The tape format that is followed by the Microsoft Corporation is shortly called as the MTF. The MTF is the abbreviation for Microsoft Tape Format. The Microsoft Corporation’s operating systems that are the Windows usually uses the file system format on the regular hard disks as the FAT that is the File Allocation Table. The other file system that is supported by the Windows operating system is the NTFS.

The Network Operating System or the NOS from he Microsoft Corporation is the Windows NT. The backup that is taken from this operating system uses the format of the MTF or the Microsoft Tape Format. This MTF is considered as the Native format for the backup programs of the Windows NT operating system. In the Microsoft Tape Format the advantage is that the files fro m the hard disk drive can be stored on the tapes. It is mainly used for the back up of the files from the hard disk drive.

The files that are backed up from the hard disk drive are stored as the Data set on the tape drive. Also since the data may be large, hence it is possible to have multiple Data sets per tape. It is also possible that the Data sets are so large that the cover more than one tapes at a time. A single data set may take more tapes for the backup of the data. Actually the term that is the Tape family usually refers to the collection of the data sets that are over one or even more than one tapes.

The MTF or the Microsoft Tape Format comprises of the three major components. They are listed below as the following: the DBLK, one or more data sets and the Information catalog or otherwise known as the On Tape Catalog Information.

The DBLK is the first component in the MTF. It is actually the Tape Data Block or also called as the Tape Descriptor Block. There is only one Tape Descriptor Block in any of the MTF. And it also happens to be the first object of the tape format. The main function of the Tape DBLK is to identify the tape. There should always be a unique DBLK in any MTF. And there should only one and also at least one DBLK in Tape.

The DBLK generates the unique tape family ID. It also generates the tape description along with its name. It describes the data and the time when it is added to the family of the tapes. The functionality of the Tape Descriptor Block in the MTF is also to indicate the tape sequence number to the tape in a family.

The Data Set comprises the VDB or the Volume Descriptor Blocks.

These are used to describe the logical partition in the disk. After the VDB there is the DDB – Directory Descriptor Block. The function of the DDB is to specify which blocks are backed up. The distinct data set is formed after each back up session. Also there is the possibility of the multiple data sets. The S - Set Descriptor Block describes the start of the data set. The following blocks Volb Descriptor Block – (Volume) and the Dirb Descriptor Block – (Directory) are there for their specific tasks.

The third and the last part of the MTF provide the information about the Tape Catalog. The OTCI is a fast method of identifying the data sets and files and directories on the tape. They also consist of the following: The File/ Directory Information Detail to provide the detailed attributes of the files and the directories. The Set Map Information to provide the information about all the data sets that are in the tape.

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