probst@iiic.ethz.ch (Probst) (06/04/91)
I'm about to buy a DAT-drive for a Sun 4/75, but I am not yet decided which one. Do you know something about the following drives? Archive Python, Model 4330XT in a case from Artecon Inc. (Artecon Model TD-4100 DAT Drive) or Wangtek, (1.3 GB), I don't know the model number. They both cost around $2000 US. Thanks for any advice. Urs Probst, probst@iiic.ethz.ch, Zurich, Switzerland
caserta@athena.mit.edu (Francesco Caserta) (06/05/91)
I'm also in the market for a DAT drive for my IPC. Unfortunately, it's a new technology and very little information is available. As far as I know, there exist two formats: DDS and Data/DAT. The former does not allow random writing, while the latter does; this allows to mount a filesystem on a DAT tape. It's in this latter format that I'm interested in for near-line access. (I know the speed is slow.) Gigatrend seems to be one of the companies more involved in this technology, but I don't know how to contact them. January's issue of SunExpert contains an article titled "Backup Strategies" which ends with a six-page survey of all (?) products available (Exabyte and DAT) which I was thinking to start from. So, I'm very interested in hearing from people that are using DAT drives not just as backup alternative, but as an ordinary storage-access medium, although slow. Thanks, Francesco Caserta
dwells@fits.cx.nrao.edu (Don Wells) (06/05/91)
In article <29162@neptune.inf.ethz.ch> probst@iiic.ethz.ch (Probst) writes: Wangtek, (1.3 GB), I don't know the model number. ^^^^^^ They both cost around $2000 US. ^^^^^^^^ Kimberley Electronics in New Jersey is currently offering Wangtek DAT drives, with the firmware which supports the 90-meter tapes which have a capacity of 2.0_GB, and their price is US$1500 for a drive in a box with power supply and connectors. You can get a half-height unit from them for US$1300. -- Donald C. Wells Associate Scientist dwells@nrao.edu National Radio Astronomy Observatory +1-804-296-0277 Edgemont Road Fax= +1-804-296-0278 Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-2475 USA 78:31.1W, 38:02.2N