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#1
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DAT drive recommendations?
I have an HP DD3 DAT drive which is failing, and I'm probably going to have
to replace it. I have owned three HP drives in a row. Up to now I have been very happy with them, but this experience makes me think that I should at least consider other brands this time. I'm looking for recommendations -- with a strong preference for people who own or use what they are recommending. Since prices have dropped since my last purchase, I'm probably going to upgrade to DDS4. Reliability is my #1 criterion... price and performance #2 and #3. The application is backup for a personal workstation with a 120GB hard disk running Windows XP. |
#2
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Windows XP personal workstation with 120GB hard disk?
Why tape? You did not mention huge data backup requirements or multiple offsite storage need. I would recommend an external USB 2.0 hard disk as a backup. It is reliable, cheaper and better performing than DDS4 tape drive. "Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message nk.net... I have an HP DD3 DAT drive which is failing, and I'm probably going to have to replace it. I have owned three HP drives in a row. Up to now I have been very happy with them, but this experience makes me think that I should at least consider other brands this time. I'm looking for recommendations -- with a strong preference for people who own or use what they are recommending. Since prices have dropped since my last purchase, I'm probably going to upgrade to DDS4. Reliability is my #1 criterion... price and performance #2 and #3. The application is backup for a personal workstation with a 120GB hard disk running Windows XP. |
#3
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"Peter" wrote in message
... Windows XP personal workstation with 120GB hard disk? Why tape? I have debated tape versus disk (versus CDR versus everything else imaginable) on USENET a number of times. I would rather not get into that again. Let's leave it at this: I have heard all of the arguments in favor of other backup media, and they have not persuaded me that that any other solution would be better than tape -- for me. I have presented all of the arguments in favor of tape, and I do not think I have persuaded anyone else that tape is the best solution for them. I am content to let other people do want they consider best, and would like to continue doing what I consider best. |
#4
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"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
nk.net... "Peter" wrote in message ... Windows XP personal workstation with 120GB hard disk? Why tape? I have debated tape versus disk (versus CDR versus everything else imaginable) on USENET a number of times. I would rather not get into that again. Let's leave it at this: I have heard all of the arguments in favor of other backup media, and they have not persuaded me that that any other solution would be better than tape -- for me. I have presented all of the arguments in favor of tape, and I do not think I have persuaded anyone else that tape is the best solution for them. I am content to let other people do want they consider best, and would like to continue doing what I consider best. Backing up to tape is definitely the easiest and most cost effective way to back up your data. It's when you have to do a restore is when you really find out how reliable your tape backup really is or not. I have seen too many times were people religiously do their tape backups and are in total bliss till they have to do a restore, which fails a good portion of the time. Tape is not as reliable as one would want to believe. Plus, for the home user using DDS3 or DDS4 will find them numbing slow compared to using an external SCSI or USB drive solely for system backups. Rita |
#5
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"Rita Ä Berkowitz" wrote in message
... Backing up to tape is definitely the easiest and most cost effective way to back up your data. It's when you have to do a restore is when you really find out how reliable your tape backup really is or not. I have seen too many times... I really, really, really don't want to revisit this debate. I want to get on with the task of replacing my failing drive with the benefit of as much relevant information as others are willing to share. To repeat the original inquiry, in case it has gotten lost: I am seeking advice on which DDS4 DAT drive to buy to replace an HP DDS3 drive that is failing, with reliability the primary consideration, cost and performance secondary. |
#6
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"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
nk.net... "Rita Ä Berkowitz" wrote in message ... Backing up to tape is definitely the easiest and most cost effective way to back up your data. It's when you have to do a restore is when you really find out how reliable your tape backup really is or not. I have seen too many times... I really, really, really don't want to revisit this debate. I want to get on with the task of replacing my failing drive with the benefit of as much relevant information as others are willing to share. I can relate to your sentiments on this. To repeat the original inquiry, in case it has gotten lost: I am seeking advice on which DDS4 DAT drive to buy to replace an HP DDS3 drive that is failing, with reliability the primary consideration, cost and performance secondary. My recommendations would be a Sony SDT-11000. This is an external SCSI unit that will give you the most reliability for the buck. As a cautionary note if you must use tape, backup and compare often. Also, rotate tapes on a regular basis and don't be afraid to trash tapes that you feel you might be able to get a few extra miles from. Good luck. Rita |
#7
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"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
nk.net... To repeat the original inquiry, in case it has gotten lost: I am seeking advice on which DDS4 DAT drive to buy to replace an HP DDS3 drive that is failing, with reliability the primary consideration, cost and performance secondary. Sorry, I forgot to add to my previous post that it would probably be worth your while to take the cover off the old HP unit and blow with compressed air then swab the head and capstan with an alcohol dipped cotton swab. The head cleaning tapes are mediocre at best. Nothing beats a good manual cleaning. Rita |
#8
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"Rita Ä Berkowitz" wrote in message
... My recommendations would be a Sony SDT-11000. This is an external SCSI unit that will give you the most reliability for the buck. Thanks for the input. I hope to get a consensus out of many opinions, but a sample of one is infinitely better than a sample of zero! As a cautionary note if you must use tape, backup and compare often. I do. In fact, constant retries in the verify step are the only evidence I have so far that the drive is failing. Also, rotate tapes on a regular basis... I do that as well. ...and don't be afraid to trash tapes that you feel you might be able to get a few extra miles from. I would do that if the situation came up, but it never has. In nearly 15 years of using various types of DAT, I have never had a tape fail or give evidence of impending failure. (This is one of my reasons for preferring tape. I have had two hard disks failed in that time -- one catastrophically, with no warning -- and any number of CDR's that wrote and tested fine but later proved to be unreadable.) The idea of opening up the drive and physically cleaning the heads is one I had not considered. It sounds worth a try, although it's not something I'd try while I consider the drive usable at all. The drive itself is a sealed unit, and I have no idea how openable it is. |
#9
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"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
nk.net... "Rita Ä Berkowitz" wrote in message ... My recommendations would be a Sony SDT-11000. This is an external SCSI unit that will give you the most reliability for the buck. Thanks for the input. I hope to get a consensus out of many opinions, but a sample of one is infinitely better than a sample of zero! Anytime. In reality you only have Seagate as your only alternative and really could not go wrong with either one. That HP unit you have most likely has a Seagate inside. Oh, I made a typo on the model, which should read Sony SDT-D11000 As a cautionary note if you must use tape, backup and compare often. I do. In fact, constant retries in the verify step are the only evidence I have so far that the drive is failing. Or a tape getting a bit finicky? Borrow another drive and try the tape in it. Also, rotate tapes on a regular basis... I do that as well. Great. ...and don't be afraid to trash tapes that you feel you might be able to get a few extra miles from. I would do that if the situation came up, but it never has. In nearly 15 years of using various types of DAT, I have never had a tape fail or give evidence of impending failure. (This is one of my reasons for preferring tape. I have had two hard disks failed in that time -- one catastrophically, with no warning -- and any number of CDR's that wrote and tested fine but later proved to be unreadable.) I don't doubt you in the least, but this is pretty much what I hear when someone comes in asking for help or a new tape drive. They don't usually get to this point until they do a full blown disaster recovery. If you really want to be 110% sure you could do a full disaster recovery by temporarily replacing your HD in your computer and give it a whirl. You might be amazed of your results The idea of opening up the drive and physically cleaning the heads is one I had not considered. It sounds worth a try, although it's not something I'd try while I consider the drive usable at all. The drive itself is a sealed unit, and I have no idea how openable it is. Personally, I would open the unit up and make an attempt to salvage the DDS3 since your requirements don't require speed. The head on that unit is really rugged and I doubt it is worn out even if you got the unit second hand. Of course you could have other issues with the drive, but that is the easiest and cheapest area to check first. As for getting into the unit, you can try a couple of things. I'm assuming its an external SCSI case? If this is the case, you will need to slide the main frame out from the back of the case. Lightly prying the plastic up in the rear and looking for the four plastic catches usually do this. Some models may have at least one setscrew under the rubber feet. Once this is done you will have the unit exposed and ready to remove the whole assembly from the external case frame. Next remove the four screws holding the two side rails from the tape unit. (This is the point were the tape unit can be installed in a standard 5.25" bay) faceplate color optional and easily found online. After removing the side rails you will need a small Phillips to remove the screws holding the top cover to expose the head and other mechanism. Clean and inspect prior to assembling in reverse order. Good luck. Rita |
#10
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"Rita Ä Berkowitz" wrote in message
... Or a tape getting a bit finicky? Borrow another drive and try the tape in it. No, not that. I have the same problem with every tape I use -- at least a half-dozen in the course of normal operations since this started, plus others while trying to diagnose the problem. I don't doubt you in the least, but this is pretty much what I hear when someone comes in asking for help or a new tape drive. They don't usually get to this point until they do a full blown disaster recovery. If you really want to be 110% sure you could do a full disaster recovery by temporarily replacing your HD in your computer and give it a whirl. You might be amazed of your results I admit that the prospect of disaster recovery sometimes gives me the willies, but in my saner moments I don't think I have serious cause for concern. The verification step (when it is working properly) confirms that each tape is OK. Add to that the fact that I keep a year of monthly full backups (!) plus intermediate differential backups, so if one tape does go bad I can drop back a month. And the fact that I run selective restores several times a year and have never had one fail. And the fact that I actually had to do a full disaster recovery once, and it worked without a hitch. And the fact that I use essentially the same process to migrate my data each time I change machines (most recently this past June), and that also has always worked without a hitch. |
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