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Legacy Forums => Experienced User Forum => Topic started by: Jon Harris on November 30, 2001, 07:53:38 PM

Title: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Jon Harris on November 30, 2001, 07:53:38 PM

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?

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Dan Brown on November 30, 2001, 07:57:32 PM

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.

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Jon Harris on November 30, 2001, 08:09:32 PM

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!

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Dan Brown on November 30, 2001, 08:11:36 PM

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.

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Jon Harris on November 30, 2001, 08:14:06 PM

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

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Dan Brown on November 30, 2001, 08:39:59 PM

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

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Boris on December 01, 2001, 12:59:13 AM

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.

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Tom Keiser on December 01, 2001, 02:03:23 AM

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.

Title: Re: External SCSI Drive
Post by: Boris on December 01, 2001, 03:05:10 AM

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.