[comp.unix.i386] Colorado Memory Jumbo+ Tape Drive and Esix

louis@cs.AthabascaU.CA (Louis Schmittroth) (02/12/90)

In article <285@westmark.UU.NET>, dave@westmark.UU.NET (Dave Levenson) writes:
> In article <8396@portia.Stanford.EDU>, bir7@portia.Stanford.EDU (Ross Biro) writes:
> > Does anyone know anything about the Colorado Memory Systems Jumbo+ tape backup
> > system.  It is a 40/60 meg QIC-40 tape drive which connects to a floppy
> > controller and sells for about $250.  I am considering purchasing one for
> > use with ESIX, and would like to know if drivers exist and other usefull
> > information.
> 
> 
> They also told me that I could use the Xenix software if I didn't
> need their software-based compression feature.  I ordered the Xenix
> package, but I don't have enough information to install it properly
> under UNIX.

I would recommend staying away from the JUMBO drive at least on Xenix,
and probably on UNIX.  I installed two, and had to remove both.  Erratic
operation, slow, and one just started eating tapes and died.  I replaced
both with ARchive ST600 (or now FT60i, I believe is the code).  This
comes with a separate controller, is fast and I've had no more troubles.

On MS-DOS I have heard they are OK.  The nice thing about the ARCHIVE
drive is that it is supported directly by SCO.  I did have to call the
customer support number and get the right interrupt setting, but after
that it was sweetness and light.

morris@dms.UUCP (Jim Morris) (02/13/90)

From article <1653@atha.AthabascaU.CA>, by louis@cs.AthabascaU.CA (Louis Schmittroth):
>
> I would recommend staying away from the JUMBO drive at least on Xenix,
> and probably on UNIX.  I installed two, and had to remove both.  Erratic...

I have been using one on a Xenix system for months now and the only problem I have
had is that dust got into the light sensor, so a tape ran off its spool!
This is not really the tape drives fault, I now clean out the drive regularly.

I think the Jumbo Tape drive is a great deal for $265 (Mail order), and it works
fine.

> On MS-DOS I have heard they are OK.  The nice thing about the ARCHIVE
> drive is that it is supported directly by SCO. 

So is the Jumbo+ drive. The floppy qic-40 driver that comes with Xenix 2.3.2
works perfectly well with it.
-- 
Jim Morris.         {motcsd|weitek}!dms!morris or morris@dms.UUCP 
Voice	(408) 434-3798
Atari Games Corporation, 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA 95035 USA
(Arcade Video Game Manufacturer, NOT Atari Corp. ST manufacturer).