Return to BSD News archive
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.rmit.EDU.AU!news.unimelb.EDU.AU!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!news.wildstar.net!news.sdsmt.edu!nntp.uac.net!uhog.mit.edu!news.mathworks.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news2.digex.net!digex.net!not-for-mail
From: rdd@access1.digex.net (R. D. Davis)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Tape Backup Options
Date: 21 May 1996 20:34:19 -0400
Organization: Society for the Obsolescence of Obsolescence
Lines: 39
Message-ID: <4ntneb$oka@access1.digex.net>
References: <4n5l94$rqq@csugrad.cs.vt.edu> <4nb2d0$20d@uriah.heep.sax.de> <4nppqk$941@access1.digex.net> <4nrh6p$irf@itchy.serv.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: access1.digex.net
In article <4nrh6p$irf@itchy.serv.net>, Sean T. Lamont <zeno@serv.net> wrote:
>In article <4nppqk$941@access1.digex.net>,
>>It may be useful for backups, but I wouldn't want to have to depend
>>upon it for long-term storage - I'd much rather use 9-tack magtapes.
>>The same goes for those little tiny 3-1/2" microfloppies - they're not
>>as dependable as 8" floppies. It appears that newer technology is
>>more about having new-fangled gadgetry, that is as small as possible,
>>not reliability or durability.
>
>I can't tell if this is sarcastic or not ;
Indeed not. No sarcasm, whatsoever, was intended. For long-term
storage, I wouldn't trust 4mm tapes, or any other very high-density
media like that.
>you're advocating putting
>6G of data on 6250 BPI magtapes?
Well, backing up 2GB on such tapes isn't too bad. It all depends upon
how valuable the data is, and how long you plan to store it. To take
this a step further, for small amounts of data, such as backing up
EPROMs, etc. in older computer systems, for preservation purposes, I'd
recommend using punched mylar tape.
As an aside, those 4mm drives certainly deprive computer operators of
fun jobs - nothing like getting paid to sit around and wait for each
magtape to fill up (having to work 3 minutes out of each hour, and
hacking for fun during the other 57 minutes, isn't a bad deal!).
>Personally, I've never had a 4mm fail. (DEC tlz04)
It's still relatively new. Give it time to fail. :-) :-) :-)
--
R. D. Davis * http://www.access.digex.net/~rdd * Computer Preservationist
PERQ Logic Systems & Unconventional Computer Consulting
divisions of Transpower Industries, Inc. +1 410 744-4900