Tape backup for Xenix\

[Bruce L. Stewart]

In article <2757 at cod.NOSC.MIL> wildermu at cod.NOSC.MIL (James H. Wildermuth) writes:
>
> I have a 386 computer using SCO Xenix 386 (version 2.3.1).  I am looking
> for recomendations for a high capacity (150 MB) tape backup system.
> Thanks in advance.

I recently (roughly October, 1990) made a similar request.  Here's my 
(re-posted) summary of the responses I received (thanks, netlanders-at-
large!).  To this I can add that I purchased two 150 Mbyte Wangtek drives
(will write/read 250 Mbyte DC6250 tapes as well) and have had no problems with
them.  Hope this helps those considering a similar purchase.  Herewith, my
summary:

------------------------------- summary follows -----------------------------

First, and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my
questions concerning selecting a tape drive for use with Xenix.  I received
a number of responses, either providing information to answer my questions or
expressing interest in whatever I discovered.  So, as promised, I offer the
following summary for the netreaders of this newsgroup:

The unanimous consensus was to stay away from tape drives that are run off of
the floppy controller.  Among reasons cited were unreliability, inability to
exchange tapes between drives from different manufacturers, long backup
times, and inability to use the drive when booting from the floppy drive (to
ensure a quiet system for backup), and suspected kludgy code used in the 
drivers.  Prices for drives with a separate controller card ranged from 
$500 - $800 (roughly).

Most respondents had no direct experience with Colorado Memory Systems tape
drives, one of the units I was considering.  However, one respondent wrote
that a client had purchased a Colorado Memory Systems drive and had trouble;
perhaps worse, the technical support staff at CMS were unable to resolve the
problem. 

The following brands of drives were specifically mentioned:

Archive (no model specified, 60 Mbyte using DC600A cartridges); has
    performed perfectly (no time specified) -- price estimated at $545.00

Archive Scorpion (60 Mbyte); the respondent noted that the Archive 
    drive died after a year of flawless performance; after repairs, the
    drive performed well for 6 months before displaying the same problem.

Archive Viper/VP150 (no capacity specified); one respondent suggested that 
    durability was supposed to be better than the Wangtek drive; another
    noted having "good luck" with this drive
    
Archive 2150S (no capacity specified, SCSI); respondent noted that drive 
    is available for about $500.00 (IME) and has been priced as low as 
    $295.00 in Computer Hot Line.
    
Caliper (60 Mbyte); the respondent noted that the drive was quiet, reliable,
    and generally well-engineered.

Cipher 150MKII (150 Mbyte, SCSI); although the drive runs off of the floppy
    controller, backups are fast and do not impact other processes.  The
    respondent believed that 250 Mbyte tapes are available for the drive.

Irwin (40 Mbyte using DC2000 cartridges); this drive was the only mini-
    cartridge drive specifically mentioned, to wit:  "... has been 
    completely UNreliable as a backup medium" (emphasis in original).
    Respondent noted that SCO may have done a recent major re-work of the
    driver.

Tecmar 150E (150 Mbyte); respondent noted that patch for single chip host
    adapter board is included with Xenix 2.3.2, but not Xenix 2.2.3

Wangtek 515X (150/250 Mbyte using DC6150/DC6250 cartridges); generally very
    good reliability and durability; most drives are re-packaged Wangteks;
    available from Dell Computer for about $800.00 (ouch!).

When incompatabilities with Xenix were mentioned, they focused on Xenix
rather than on the drives; versions 2.2.3 and 2.3.2 are said to have a bug
using the dump and restore commands that require you to perform a "tape
reset" command between successive dumps/restores of filesystems.  In
general, respondents reported good performance and few incompatabilities
with Xenix for drives with separate controllers.

Again, my thanks to all who responded.  

-bruce stewart

--
--- Bruce L. Stewart (the digital demento) ---------------------------------
    Responsive Designs                                                    
          UUCP:  uunet...!{pacbell, lll-winken}!chumley[!ziffle]!bruce     
    Disclaimer:  There is NOOOOOOO Rule 6!                               
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