Topic: External SCSI Drive

[Jon Harris]

What EXTERNAL SCSI Tape Backup Drives will work with SME?  I already know about the four in the manual (don't post a link to the manual).

I need something in the 10-20GB range for a DB25 SCSI controller.  I know about the Redhat hardware guide as well.

I am interested in REAL-WORLD experience.  Will any external SCSI Tape drive work?

[Dan Brown]

SCSI doesn't care about internal vs. external, and SME doesn't have any way of knowing the difference.  I had an external Seagate TR-4 working under e-smith 4.1.2 until the drive died.

[Jon Harris]

That's great news, Dan.

My SCSI Adapter is a Adaptec AVA-2906 and I have it installed/detected.  I have my eye on the Ecrix VXA-1 external SCSI drive.

Any thoughts?  Any recommendations.

Thanks!

[Dan Brown]

I've always thought the Ecrix drives looked nice, but that's really all I know about them.  Might also consider a DDS4 drive, but those get expensive.

[Jon Harris]

What companies make the DDS4?  I think Dell is one, right?

[Dan Brown]

HP, Sony, Seagate (I think).  Dell probably resells somebody else's hardware.

[Boris]

Ecrix VXA-1 works nicely "out the box". Highly recommended if you can afford it.
If you are looking for cheaper solution look in to one of the Travan TR4 drives.
DDS drives have very delicate mechanics and required extra maintenance.

[Tom Keiser]

I kind of prefer DAT drives because: (1) the tapes are super-cheap compared to any other media, so you can afford to buy them and replace them. Any magnetic media is only good for 50 to 100 uses max, and at $5 to $10 a pop, DAT is great, and the other stuff if astronomical; and (2) the device, if cleaned occasionally, will last long after its size is too small to be useful, as the size of drives marches on.

Also, I have read some stories critical of the error-checking in the Ecrix drives -- have no experience, but I'd do a web search before buying one.

[Boris]

I'm speaking from my own experience.
I have those drives working in a few places on NT, Novell and Linux (including e-smith). That’s a relief after years of using DAT types.