From: hal@cs.uga.edu (Hal N. Brooks) Subject: Re: 500MB Viper Archive Tape Drives (?) Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1993 15:53:16 GMT
In article <1993Jun29.122303.4870@taylor.uucp> mark@taylor.uucp (Mark A. Davis) writes:
>drew@lethe.gts.org (Drew Sullivan) writes:
>
>>In article <1993Jun16.031115.11663@super.org> pcolsen@super.org (Peter C Olsen) writes:
>>>I'm looking for help from someone who has used Viper Archive Tape
>>>drives, particularly if someone with experience using DC6250 tapes.
>>>
>>>I just bought and installed a Viper Archive 2150 tape drive for use
>>>under Linux. The person who sold it to me told me that it would run
>>>reliably with 250MB tapes --- and that I could get about 500MB by
>>>compressing my data. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Is
>>>it reliable? Does it damage the drive?
>>>
>>>I'd appreciate any information.
>
>>The only difference between the 150 and the 250mb tapes is the
>>tape length (600vs1000ft)
>
>That is correct.
>
>> and no using the 250mb tapes wont be
>>a problem.
>
>I had been using them for a long time with no problems. Although, Archive
>does warn that repeated long term use of those tapes can impare the drive's
>ability to write on 150MB (600ft) tapes. Something to do with head wear
>patterns. I thought it was silly at first until I heard someone confirm it.
>We still have no troubles reading or writing either.
How or where did you get this warning from Archive? I've seen this
warning on inserts enclosed with 6250 tapes, but the (limited) documentation
that came with my Viper included both DC6150 and DC6250 in their
tape cartridge compatibility table, without a hint of a warning regarding
a potential problem. The warning that comes with the tapes led me to
believe that it only applied to drives which were only designed for use
with a 6150, but for which the user had chosen to use the longer 6250.
I just tried calling the Connor/Maynard/Archive 1-800 number and couldn't get
anyone to answer, even though it's 12:00 noon EST. So much for the slogan
on the documentation, "We're backing you in every way."
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Hal N. Brooks Voice: (706) 546-7792 Internet: hal@pollux.cs.uga.edu
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