wildermu@cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) (01/30/91)
I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1). I am looking for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system. Thanks in advance.
billsey@agora.rain.com (Bill Seymour) (02/01/91)
In article <2757@cod.NOSC.MIL> wildermu@cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) writes:
:
: I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1). I am looking
: for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system.
: Thanks in advance.
Depends on what kind of HD controller you're using. I have an Adaptec
AHA-1542B and the Archive A2150S tape drive works very well. There's almost
nothing to getting it set up, and it supports 120/150/250M on a tape, depending
on which cartridge you buy.
--
-Bill Seymour billsey@agora.uucp or billsey@agora.rain.com
***** American People/Link Amiga Zone Hardware Specialist NES*BILL *****
Bejed, Inc. NES, Inc. NAG BBS NES BBX BBS Home Sometimes
(503)281-8153 (503)246-9311 (503)656-7393 (503)640-9337 (503) 640-0842bruce@chumley.UUCP (Bruce L. Stewart) (02/02/91)
In article <2757@cod.NOSC.MIL> wildermu@cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) writes: > > I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1). I am looking > for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system. > Thanks in advance. I recently (roughly October, 1990) made a similar request. Here's my (re-posted) summary of the responses I received (thanks, netlanders-at- large!). To this I can add that I purchased two 150 Mbyte Wangtek drives (will write/read 250 Mbyte DC6250 tapes as well) and have had no problems with them. Hope this helps those considering a similar purchase. Herewith, my summary: ------------------------------- summary follows ----------------------------- First, and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my questions concerning selecting a tape drive for use with Xenix. I received a number of responses, either providing information to answer my questions or expressing interest in whatever I discovered. So, as promised, I offer the following summary for the netreaders of this newsgroup: The unanimous consensus was to stay away from tape drives that are run off of the floppy controller. Among reasons cited were unreliability, inability to exchange tapes between drives from different manufacturers, long backup times, and inability to use the drive when booting from the floppy drive (to ensure a quiet system for backup), and suspected kludgy code used in the drivers. Prices for drives with a separate controller card ranged from $500 - $800 (roughly). Most respondents had no direct experience with Colorado Memory Systems tape drives, one of the units I was considering. However, one respondent wrote that a client had purchased a Colorado Memory Systems drive and had trouble; perhaps worse, the technical support staff at CMS were unable to resolve the problem. The following brands of drives were specifically mentioned: Archive (no model specified, 60 Mbyte using DC600A cartridges); has performed perfectly (no time specified) -- price estimated at $545.00 Archive Scorpion (60 Mbyte); the respondent noted that the Archive drive died after a year of flawless performance; after repairs, the drive performed well for 6 months before displaying the same problem. Archive Viper/VP150 (no capacity specified); one respondent suggested that durability was supposed to be better than the Wangtek drive; another noted having "good luck" with this drive Archive 2150S (no capacity specified, SCSI); respondent noted that drive is available for about $500.00 (IME) and has been priced as low as $295.00 in Computer Hot Line. Caliper (60 Mbyte); the respondent noted that the drive was quiet, reliable, and generally well-engineered. Cipher 150MKII (150 Mbyte, SCSI); although the drive runs off of the floppy controller, backups are fast and do not impact other processes. The respondent believed that 250 Mbyte tapes are available for the drive. Irwin (40 Mbyte using DC2000 cartridges); this drive was the only mini- cartridge drive specifically mentioned, to wit: "... has been completely UNreliable as a backup medium" (emphasis in original). Respondent noted that SCO may have done a recent major re-work of the driver. Tecmar 150E (150 Mbyte); respondent noted that patch for single chip host adapter board is included with Xenix 2.3.2, but not Xenix 2.2.3 Wangtek 515X (150/250 Mbyte using DC6150/DC6250 cartridges); generally very good reliability and durability; most drives are re-packaged Wangteks; available from Dell Computer for about $800.00 (ouch!). When incompatabilities with Xenix were mentioned, they focused on Xenix rather than on the drives; versions 2.2.3 and 2.3.2 are said to have a bug using the dump and restore commands that require you to perform a "tape reset" command between successive dumps/restores of filesystems. In general, respondents reported good performance and few incompatabilities with Xenix for drives with separate controllers. Again, my thanks to all who responded. -bruce stewart -- --- Bruce L. Stewart (the digital demento) --------------------------------- Responsive Designs UUCP: uunet...!{pacbell, lll-winken}!chumley[!ziffle]!bruce Disclaimer: There is NOOOOOOO Rule 6! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
alan@ahmcs.com (Alan Mintz) (02/03/91)
In article <31@chumley.UUCP>, bruce@chumley.UUCP (Bruce L. Stewart) writes: > In article <2757@cod.NOSC.MIL> wildermu@cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) writes: > > > > I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1). I am looking > > for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system. > > Thanks in advance. > > I recently (roughly October, 1990) made a similar request. Here's my > (re-posted) summary of the responses I received (thanks, netlanders-at- > large!). To this I can add that I purchased two 150 Mbyte Wangtek drives > (will write/read 250 Mbyte DC6250 tapes as well) and have had no problems... One minor point, Wangtek drives shipped up until about 6-8 months ago use a different controller and are NOT capable of using 250Mb (1020 ft) tapes. Also, if the Wangtek drive is packaged with a half-length bus card that contains a single VLSI chip and a few support components, you'll probably need the SCO SLS XNX149 "Tecmar/Wangtek Single-Chip Tape Driver" (avail from SCO Tech support). -- < Alan H. Mintz | Voice +1 714 980 1034 > < Micro-Quick Systems, Inc. | FAX +1 714 944 3995 > < 10384 Hillside Road | ...!uunet!ahmcs!alan > < Alta Loma, CA 91701 USA | alan@mq.com >
bruce@chumley.UUCP (Bruce L. Stewart) (02/06/91)
In article <155@ahmcs.com> alan@ahmcs.com (Alan Mintz) writes: >In article <31@chumley.UUCP>, bruce@chumley.UUCP (Bruce L. Stewart) writes: >> In article <2757@cod.NOSC.MIL> wildermu@cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) writes: >> > >> > I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1). I am looking >> > for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system. >> > Thanks in advance. >> BLS>> I recently (roughly October, 1990) made a similar request. Here's my BLS>> (re-posted) summary of the responses I received (thanks, netlanders-at- BLS>> large!). To this I can add that I purchased two 150 Mbyte Wangtek drives BLS>> (will write/read 250 Mbyte DC6250 tapes as well) and have had no problems... AHM> One minor point, Wangtek drives shipped up until about 6-8 months ago use AHM> a different controller and are NOT capable of using 250Mb (1020 ft) tapes. > AHM> Also, if the Wangtek drive is packaged with a half-length bus card that AHM> contains a single VLSI chip and a few support components, you'll probably AHM> need the SCO SLS XNX149 "Tecmar/Wangtek Single-Chip Tape Driver" (avail AHM> from SCO Tech support). Alan is correct on both counts. The Wangtek drives I purchased apparently were recent enough to include the 250 Mbyte cabability (but just try to find DC6250 tapes!). They also came with the half-length controller -- and yes, I downloaded and installed the SCO SLS SNX149 supplement (no problems). Thanks, Alan, for pointing this out. -bruce -- --- Bruce L. Stewart (the digital demento) --------------------------------- Responsive Designs UUCP: uunet...!{pacbell, lll-winken}!chumley[!ziffle]!bruce Disclaimer: There is NOOOOOOO Rule 6! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
is@athena.cs.uga.edu (Bob Stearns) (02/08/91)
You indicated you have set up the 1542 and Archive to work as a backup device with no trouble. A friend of mine has acquired this hardware, it is working under DOS, and he asked me how to make it run in his ESIX system. I am at a loss since he is 350 miles away and I have no manuals. If you could give me a few hints, I could probably work it out with him. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.