[Pc_Support] Re: Tape drive for small file server .... -- LTO-2 has come down from 2005

[Damien McKenna]

On Jun 17, 2006, at 2:04 PM, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
> I actually don't see _any_ LTO on NewEgg.  Maybe I'm looking in the
> wrong section though.  Hold on ... Stupid NewEgg!  They don't put  
> "LTO"
> -- they _only_ put "brand names" like "Ultrium."  Sigh.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Tape- 
Open) the "Ultrium" name is not a HP thing but rather a branding on  
the original entry-level LTO-1 to separate it from a two-reel LTO-1- 
based sibling dubbed "Accelis".  As a result it is technically  
accurate to use Ultrium as a synonym for LTO.

Also, the Wikipedia article says "An Ultrium drive is expected to  
read data from a cartridge in its own generation and at least the two  
prior generations", so as you suggested here's hoping that they  
manage to keep LTO-1-read compatibility for LTO-4.

> Wow!  LTO-2 has indeed come downin price!  $1,599 for this Quantum  
> LTO-2

We got one for about $1699 from CDW fairly recently, I didn't think  
of double-checking for the latest prices at the time, but I'm not  
going to fuss now.  $45 seems to be the norm for LTO-2 tapes too,  
several of the big name stores have them at that price.

FYI we got probably that exact same drive and it works well.

> If you go LTO-2, make sure you can give it a _sustained_ 100MBps DTR
> storage array!  Otherwise you'll add unnecessary time and wear  
> (although
> LTO claims it dynamically slows the linear tape speed when the feed  
> DTR
> is constrained).

We back up about 70gb off the server that the LTO-2 drive is on and  
have another ~50gb from around the network to backup.  Given that the  
file server doesn't have enough space for a local backup of  
everything (a RAID-5 with only space enough in the server for one  
more SCSI drive, and IDE is physically out of the question), what do  
you suggest for improving this?

> But if LTO-2 is becoming more popular as a drive, LTO-2 cartridges  
> might drop to $30+ in the next year or so.

That'd be good.

-- 
Damien McKenna - Web Developer - dmckenna at thelimucompany.com
The Limu Company - http://www.thelimucompany.com/ - 407-804-1014
#include <stdjoke.h>