On Fri, 31 Dec 2004, Joe Zitnik wrote:
I'll be honest first, we do not use VXA to back up Linux, yet. We do have a VXA PacketLoader from Exabyte, and it was arount 2,000USD. It holds 10 50GB tapes, and has been rock solid so far. If you go to Exabyte site, the VXA is heaped with awards, and Exabyte says it's their most popular product in 20 years. I don't know how much of that is marketing hype, but if you read the info on VXA, it is potentially much more reliable than DLT or DDS, because it cares less about head alignment. Just my suggstion.
Oh, from what I've heard about VXA, it's about as reliable as it gets.
Super DLT is probably a very close second, due to the technology (think
reel to reel with laser alignment of the heads, ie, NO TENSIONING, no
crazy tape pathway (which is hard on the media), etc....)
VXA and most others are helical scanning which I am NOT a fan of.
IMO the best out there is probably LTO (also helical scanning, I think),
and Super DLT, and maybe VXA for lower capacity stuff unless they've
upped the capacity recently.
Anyway, good luck!
Cost/Benefit really makes DLT shine, though, and DLT media is good for a
LONG time. I don't know about LTO or VXA, but with DDS/DAT tapes
written to on one drive may not work on another drive - I know this from
first hand painful personal experience.
--
Carpe diem - Seize the day.
Carp in denim - There's a fish in my pants!
Jon Nelson