What Is Meant By Hardware And Software?

Diskettes are still used in some cases as backup media. All microcomputer systems come with at least one diskette drive. So without a substantial hardware investment in a dedicated backup system - hardware and software used only for backup purposes - the user can back up the contents of a hard disk onto removable media. Backup software for diskette systems is available that assists in the backup process, prompting the user to "insert a new diskette, please" when one diskette becomes full. One such program is called FASTBACK, by the 5th Generation Systems. However, using diskettes to back up a hard disk is slow.
Magnetic tape is the more commonly used storage medium for backing up hard disks. With a hard disk of 40 MB or higher, a reliable tape storage unit is a good investment. Tape backup units can easily support up to 12 MB or more per tape and are fast and accurate. Once you decide to purchase a tape system, many tape backup manufacturers write their own software. In addition to your specific needs, you should be sure that the software offers the following capabilities:
• File can be backed up individually or all at once.
• Several backups can be copied onto a single tape.
• A backup can span more than one tape.
• The backup data can be verified to ensure that it was recorded reliably on the tape.