DDS-2 Tapes

Digital Data Storage (DDS) is a format for storing and backing up computer data on magnetic tape that evolved from Digital Audio Tape (DAT) technology, which was originally created for CD-quality audio recording. Stores up to 4 GB uncompressed (8 GB compressed) on a 120 m cartridge.

DDS-3 Tapes

DDS uses tape with a width of 3.8mm, with the exception of the latest format, DAT 160, which is 8mm wide. Initially, the tape was 60 or 90 meters long, although advancements in materials technology have allowed the length to be increased significantly in successive versions. Stores up to 12 GB uncompressed(24 GB compressed)on a 125 m cartridge. DDS-3 uses PRML minimizes electronic noise for a cleaner data recording.

DDS-4 Tapes

A DDS tape drive uses helical scanning for recording, the same process used by a video cassette recorder (VCR). There are two read heads and two write heads. The read heads verify the data that has been written (recorded). If errors are present, the write heads rewrite the data. DDS-4 stores up to 20 GB uncompressed (40 GB compressed) on a 150 m cartridge. This format is also called DAT 40.

DDS-5/DAT 72 Tapes

DAT 72 stores up to 36 GB uncompressed (72 GB compressed) on a 170 m cartridge. The DAT 72 standard was developed by HP and Certance. It has the same form-factor and is backwards compatible with DDS-3 and DDS-4.

DDS-6/DAT 160 Tape

DAT 160 was launched in June 2007 by HP, stores up to 80 GB uncompressed (160 GB compressed). A major change from the previous generations is the width of the tape. DAT 160 uses wide tape while all prior versions use 3.81 wide tape. Despite the difference in tape widths, DAT 160 drives are backwards compatible with DAT 72 and DAT 40 (DDS-4). Native capacity is 80 GB and native transfer rate 6.9 MB/s. Launch interfaces are SCSI and USB, with SAS interface now released.

DAT-320 Tape

In November 2009 HP launched the new DAT 320 which stores up to 160 GB uncompressed (marketed as 320 GB assuming 2:1 compression).

DAT/DDS Cleaning Tapes

A DDS cartridge needs to be retired after 2,000 passes or 100 full backups. Tape drives should be cleaned regularly to be kept in good working order. DDS tapes have an expected life of at least 10 years. Highly durable, high-performance cartridge keeps drives running at peak performance. Withstands up to 50 cleans. Works with both HP and non-HP brand DAT tape drives. Includes an HP DDS cleaning cartridge and a handy polycase for storage. Backed by the manufacturer's limited lifetime warranty

DDS Barcode Labels

These barcode labels are assigned to individual products by manufacturers and registered in central databases through international authorities like the Universal Product Code (UPC) and regional authorities like Uniform Code Council (UCC). A barcode is a series of black and white lines of varying length and thickness which usually make up an alphanumeric code that is unique and identifies the product it is attached to. In North America alone 250,000 manufacturers have registered to get their own barcode. Another exampl