ODS media copying procedures involve creating a bit-for-bit or exact copy from one media to a similar or different media in the same format without any analysis or editing. By copying  your information onto a different media, data migration helps maintain your digital information in prime condition for an indefinite period of time.

ODS media transcription allows data to be selectively edited, analyzed and reformatted onto any media or format. ODS can selectively translate or duplicate any media to only copy such things as file sets, file types and file ranges as well as specific dates or other particular criteria that pertain to your business.

Ovation Data Services can help your company to:

• Move data from one operating system onto another. For examples, a mainframe system to a mini or PC-based system. This typically means going from EBCDIC to ASCII format with DOS or UNIX as the base language for the operating systems of both the PCs and Mainframes.

• Move information from one media onto a new or different media when you no longer support or have access to a particular type of tape transport device. This would also include media that may be acquired through trades, purchases, acquisitions or mergers.

• Change or maintain historical data to a new or different media. This also includes information that must be retained by law, other requirements, policies or procedures.

• Interpret and reformat data onto media in a particular format. That could be as simple as selecting file/data ranges and making a new output with just that data. Or it could be as elaborate as setting up a new database/mailing list.

When copying, editing or transcribing, Ovation Data Services performs a full range of validation tests to substantiate the integrity of the data sets. These include bit-to-bit comparisons, check-sum and read/write error re-tries.

We also visually examine the physical input media to determine its condition, then perform a digital validation to match label and support information to the digital information.

ODS has the ability to compact hundreds of thousands of 9-track (3420) tapes or any other media type in multiple formats down to a more manageable data set media, such as the IBM 3590 cartridge or the Sony DTF cassette. The results allow you to maintain just one system to work with all your data rather than keeping a multitude of different systems and devices.

ODS can input and output to or from various data formats, including:

• MS-DOS

• UNIX/TAR/CPIO

• EBCDIC

• ASCII

• IBM System 36 Save/Copy

• IBM AS/400 Save Objects

• DEC VAX VMS Save Sets

• Binary Coded Decimal

• IBM 32-Bit Floating Point

• IEEE 32-Bit Floating Point

• Tape Image Format (TIF)

• Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

• as well as numerous Back-Up Programs

ODS can input and output to or from various media including:

• 9-track or 3420 "round" tape

• 3480, 3490, 3490e, 3590 cartridges

• 4mm and 8mm cassettes

• DLT cartridges

• QIC cartridges

• Optical, Floppy, and other Disks

• for a complete listing see our media capabilities

All output media are then accurately labeled so other people using these media can easily obtain all the pertinent information they need. That save significant amounts of time and aggravation.

In addition to our standard media capabilities, ODS can perform maintenance services to further protect your data. These include:

• Media reconditioning

• Media upkeep, such as cleaning and re-tensioning

• Media repair

• Media dumps

• Media content investigation

• Electronic or manual de-skewing

• Databasing entries into client, industry standard or other ODBC compliant databases

• File edits

• Job Staging

• Support data by scanning to TIFF files and by making copies

For more information about why Ovation Data Services is the right source for all your company's media copying and data migration needs, call or write us.

OVATION DATA SERVICES, INC.      

World Headquarters and Technology & Service Center

14199 Westfair East Drive, Houston, TX 77041-1105 USA, Telephone: +1 (713) 464-1300

London - UK Data Storage Group

18 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QL United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0)207 268 3826

DPTS Limited - An Ovation Data Services Company     

London - Technology & Service Center

  Unit 2.02, Crayfields Industrial Park, Main Road

St. Paul's Cray, Kent, BR5 3HP  United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0)1689 824 777