Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!gatech!bloom-beacon!husc6!m2c!maxx!tyager
From: tyager@maxx.UUCP (Tom Yager)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: Need advice on a tape drive
Summary: I think there IS a standout winner...
Message-ID: <57@maxx.UUCP>
Date: 18 Feb 89 23:14:47 GMT
References: <3700025@eecs.nwu.edu> <13160@steinmetz.ge.com>
Organization: MAXX Public Access Xenix
Lines: 58

In article <13160@steinmetz.ge.com>, davidsen@steinmetz.ge.com (William E. Davidsen Jr) writes:
> In article <3700025@eecs.nwu.edu> skrenta@eecs.nwu.edu (Richard Skrenta) writes:
> 
> | It seems that most of the tape backup units out there were primarily designed
> | for DOS; some manufacturers even charge extra for the Xenix drivers.  And
> | I've seen some horror stories about tape units posted here....
> | 
> | Does anyone know of a model that they can recommend?  Any to stay away from?
>   As for brands: I have used both Archive and Wangtek, as sold by
> several vendors under OEM names and directly from the vendor. There is
> so little to choose between them that I won't make a recommendation.
> -- 
> 	bill davidsen		(wedu@ge-crd.arpa)
>   {uunet | philabs}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen

You're right--both of the makes you mentioned are solid products, but I think
one particular drive stands out right now as the best in terms of price/
performance: the Archive ST600SS.

It's a 125MB drive that uses DC600A-type tapes (about 30% cheaper than the
600XL tapes needed for 150MB units). Under 386/ix, it streams constantly,
delivering a solid 5MB/minute backup speed. In my own tests, the drive held
up to streaming the entire tape, beginning to end, stopping only to reverse
the tape (about 1-3 seconds). Also, for those whose math isn't so hot, 125MB
is actually 131,000,000+ bytes.

I've tested it with Xenix 2.2 and 2.3, and with 386/ix 1.06 and 2.0. For
Xenix 2.2 and 386/ix (either version), you need to call Archive for a driver
disk. They'll ship it out, free, and they even Fed. Ex.'d me one when I was
in a bind. The 386/ix drivers are for 1.06, but they work fine for 2.0 once
you wedge its components into the right places. I had a little trouble figuring
out how to install the driver, but once I did it ran without problems.

Since it has its own DMA channel, the drive can write data while simultaneously
reading from the hard disk. While this isn't unique, it does make for fast
backups.

The drive was on special when I picked it up, so it can probably be had for
around $800, including the controller. The suggested list is pegged at over
$1200, a much more realistic price, and it will presumably return to that
level soon (if it hasn't already). 

I picked mine up through a distributor, but I'm sure a call to Archive would
uncover the names of retailers carrying the drives and also answer any
questions you might have. They were very friendly and helpful to me, and it
is largely the staff's attitude that leads me to recommend the drive so
highly.

No, I'm not selling them, so please no flames about commercialism. It's just a
product with which I'm very, very pleased, and thought I'd pass it along.

Archive's number is (714) 641-1230.

-- 
+--Tom Yager---------------------------------------------------------------+
|  ARPA: tyager%maxx@m2c.m2c.org (preferred) -or- tyager@apollo.com        | 
|  I speak only for (and to) myself                                        |
+--"I like life; it's something to do."------------------------------------+