Disk in the form of -that is, disk presented as tape- can be added without requiring huge changes to existing backup strategies. This is more straightforward than adding disk into an existing environment, because adding disk without the VTL interface requires complex and unavoidable changes to existing strategies.

This relative simplicity, coupled with the affordability of SATA disk, has turned VTL into a viable storage option. However, first-generation VTLs do have problems, primarily complexity of setup. Secondarily, and perhaps directly related to configuration complexity, VTLs often have problems with the real-world performance versus theoretical gains. Spectra Logic's RXT Sabre addresses all the first-generation VTL drawbacks and goes a step further, adding features that expand beyond first generation VTL (disk-as-tape) products.