Tape Autoloader Advice.

[25PSi]

Hey guys.

 

Seems like my company here is finally ready to get new better, faster backup drive.

 

So............ I value your opinions and would like to know what you recomend.

 

We need and Autoloader with 200G or more per cartridge capacity. Will be hooked up to Windows Server 2003 running ArcServeIT V 11.1.

 

Thanks. All and any help is much appreciated.

 

Eugene

[youneverknow]

I don't have alot of experience on this but Dell seems to have what you want...

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/c...=555&l=en&s=biz

[lishikawa]

Long time ago, I used to be a lead tester for ARCServe Autloader. (I'm actually the guy who wrote the manual for the ARCServe NT autoloader, and designed the UI as well.) I also worked for guys who wrote BackupExec as a lead tester as well. WEll, enough of kissing my own you-know-what.

 

I've noticed that technology hasn't changed much in many years so here's what I know.

 

The answer is "It Depends"

 

For a high end lots of data, but you don't need tons of tapes

You will probably want a DLT autoloader. Tandberg has been around for a long time, and they will have high end stuff. (http://www.tandberg.com) DLT cartridges are designed to withstand a lot more then standard 4mm DAT cartridges. You can literally drove over it with your SUV, and have a fair chance of extracting data from it.

 

Economical:

You can go with 4mm dat solution. It is smaller, and is easier to carry around. Not to mention the cost of media is usually a lot less. (NOTE: Do not use DAT audio tapes! ). Most manufactures are perfectly fine. They are most likely all using drives made by SONY, or HP.

 

If you are looking for large scale autoloader. (100+ tapes, with indexing, and multiple drives to backup several servers at once)

I would go with Exabyte's 8mm solution. They make the best 'refrigerator box' that I've used. The drives are again mostly made by SONY.

 

Software:

I worked on both, and I like the device drivers on ARCServe better. Ones used in Backup Exec was written by Paul from IBM. (I wonder what he's doing), and he was a QIC expert. Their drivers are more consumer end, and I do not feel is better. This is truly neutral, even though I currently do work for CA-ugh right now.

 

Good Luck!

[mcowger]

Whats your budget?

 

I like the Spectralogic 12K/20K series using AIT4 (200GB native) drives, but something like that will cost around 30K.

[TCH-Thomas]

Welcome to the forum, mcowger.