Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!sei.cmu.edu!fs7.ece.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!jo0e+ From: jo0e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jared M. Oberhaus) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Tape drives-Huge ones! for the Mac Message-ID: Date: 2 Jun 91 19:00:06 GMT References: <1991May23.123028.20336@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> Distribution: usa Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 28 In-Reply-To: <1991May23.123028.20336@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> Has anyone had any experience with large (gigabyte and up) tape drives for the Mac? We are considering a backup system, definitely using Retrospect with Retrospect Remote so we can back up all 40 Macs every night, or week, or whenever. We would like to have a 3 gig drive-definitely no less than 2. We have a 340 meg server, about 30 machines with about 20 megs, and about 10 machines with 80 megs. This makes 1.74 gigs RIGHT NOW. We'll probably soon upgrade all the 20 meg machines with 40 meg drives which makes 2.34 gigs. I have heard that DAT drives (is that synonymous with 4mm?) are better and the tapes last longer because they don't travel as far around the head as 8mm drives. What about compression? Can I buy a DAT now that stores a whole lot? Like 5 or 10 gigs? What if I buy one now that stores 2? Can I get some sort of ROM, hardware, or software upgrade for it so it can compress data and store larger amounts of data? I've seen prices for drives such as the WangDAT (about $2600 for 3 gigs) and ExaByte DAT (about $2200 for 2.2 gigs). What would the best price be for something like this? What would be the best price for tape cartridges and where would I get the best quality? Your responses are greatly appreciated! How 'bout them Penguins! (Pittsburgh Penguins-Stanley Cup champions-1991)