Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!batcomputer!hurf From: hurf@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Hurf Sheldon) Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: Re: 4mm Versus 8mm Tape Backup Subsystems Message-ID: <9025@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> Date: 9 Oct 89 17:26:54 GMT References: <21496.2524aa95@ceres.physics.uiowa.edu> <8101@cbmvax.UUCP> Reply-To: hurf@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Hurf Sheldon) Organization: Cornell Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY Lines: 51 In article <8101@cbmvax.UUCP> grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) writes: >In article <21496.2524aa95@ceres.physics.uiowa.edu> rlm@ceres.physics.uiowa.edu writes: >> I posted an inquiry a few weeks ago about 4mm DAT tape subsystems, but no one >> seemed to have any experience. We have a VAX-3200 (Q-bus)+2x3100 (VMS) cluster >> with some 1.5 GB of disk which we need to backup with minimal operator >> intervention. The choices seem to be: >> >> We need to purchase something right away because at the moment we have NO >> backup device... > >8mm is a hell of a lot better than no backups. George, My biased opinion: 8mm is a hell of a lot better than ANY backups. I have used a Viking controller with Exabyte 8mm drive for 16 mos now, we do incrementals daily and level 0 biweekly on 7 systems contituting a total of 2gig of disk. We also have another system with 1gig and a Viking/Exabyte drive that has been in operation for 6 mos. Neither drive has ever burped. The dump tapes cost $8.99 for 2 gig vs over $500.00 for the same capacity in a tk50 plus it is a start and go process - put the tape in and go home. No poor animal has to wait around endless hours to change endless tapes. Restores of individual files ove 800meg into a tape has taken 15 mins at the outside. The savings in tape, labor and anxiety has paid for the drive & controller (About $4k a year ago) many times over. >least a 3 year useful life. It's just too soon to tell about the DAT stuff - >if you are brave, get one on a test basis, but the chances are much greater >that the drive/company/format will be orphaned within a year... > DAT's as far as I know won't hold the amount of data that the 8mm will so I don't see the 8mm being obsolete anytime soon. The low cost of operation probably won't be matched by DAT as the tapes will cost more and the drive may as well - it certianly will [cost more] in the beginning. Besides, I would still like to have a slick vacuum load 6250 reel tape at certian times and this is 1989... Because DAT is digital format, they no doubt will do 'tar -r' - which the analog format Exabytes won't do (which is why they are being mainly marketed as 'backup' devices) -they should be around to stay. The DAT will probably be a popular OEM item as it will replace completely any other drive currently being shipped. Hurf -- Hurf Sheldon Network: hurf@ionvax.tn.cornell.edu Lab of Plasma Studies Bitnet: hurf@CRNLION 369 Upson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853 ph:607 255 7267 I got a job in science; I bought a Porsche; Now, everyone takes me seriously.