Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!uucs1!gaf
From: gaf@uucs1.UUCP (gaf)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386
Subject: Re: UNIX Driver for JUMBO Tape Backup
Keywords: Tape, Backup, Jumbo, Colorado Memory Systems, CMS
Message-ID: <310@uucs1.UUCP>
Date: 29 Aug 90 19:20:00 GMT
References: <3819@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US>
Reply-To: gaf@uucs1.UUCP ()
Organization: UUCS inc., Phoenix Az
Lines: 21

In article <3819@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US> enc@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Erez N. Carmel) writes:
>I have a Colorado Memory Systems tape backup, which used to serve
>under DOS.  CMS does not seem to have a Unix driver available. Did
>anybody have any Unix success with this drive?  Can VPIX help?

The CMS Jumbo tape we have looks to the PC like a floppy disk drive, and
2.2 Interactive Unix has a driver for "floppy tape" drives.  Our experience
with it has been less than wonderful, though.

The tape moves *very* slowly, with *very* long pauses for no obvious reason.
We've tried both the simple (cat /etc/passwd >/dev/ftape) and the complex
(find / -print | cpio -ocBv | ftape /dev/ftape), with the above result.
We even went so far as to format the tape and started to do a verify operation.
45 minutes into the verify we ran out of patience and decided it wasn't
worth the trouble.

We've got a Wangtek streamer on order now.
-- 
Guy Finney					It's that feeling of deja-vu
UUCS inc.   Phoenix, Az				all over again.
ncar!noao!asuvax!hrc!uucs1!gaf	sun!sunburn!gtx!uucs1!gaf