Re: Question RE IDE Tape Drives
Quoting Mike Dresser <mdresser_l@windsormachine.com>:
> On Sun, 29 Feb 2004, Phillip Hofmeister wrote:
>
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > All,
> >
> > I am looking to install a Seagate Travan 10GB/20GB IDE Tape drive into a
> > Debian box.
>
> Your basic method listed in the rest of the email is the way to do it.
>
> Keep in mind this tape drive will self destruct in about a year or two of
> use. Sometimes silently.
>
> At least you're using a Seagate and not an HP, which will last 6-12 months
> if you're lucky.
>
> As for other IDE drives, I don't know of any offhand that are worth the
> time.
>
> SCSI DDS-3/4 tape drives are relatively cheap, especially when you
> consider media costs. You can get a SCSI controller for 75 dollars or so.
>
> Mike
>
>
I have been running daily or every other day backups on a Seagate
STT20000A for 4 years. I recently had what I thought was a drive
failure. It was 2 tapes failing at once as required by Murphy's Law.
Probably none of the original tapes remain. Somewhere I saw quoted
that the expected lifetime of these tapes is 20 read/write cycles. I
am running them long beyond that. It is probably reasonable to figure
on replacing 3-5 tapes per year. Note: 3 tapes == $100-$120. Tape
drive $200-$290.
Alternatives are going to cost more up front. Hopefully, cheaper
media and longer life will more than make up for it.
Jeffrey
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