tape backup using Sun SPARC / Solaris

I’m a student studying a business data communications module. My coursework involves the design of an extended network for a fictitious company. Need help with a section on tape backups. Company has network of Sun SPARC w/stations and tape backup system but nobody understands manuals! Required to write short tutorial “how to make an automatic tape backup to a tape drive under unix”. Since vendor not specified suppose instructions to be universal but need background info on unix & backups in general. Any thoughts anyone…………