In addition to optimizing write performance with additional streams to multiple files, there are other positive side effects as well. When using the forward incremental forever backup mode, you may experience improved merge performance. When backup file compacting is enabled, per VM backup files require less free space: instead of requiring sufficient space to temporarily accommodate an additional entire full backup file, only free space equivalent to the largest backup file in the job is required. Parallel processing to tape will also have increased performance, as multiple files can be written to separate tape devices simultaneously.