Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!pyrdc!gmu90x!dolqci!decuac!felix!tom
From: tom@felix.UUCP (Tom Lockwood)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs
Subject: Re: tape backups using videotapes
Message-ID: <9392@felix.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Oct-87 21:53:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: felix.9392
Posted: Mon Oct 12 21:53:56 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Oct-87 05:21:48 EDT
References: <1609@homxc.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@felix.UUCP
Reply-To: tom@felix.UUCP (Tom Lockwood)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Lines: 39

In article <1609@homxc.UUCP> dwc@homxc.UUCP (D.CHEN) writes:
>
>i seem to remember reading somewhere about a tape backup
>device that uses vhs or 8mm tapes that could hold on the
>order of 1Gbyte of storage.
>
>does anyone out there have any info about this?  i would
>like to know about reliability, cost, etc.


1. VHS - The VLDS (Very Large Data Store) uses one premium-grade
	T-120 VHS cassette can store 5.2G bytes. (expect 10G bytes in '88).
	Bit error rate of 1 in 10e12.  Will not overwrite existing data,
	must use bulk erase first for protection of data. 
	Interfaces: SCSI or proprietary TTL interface.
	Cost: Evaluation units $44,000.  Production units $18,900 OEM quantities.
	Who: Honeywell Inc., Test Instruments Dev., 5105 E 41st Ave.,
	Denver, CO 80216	(303) 773-4581.

2. 8-mm - EXB-8200 stores 2.332G bytes on a 8-mm videotape cartridge.
	System includes tape drive, controller, 256k-byte buffer, and
	embedded SCSI interface.  Fits in full-height, 5 1/4" form factor.
	Bit error rate of less than 1 error per 10e13 nonrecoverable.
	Cost: Evaluation unit $3500, less than $1000 per unit large OEM quantities.
	Who: Exabyte Corp., 4876 Sterling Dr., Boulder, CO 80301
	(303) 442-4333

3. Digital Audio Tape (DAT) - 1G byte.
	Bit error rate better than one in 10e12.
	Who: Hitachi Corp., Japan
	I have no interface, cost, or address on this one.

Tom Lockwood
{decvax,ucbvax}!hplabs!felix!tom
--
	Tom Lockwood
	hplabs!felix!tom
"We are upping our standards,
		...so up yours".  Pat Paulsen for President, 1988.