Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wasatch!helios.ee.lbl.gov!epb2.Berkeley.EDU!envbvs
From: envbvs@epb2.Berkeley.EDU (Brian V. Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: dec3100 tape drive
Keywords: dec3100 system , compatible tape drive
Message-ID: <3161@helios.ee.lbl.gov>
Date: 2 Aug 89 17:08:54 GMT
References: <718@pitstop.West.Sun.COM> <1934@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <2836@helios.ee.lbl.gov>
Sender: usenet@helios.ee.lbl.gov
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Neff) writes:

> In article <2836@helios.ee.lbl.gov> envbvs@epb2.lbl.gov (Brian V.
Smith) writes:
> >In the first place, the Sun tape drive (if you are talking about the
> >1/4 inch cartridge system) only holds about 60 megabytes and, the biggest
> >pain: YOU CANNOT >>>ADD<<< TO A 'TAR' FILE.  You have to create a whole new
> >tar file from scratch ('tar c') because it can't extend a file.
> >
> >It is true that the DEC TK50 drive is overpriced (everything sold on the
> >component level by DEC is overpriced), but you do get 
> >95 megabytes on a cartridge and it is faster (true, not much) than
> >the Sun drive.
> >
> 
> What Brian said was true a few months ago, but not any more.
> 

That is because I wrote it 'a few months ago', and several followup 
articles were posted informing me and the net of the newer Qic150 tapedrives.  
How did this subject come up again?

> The newer Sun tape drives that go with the SPARCstation 1 and the other
> new Sun products are not Qic24 60MB tape drives but Qic150 150MB tape drives
> ( However you can still use the old shoeboxes with the newer machines if
> so desired ).  The list price for the Qic150 drive is $1,600.  I suspect
> that with his discount, Dan was being offered one of the new drives.
> The speed is roughly the same as the older drive ( 90 ips ) and the newer
> drive offers higher density ( 10,000 bpi as opposed to 8,000 bpi ).
> Rewind time is also roughly the same ( 1.5 min. ).
> 
> Not being able to add to a tar file can be overcome to some degree by
> winding past the end-of-tape mark of the existing image and creating a
> new tar image.
> 

Yuck!  Then you have to keep track of how many files are on the tape and 
which one contains the latest version of your file.
Why can't Sun make a tape drive that can extend a tape file?

_____________________________________
Brian V. Smith    (bvsmith@lbl.gov)
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
We don't need no signatures!



























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