menges@unc.UUCP (John Menges) (03/07/84)
We have about $10K to spend on a tape drive & controller for our VAX 11/780 (unibus) (1600(+) bpi). Reliability is a major concern. What's available for that price range that you can recommend?
hoffman@pitt.UUCP (Bob Hoffman) (03/07/84)
We've been using a CDC 45ips tension-arm transport with an Emulex TC11-P controller for almost three years now and have had exactly 0 failures. This tape system is a technician's dream -- it just sits there and works! The tape drive is model BWUA45, and was designed to be an OEM drive. The Emulex controller gives you TM11 software compatibility and 800 and 1600 bpi. I don't believe they offer a GCR (6250bpi) system yet. The controller will handle industry-standard transports up to 125 ips, so you can get a fancier transport if you wish. I believe the whole system cost us around $8500 in 1981. ---Bob Hoffman, Pitt CS