External Tape Drives?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mmX
  • Start date Start date
M

mmX

Hello,

I was looking for some general advice.

I’m looking at getting an external tape drive to replace a tape drive
that has called it quits. I would get another internal, but we have a
multitude of servers, and it would be nice to be able to have the
external if another internal failed on us. We use DDS(2-4) right now,
and I think the best course of action would be to get a drive that is
compatible.

More or less, I’m looking for some input on who makes a reliable
drive. Is there anything I should stay away from or look at in
particular?

Any advice, direction would be extraordinarily helpful.

Thanks!
mmX
 
Previously mmX said:
Hello,
Click to expand...
I was looking for some general advice.
Click to expand...
I’m looking at getting an external tape drive to replace a tape drive
that has called it quits. I would get another internal, but we have a
multitude of servers, and it would be nice to be able to have the
external if another internal failed on us. We use DDS(2-4) right now,
and I think the best course of action would be to get a drive that is
compatible.
Click to expand...
More or less, I’m looking for some input on who makes a reliable
drive. Is there anything I should stay away from or look at in
particular?
Click to expand...
Any advice, direction would be extraordinarily helpful.
Click to expand...

First, most internal SCSI drives can be put into an external SCSI
case so "external" is not a primary characteristic.

Second, I think DAT is really the low end on tape storage. The drives
die early, the tapes are not too reliable. You might want to get
something more professional, but that is just my opinion.

Arno
 
mmX said:
Would it then be possible to take one of my tape drives out of another
one of my servers and use it externally?
Is there someplace I could go to learn what that would entail... I
assume constructing some sort of shell for it, and buying different
SCSI cables..?
Click to expand...

Just froogle "SCSI Enclosure". Start at 6 bucks on ebay for an enclosure
that used to contain a Compaq DLT drive. For $250 you can get an IBM-label
19" rack-mount enclosure intended for tape drives.
 
Just froogle "SCSI Enclosure". Start at 6 bucks on ebay for
an enclosure
that used to contain a Compaq DLT drive. For $250 you can get
an IBM-label
19" rack-mount enclosure intended for tape drives.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I appreciate the input!
 
Would it then be possible to take one of my tape drives out of another
one of my servers and use it externally?
Click to expand...

Should be.
Is there someplace I could go to learn what that would entail... I
assume constructing some sort of shell for it, and buying different
SCSI cables..?
Click to expand...

You buy an external SCSI case that is compatible with the SCSI
variant used by the drive. Then you mount the drive in it.
It is really not much different form an internal drive, since SCSI
allows several meters of cable (depending on the variant).

Maybe look for SCSI tutorials adn HOWTOS on the web to find out more.

Arno
 
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