulting Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, which, among other things, effectively imposed a tax on DAT devices and blank media.

Computer data storage medium

The format was designed for audio use, but through the ISO Digital Data Storage standard it has been adopted for general data storage, storing from 1.3 to 80 GB on a 60 to 180 meter tape depending on the standard and compression. It is sequential-access media and is commonly used for backups. Due to the higher requirements for capacity and integrity in data backups, a computer-grade DAT was introduced, called DDS (Digital Data Storage). Although functionally similar to audio DATs, only a few DDS and DAT drives (in particular, those manufactured by Archive for SGI workstations) are capable of reading the audio data from a DAT cassette. SGI DDS4 drives no longer have audio support; SGI removed the feature due to "lack of demand."

Uses of DAT

2008-08-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Professional recording industry

DAT was widely used in the professional audio recording industry in the 1990s, and is still used to some extent today, as the archives created in the '90s are still widely used, although most labels have a program in place to transfer these tapes to a computer-based database. DAT was used professionally due to its lossless encoding, which allowed a master tape to be created that was more secure and did not induce yet more tape noise (hiss) onto the recording. In the correct setup, a DAT recording could be created without even having to be decoded to analogue until the final output stage, since digital multi-track recorders and digital mixing consoles could be used to create a fully digital chain. In this configuration, it is possible for the audio to remain digital from the first AD converter after the mic preamp until it is in a CD player.

DAT's were also frequently used by radio broadcasters. Until recently, they were still used by the BBC as an emergency broadcast that would initiate if the player detected a lack of noise continued for more than a pre-determined time. This would mean that if for any reason the broadcast from the studio stopped, the DAT would continue broadcast until normal service could be resumed.

What Are DAT Files?

2008-08-10T01:45:00.000-07:00

by Jon Buchanon

One of the most common questions concerning file extensions is what are .DAT files? DAT files are encountered frequently on many PCs and by many people. So what are DAT files? The simple answer is that DAT files are files which contain data. But that's all it tells us and, unfortunately, that's not enough.

The problem is that many applications use the file extension ".DAT" to indicate a file that contains a range of information which is usually stored in proprietary formats. Getting straight to the point this means that there is no standard way of interpreting DAT files, and no way of knowing how to open the file unless you know what program created it. DAT files can be music files, text, video, archives, binary data, or e-mail attachments in PDF format. A file with suffix DAT is just a file created to be read by the parent application that created it.

Let's see a practical example which is a common occurrence for most Instant Messenger users. I've read in a blog forum, that the Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM) saves the chat log files with a .DAT extension. Now imagine you want to check the message history of yesterday's chat log in Yahoo. The file has to be opened when you are logged in to YIM, otherwise it will display only gibberish characters and symbols. Some people might think that since the YIM chat log contains text characters, if they try to open the .DAT file using some word processor like Notepad or WordPad, the file will display correctly anyway. However this is not the case.

There may be some instances where a file with file extension DAT can be opened by a word processor displaying human readable data however this is not the norm. If you do know what application created the DAT file, then it's likely only that application can be used to open it.

Delete Index.dat Files

2008-08-10T01:37:00.000-07:00

What are Index.dat files?

Index.dat files are used by Internet Explorer and Windows to store history, Internet cache, cookies, UserData records and other information about what you have done in Internet or in your PC. Although some of their functions are useful, they are dangerous privacy threat - any person with even little knowledge about index.dat files locations and structure can see history of almost all of your computer activities. Index.dat files are not the only privacy threat but they are the most obscure and dangerous one because they are hard to find and even harder to delete. In fact, in most cases it is impossible to delete Index.dat files manually because Internet Explorer and Windows use them all the time.

Where are located Index.dat files?

Location of index.dat files depends on the version of Windows and whether or not you are using user profiles. Regardless of Windows version in many cases you can't see or find index.dat file using Windows Explorer. There is a little file called desktop.ini in each directory where index.dat file is located. This desktop.ini file forces Windows Explorer to hide index.dat files and to show the contents of Internet cache or history instead. However you can use some other file utility and binary (hex) editor to find the files and read their content. If you have Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 95 then index.dat files are in these locations:

C:WindowsCookiesindex.dat
C:WindowsHistoryindex.dat
C:WindowsHistoryMSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat (XXXX are some digits)
C:WindowsHistoryHistory.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsHistoryHistory.IE5MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsTemporary Internet Filesindex.dat (only in Internet Explorer 4.x)
C:WindowsTemporary Internet FilesContent.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsUserDataindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesCookiesindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryMSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryHistory.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryHistory.IE5MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesTemporary Internet Filesindex.dat (only in IE 4.x)
C:WindowsProfilesTemporary Internet FilesContent.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsProfilesUserDataindex.dat

How to erase or clean Index.dat files?

Erasing or cleaning of the index.dat files is not an easy task because they are opened by Internet Explorer and Windows all the time. If you are using Windows Me, Windows 98 or Windows 95 you can restart in DOS mode and then you can delete index.dat files one by one (look in the folders that are mentioned above). However if you are using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT this won't work.

-Mariyana Vasileva

About Mil Incorporated
Mil Incorporated was founded with an ambitious objective to be a trusted software partner for individuals and enterprises around the world. Mil Incorporated provides software security and privacy solutions that incorporate state of the art technology, security expertise, and substantial resources.

With threats to computer systems coming from all directions and growing in number and sophistication, our customers know that ordinary security measures are not enough. Mil Incorporated supplies privacy and security solutions that are solid, affordable, easy to use and provide outstanding level of protection.

Delete Index.dat Files

2008-08-10T01:16:00.000-07:00

What are Index.dat files?

Index.dat files are used by Internet Explorer and Windows to store history, Internet cache, cookies, UserData records and other information about what you have done in Internet or in your PC. Although some of their functions are useful, they are dangerous privacy threat - any person with even little knowledge about index.dat files locations and structure can see history of almost all of your computer activities. Index.dat files are not the only privacy threat but they are the most obscure and dangerous one because they are hard to find and even harder to delete. In fact, in most cases it is impossible to delete Index.dat files manually because Internet Explorer and Windows use them all the time.

Where are located Index.dat files?

Location of index.dat files depends on the version of Windows and whether or not you are using user profiles. Regardless of Windows version in many cases you can't see or find index.dat file using Windows Explorer. There is a little file called desktop.ini in each directory where index.dat file is located. This desktop.ini file forces Windows Explorer to hide index.dat files and to show the contents of Internet cache or history instead. However you can use some other file utility and binary (hex) editor to find the files and read their content. If you have Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 95 then index.dat files are in these locations:

C:WindowsCookiesindex.dat
C:WindowsHistoryindex.dat
C:WindowsHistoryMSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat (XXXX are some digits)
C:WindowsHistoryHistory.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsHistoryHistory.IE5MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsTemporary Internet Filesindex.dat (only in Internet Explorer 4.x)
C:WindowsTemporary Internet FilesContent.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsUserDataindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesCookiesindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryMSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryHistory.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsProfilesHistoryHistory.IE5MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXindex.dat
C:WindowsProfilesTemporary Internet Filesindex.dat (only in IE 4.x)
C:WindowsProfilesTemporary Internet FilesContent.IE5index.dat
C:WindowsProfilesUserDataindex.dat

How to erase or clean Index.dat files?

Erasing or cleaning of the index.dat files is not an easy task because they are opened by Internet Explorer and Windows all the time. If you are using Windows Me, Windows 98 or Windows 95 you can restart in DOS mode and then you can delete index.dat files one by one (look in the folders that are mentioned above). However if you are using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT this won't work.

About Mil Incorporated
Mil Incorporated was founded with an ambitious objective to be a trusted software partner for individuals and enterprises around the world. Mil Incorporated provides software security and privacy solutions that incorporate state of the art technology, security expertise, and substantial resources.

With threats to computer systems coming from all directions and growing in number and sophistication, our customers know that ordinary security measures are not enough. Mil Incorporated supplies privacy and security solutions that are solid, affordable, easy to use and provide outstanding level of protection.

Generations of DAT Digital Audio Tape DDS Digital Data Storage

2008-08-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

DDS or DDS-1 backup tape media cartridge

The first implementation of the DDS1 backup tape format used 60 meter tapes for a 1.3GB capacity. Capacity was upgraded to 2GB by extending the tape length to 90m, with no other changes in the tape formulation or the recording format.

DDS-2 backup tape media cartridge

In order to increase the DAT technology, the capacity was increases from 2GB to 4GB in DDS2 backup tape cartridge. The media length was increased to 120m and a new higher coercivity MP+ formulation was introduced. a thinner tape was required to reach the 120-meter target. DDS 2 backup media tape was reduced to 6.9 um thickness, compared to 9.0 um for DDS-1 backup magnetic tape.

DDS-3 backup tape media cartridge

The transition from DDS-2 to DDS-3 brought the largest capacity jump in the history of DAT technology, a 3x improvement over the previous generation. The DDS3 backup tape cartridge has native capacity of 12GB. The DDS 3 format was derived from two key media improvements: a higher-coercivity (1700 oersted vs. 1530 oe) version of the MP+ formulation used in DDS-2 media. The tape length was increased to 125m. The enhanced magnetic properties of the higher coercivity MP++ media supported a doubling of the linear bit density to 122 kbpi.

In DDS-3 backup tape media cartridge also benefited from a significant non-media technology enhancement: the debut of new highly efficient Partial Response Maximum Likelihood PRML read channel technology has been introduced. This contributed to further increased capacity.
DDS-4 backup tape media cartridge

The DAT technology reached the 20GB per cartridge threshold with DDS4 backup tape media cartridge. In DDS-4 backup tape media cartridge an improved MP media formulation was introduced along with longer length tape. For handling the higher track densities of the DDS-4 format, a higher output MP formulation designated MP+++ was developed.

Fifth generation of DDS DAT 72

DAT72 was built on the technology foundation of previous DDS media format. The native capacity of DAT-72 is 36GB. In DAT72 backup tape media cartridge new MP++++ formulation has been used.

In DAT72 the tape length was increased to 170 meters. The recording density has been increased from 122 to 162 kbpi along with increased track density.

DAT160 the 6th generation of DDS

The sixth generation of DAT 160 products have a native capacity of 80GB and transfer rates in the region of 5MB/s.

DAT 7th Generation

The DAT seventh generation will have native capacity of 150GB and native transfer rate of 8 MB/s.

DAT 8th Generation

The DAT eighth generation will have native capacity of 300GB and native transfer rate of 16 MB/s.

-Shawn Paul

For further details and online order, please visit www.tape4backup.com

DAT-DDS Tape Technology: HP StorageWorks

2008-08-10T01:10:00.000-07:00

The Digital Audio Tape DAT technology is the most prolific of all tape technologies. The DAT tape was previously known as DDS Digital Data Storage. Over 15 million DAT drives have been shipped since the first products were introduced in 1989 and more than 6 million since 2000. This gives rise to a conservative estimate of a 6-million user installed base. The HP StorageWorks DAT160 tape drive is the latest edition to the DAT family. It was launched by HP in June 2007. The DAT-160 drive is an evolution of existing DAT technology and has much in common with the previous five generations of DAT. It is estimated that there are over 6 million DAT tape drives currently installed worldwide. The DAT media tape cartridge is the Low-cost media and provides its customers the lowest cost of ownership.

The HP StorageWorks DAT 160 tape has 80-GB native capacity and up to 160 GB with 2:1 data compression. The HP DAT-160 has a transfer rate of 6.9 MB/sec native, over 13.8 MB/sec with 2:1 data compression. The DAT160 provides approximately 160 GB backing up in under 4 hours. Higher capacity can be achieved mainly by using wider tape for DAT160, but still provides backward write and read compatibility with DAT72 and DAT40 media. This can be done by having two independent threading mechanisms and tape paths inside the device.

DAT 160 supports HP StorageWorks One Button Disaster Recovery Solution when used with the relevant software and HP ProLiant servers, allowing total rebuild of a server from a single backup tape. It also includes Single Server Edition of HP Data Protector Express backup/recovery and disaster recovery software. DAT-160 media cartridge is supported on a wide range of operating system and backup applications.

Enterprise backup compatibility (EBS)

Enterprise (E-Series) libraries
Virtual (VLS) libraries
Business (MSL) libraries
1/8 G2 tape autoloaders
1/8 tape autoloaders

Tape Backup compatibility

DAT/DDS tape drives
DAT/DDS tape autoloaders
DLT/SDLT tape drives
LTO Ultrium tape drives & blades
DVD RW optical drives

The DAT160 media is just a wider version of the DAT40 media using MP Metal Particle technology 150 m in length. This is the same type of tape as has been shipping since 1994 in DAT40 cartridges. It has a proven track record of reliability. However, in DAT160 media, wider version of the tape has been used to enable greater capacity. A DAT160 drive accepts both sizes of media but threads them around the drum in different ways.

continue

Internet Cleaner Utility Tools

2008-08-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

The internet brings with it many advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that you can do lots of work sitting in the comfort of your home, without having to roam from office to office.

Insurance, finance, purchase of products, pursuing an education, playing at casinos and many other things can be done at home with the help of the internet. However though there are many advantages, the internet poses numerous disadvantages too.

The main disadvantage of the internet is that the sites that you visit while browsing through the internet tend to get downloaded in secret files of the computer. With this, without your actually knowing about it, you may have some illicit images and information stored in the computer. Unauthorized people may gain access to information not meant for their eyes.

There is a remedy for this problem; make it a point to download some software in the computer where your privacy, job, family and business are protected. With the help of this internet eraser software in the computer, you can be sure that unwanted images and information does not get recorded or stored in the computer.

In addition to all this, the internet eraser software helps delete unwanted files permanently with the help of its shredder feature. The reason the files get shredded with this internet eraser software is that it is not enough just deleting files. There are numerous tools in the internet which can retrieve deleted files.

This internet eraser software also helps you clear your search history for Google and Yahoo toolbar search history. It also helps clear the browser search bar history, With this, sites which had been visited will not be accessible to others.

A very important files users may not know much about is a file that stored secretly in the computer called Index.Dat files, these files store and record all your internet surfing history, what is more frustrating is that these files are hidden and can't be located, and are difficult to delete manually. With the help of the Internet eraser software, it is possible to clear the content of these files to protect your privacy and security.

When surfing the internet, all the URLs that you visit are stored in a cache folder. So when you want to erase this cache folder from the computer, it can be done easily through the internet eraser software. Many people tend to clear history of the tracks of the sites visited clearing the browser history.

However, while doing so, the files get hidden, and can be deleted only by using internet eraser software. The internet eraser software can erase all encrypted information found in the computer through internet surfing.

Online Privacy Protection Utility Tools

2008-08-10T00:40:00.000-07:00

It is quite normal for people to bathe everyday to clean the body of any impurities and unwanted things. Houses are cleaned everyday, clothes are washed everyday and similarly, the computer can be cleaned regularly too. Today, it is very much possible to erase and eliminate unwanted things from the computer with the use of internet eraser software.

When surfing the internet, the computer tends to get filled with unwanted matter, pictures and files which get stored in secret files in the computer. It is rather difficult, and sometimes impossible to get rid of these files manually. It is only with the help of an internet eraser software is it possible to get rid of all these unwanted files. You can also erase the internet browser history of the computer with the help of the internet cleaner software which proves to be very effective in maintaining the functionality of the computer.

It is also possible to erase the cache folders of the IE with the help of a good eraser software. The cache folder of the IE or Opera is basically a folder where copies of all the URLs that you had visited are stored. All encrypted information on your surfing activities is stored in the index.dat file. You may think that the cleaning of the browser history of the computer leads to the URLs getting eliminated. However this is not the case as these index.dat file tends to hide and cannot be cleared without the help of a proper eraser tool.

The internet eraser software is also a perfect software program for those who tend to visit explicit sites frequently or once in a while. This is because the internet eraser application can help to wipe and clean the computer from pornography and unwanted contents from the eyes of children. You get help in having all the junk files of the computer getting erased with the presence of the internet eraser software.

This particular piece of software works well as an internet browser history eraser, internet browser cache and cookie eraser, duplicate files eraser and media and real player history eraser. It is possible for you to erase all this caches, cookies and files one by one with the help of the internet eraser software. Some files or cookies may be required by you, and with the help of this handy software, it is possible for you to decide on what to keep and what to eliminate from the computer.

So just surf the computer for internet eraser software and get it installed for free for the ultimate in comfort and security when using the computer.

2008-07-23T01:14:00.000-07:00

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