[NTLUG:Discuss] recommendations for tape drive

[Chris Cox]

Rob Apodaca wrote:
> Hello all,
> Was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for linux compatible
> tape drive

I've been deploying a lot of OnStream drives.  Get the SC50 if you don't
have much depth inside your case... the ADR50 if you do have some room.
These are the older drives and can be had for $200-300.  As the name
implies these hold 50G (compressed).  ADR tapes are not as easy
to find, but you can get the 50G tapes for $50 each if you hunt a bit.
I started purchasing OnStream when I saw their active Linux support
and the fact they're about the only people who have a USB solution
(which I needed for portability).

The ADR50, btw eats the whole tape internally.. this is why you
need extra depth.  I can almost guarantee it will be the longest
device inside of your case.  It uses a 68pin SCSI.  The SC50
(older) only eats half of the tape... leaves the rest hanging
outside, therefore it requires only half of the depth, it
could end up being one of the shortest devices in your case.
It uses the older 50pin SCI interface... converters are pretty
cheap if required (older SCSI HBAs will use 50pin... generally
won't see 68pin excepth with the newer SCSI-2+ cards).  You
can get a really nice black ADR50 (if you can handle its size)
pretty cheap on ebay (see below)... the units also come in PC-std
off white.

ADR50-Black (I got mine from tubes4tunes.. he has a BUNCH)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3405297270&category=3756

SC50 (I got mine in a one time deal on ebay, here's an example though)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3406455090&category=3756

I bought my USB30 (30G compressed) full retail (rats).  Paid like
$320 for it :-)


ONLY SCSI OR USB.  I've heard there are some problems with getting
the IDE tape drive to work (most of the problems sound like
generic ide-scsi issues though).

SCSI is cheap though since you don't need high speed to drive a
tape.  If you're nice to me, I may have a card I can let you
have for free... but you can pick them up for less than $50.

If you go with the $800-900 ADR2.60 or the more expensive ADR2.120
(yep that's 120G compressed)... you can get 6M/sec (which is
comparable to drives that cost 3 times more).  The ADR50 and
SC50 do about 2M/sec which is considered fast for low cost
tape drives.  The USB30 does a whopping .85M/sec (I think).

Haven't see any ADR2.60 SCSI on ebay.. just the IDE version...
which is not worth the hassle IMHO.

http://www.onstream.com  and of course www.ebay.com
... on the OnStream site you'll find links to the Linux page
and Linux testing page.

If you've got deep pockets you can look into DLT or LTO (or
dare I say it, VXA).  But IMHO, the OnStream is a good value
for the buck.

(I know, I'm an ebay junkie... shoot me)