pim@cti-software.nl (Pim Zandbergen) (11/14/89)
Now that we have customers with 60 MB, 120 MB and 150 MB tape drives, I am faced with a problem. We want to (1) WRITE 60 MB tapes (for software distribution), (2) WRITE 150 MB tapes (for efficient backups), and (3) READ everybody's tapes. For now, no single tape drive is able to perform such a task, so I am looking for a solution with multiple drives. The scenario I have in mind is to have an Archive VIPER SCSI tape drive for (2) and (3), and a regular Wangtek 60 MB drive, or an Archive 60 MB SCSI drive for (1). Is there any reason why one of these configurations could not work? My hesitation is caused by the 2.0.2 release notes, which state that the Archive SCSI drive can only be used with it's "native" capacity. Now what I understand, the "native capacity" of the Archive VIPER depends on the cartridge being used. What gives ? I would appreciate any hints, tips, suggestions, horror stories and other experiences. Thanks in advance, Pim. -- Pim Zandbergen domain : pim@cti-software.nl CTI Software BV uucp : ..!uunet!ctisbv!pim Laan Copes van Cattenburch 70 phone : +31 70 542302 2585 GD The Hague, The Netherlands fax : +31 70 512837
pdg@chinet.chi.il.us (Paul Guthrie) (11/16/89)
In article <1624@ctisbv.cti-software.nl> pim@cti-software.nl (Pim Zandbergen) writes: >Now that we have customers with 60 MB, 120 MB and 150 MB tape drives, >I am faced with a problem. We want to (1) WRITE 60 MB tapes (for software >distribution), (2) WRITE 150 MB tapes (for efficient backups), and >(3) READ everybody's tapes. >The scenario I have in mind is to have an Archive VIPER SCSI >tape drive for (2) and (3), and a regular Wangtek 60 MB drive, >or an Archive 60 MB SCSI drive for (1). >Is there any reason why one of these configurations could not work? This should work. The VIPER 150 can read both 150 and 60 MB tapes (I *have* tried this), but indeed only write the 150 MBs. The dual config should work, especially if you use the wangtek or archive with its own controller, as this uses a different driver, different major device number, and different /dev entry names. I can't vouch for how running two SCSI tapes work, although theoretically that too should work, just as long as you assign different SCSI IDs. Let us know what you find out. -- Paul Guthrie chinet!nsacray!paul