Topic: IDE Tape drive for Version 6.01

[markfalvey]

Can anyone comment on the Seagate STT3401A for 6.01?  LinuxTapeCert gives it the thumbs up and the Seagate Travans are rated for older SME versions on this site, but I'm cautious.
Regards,  Mark

[pcdickinson]

I have recently installed a Seagate IDE tape drive into a server running SME 6.0.1. The drive is labelled STT32000A, but the server's BIOS and the kernel recognizes it as a STT20000A. Both types are supported, and the drive does in fact work fine, storing over 10Gb per Travan 5 tape.

Perhaps you can check whether the STT3401A is compatible with these other models.

[.]

the Seagate Travans are rated for older SME versions on this site, but I'm cautious.

I'd be cautious too. Travan is the most diabolical tape system yet invented. Why can't it just die and be forgotten?

IDE and Travan? Well, there's a combination. Dreadful and ridiculous get married.

Please, find a SCSI tape drive. Be happy with DDS or DLT (preferably LTO). Sleep better at night. That's the way it always has been.

IDE is not_good_for_tape_drives.

[gelcube]

IDE is not_good_for_tape_drives.

I wished I could disagree, but I can't.  I've had MULTIPLE problems with IDE tape drives.  Maybe they've gotten much better in the last couple of years, but I'm still very wary.

You just simply can't go wrong with SCSI.  Though I understand it's just not economically feasible sometimes.  

[smeghead]

.. if you have the dosh try an AIT ide drive.

I have used the Sony ones in mid range W2K3 servers with a base of SATA caching RAID and an ATA100 AIT tape; it runs really well (tho tapes are also pricey)

If this is beyond your budget then a DDS3 (12/24GB) or DDS4 (20/40GB) SCSI on its own SCSI controller is ideal; ebay is your friend here!  Tapes are cheap too.

HTH

[tdbsoft]

Can anyone comment on the Seagate STT3401A for 6.01?  LinuxTapeCert gives it the thumbs up and the Seagate Travans are rated for older SME versions on this site, but I'm cautious.
Regards,  Mark

SCSI tape drives are better but too expensive for most.  That said I have several IDE Travan tape drives in regular use and they work fine.  

Only problem I have had with old versions (4/8GB drives) that have been working 3 years or so is that I had to replace a small drive belt at about 30 months.  Three drives in different locations and at about the same working hours.  

Any way replacing the drive belt was easy, the hardest bit was getting the part from Seagate.  Only other problem that occurs sometimes is the media will eventually wear out and becomes un-usable again around 30 - 36 months of continuious use.