Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 04:49:41 -0500 From: "Daniel M. Eischen" <deischen@iworks.InterWorks.org> To: dwhite@resnet.uoregon.edu, jeffrey_m._metcalf@ccmail.bms.com, questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: What are DAT tape drives? Message-ID: <9608010949.AA20108@iworks.InterWorks.org>
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> On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Jeffrey M. Metcalf wrote: > > > I was hoping somebody could quickly describe to me what DAT tape > > drives are, their varieties, and how their support and performance is > > under FreeBSD. Do you know where I could get good deals? > > DAT stands for "Digital Audio Tape" and is a newer form of the original > casette tape. They are larger (resembling 8mm videotapes) and hold more > data. Like the casette storage devices of old, many DAT-based tape backup > solutions have sprung up recently. The cost of the device and tape is > offset by their incredible storage capacity -- up to 8GB. Actually, I think the most common DAT tapes in the computer industry are the 4mm version. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think there are also 8mm DAT tapes which are probably the same as the DAT tapes that never caught on in the music world. The 8mm DAT tapes are roughly the same size as a regular audio cassette but maybe a little thicker. The 4mm DAT tapes are about half the size of an audio cassette and a little thinner. The 4mm DAT tapes come in 60M, 90M, and 120M (DDS-2) lengths. > All the DATs you'll find are SCSI interfaced and as such are compatible > with FreeBSD. The most recommended are made by HP. A search of the mail > archives should reveal the relevant part numbers. Yes, I highly recommend the HP 1533 DAT drives. No problems (so far) with these drives both at work and at home. Search the FreeBSD handbook or FAQ for more about DAT drives. Dan Eischen deischen@iworks.InterWorks.org
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