Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 16:39:23 -0500 From: "Mike Avery" <mavery@mail.otherwhen.com> To: jsd@gamespot.com, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: HP T4000s Tape Drive problems Message-ID: <199907082142.QAA16185@hostigos.otherwhen.com> In-Reply-To: <199907082054.NAA03455@hudsucker.gamespot.com> References: <199907080218.VAA14937@hostigos.otherwhen.com>
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On 8 Jul 99, at 13:54, Jon Drukman wrote:
> >I've resolved backup problems in several shops by just ditching the
> >Travan drives. These weren't the cheapos, they were the "professional"
> >NS-8 and NS-20 series drives.
> Based on what you and a few others have said about general Travan
> crappiness, I will follow your advice and put this thing back in
> the cupboard from whence it came, and instead play around with
> this Exabyte 8500 I found.
> On a somewhat related note, does anybody have any strong preferences
> between DAT/DLT/Exabyte? I'm interested in all experiences, good or
> bad... Let me know.
I have an ExaByte 8505XL, and I'm very happy with it, overall. It's
fairly quick, good capacity, and I can usually use commercial (video)
8mm tapes in it and save money. It's big drawback is that it's seek
time is a LOT longer than that of a DAT or DLT. I don't know that
I'd buy another one if this one died, but I am happy with it, and I do
trust it.
I've used more than a few DAT drives. I like Archive and Seagate a
lot. I can live with HP. The HP's seem to flake out and need to be
overhauled. Things might have gotten better since I stopped using
them... I wouldn't know about that. I've had good luck with, and
heard good reports on, the Seagate 12/24 gig DAT drive.... the
Scorpion I think.
As to DLT drives, I've used 'em, but not often. A bit rich for my
blood. Those who use 'em seem to love 'em. Very fast. However,
be aware that there are only two drive manufacturers now.
Quantum and Tandberg. If it doesn't say Tandberg, it's a
Quantum. (As far as I know, Tandberg isn't OEM'ing yet.)
Quantum's are good drives, so the point isn't "avoid quantum", it's
"don't pay more than you have to, they're all the same damn drive".
Another consideration.... the 4000 series is rated at about 1.5mbps.
The 7000 at about 5... if memory serves. Many servers (your
hardware, backup software, server load, and OS will cause the
mileage to vary) can't deliver a byte stream fast enough to keep a
7000 series drive in streaming mode, so it goes into start-stop mode.
This destroys the throughput.... slower than a 4000 series drive in
practice. So, unless you are VERY sure you have the bandwidth (and
more than one person has been surprised here), stay with a 4000
series drive. Or two 4000 series drives for more capacity.
Hope this helps,
Mike
======================================================================
Mike Avery MAvery@mail.otherwhen.com
(409)-842-2942 (work)
ICQ: 16241692
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A Randomly Selected Thought For The Day:
Oft-times thou feelest like unto a nut,
And yet, M'lord, anon, feel'st thou not so.
Yon Almond Joy these selfsame nuts doth have.
Whereas contrary Mounds doth have them not.
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