steve@lucifer.UUCP (Steve Goodwin) (05/22/91)
Due to conflicting advice, we would welcome opinions and experiences with tape backup systems other than standard 9 track tape on Pyramids. Specifically Exabyte drives, DAT drives and the 3480-based 'autochanger' drive. All are supported by Pyramid in the UK but opinions - even within Pyramid - vary. For example; 'Exabyte is slow ... unreliable ... cost effective; DAT will be good when proven ... long term unknown ... not yet available; 3480 is slow ... old technology ... industry standard ' And so on..... :-) Please respond by mail and I will summarise to the net. -- | Steve Goodwin { steve@uk.co.lucasauto.eg | | Electronic Control Group, { ..!ukc!lucifer!steve | | Lucas Powertrain Systems, Phoenix Way, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1QG U.K. | | Tel: (44) 285 657981 Fax: (44) 285 658258 Twx: 43561 |
sean@coombs.anu.edu.au (Sean Batt) (05/24/91)
steve@lucifer.UUCP (Steve Goodwin) writes: >Due to conflicting advice, we would welcome opinions and experiences >with tape backup systems other than standard 9 track tape on >Pyramids. Good move Steve! >Specifically Exabyte drives, DAT drives and the 3480-based >'autochanger' drive. We run a DAT drive "supported" by Pyramid in Australia. The advertising blurb we were sent showed reasonable specs: 500MBytes per hour, 40 second access to any file on the tape, greater reliability than simmilar exabyte drives. Well, those specific claims above turned out not to be true. LET ME STATE HERE THAT THIS IS ALL MY PERSONAL OPINION AND IN NO WAY REFLECTS THE POSITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. We get no where near 500MBytes/s, probably close to 140MB/s; the pertec interfasce does not support the fast scan mode of the physical drive (grrrrrrrrrr!), and we get regular drive hangs based on (from what I've heard) a dissagreement about who's standard is the right one re some timing problems between the drive and the pyramid pertec controler. Mail me for more information. I'm due to go on leave in 5 minutes :-) Sean -- ------------- Sean Sebastian Batt - sean@coombs.anu.edu.au -------- .______. -------- Coombs Computing Section - Telephone: +61 6 249 3296 ----- | Damn |\ -- Australian National University - GPO Box 4 Canberra City 2601 -- | Fine |/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- `------'
steve@lucifer.UUCP (Steve Goodwin) (05/30/91)
Further to my recent message about high capacity tape drives on the Pyramid, thanks to those who responded. Results were inconclusive :-) Some have problems with Exabyte, some don't. The only thing agreed on was Pyramids excessive price for most of these devices! I believe I can buy a DAT drive + i/f + s/w + a SUN for less than Pyramids cost of a DAT! I could then do all my backups over my ethernet. Anyone point out any problems with this approach? -- | Steve Goodwin { steve@uk.co.lucasauto.eg | | Electronic Control Group, { ..!ukc!lucifer!steve | | Lucas Powertrain Systems, Phoenix Way, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1QG U.K. | | Tel: (44) 285 657981 Fax: (44) 285 658258 Twx: 43561 |