NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/comp/os/vms/12775

Internet Message Format | 1992-07-25 | 1.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!ucbvax!galaxy.dnet!gleeve
From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: remote tape
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:05:54 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
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Using ZTdriver for remote tape access (obtainable off systems/misc
in wuarchive.wustl.edu or on the VAX/LT sigtapes) is perfectly
reasonable for remote tape access. Backup over a network is
however somewhat slow.
  Another option is of course to use fddriver and remote mount the
disks on the machine with the DAT. Fddriver has a remote host that
lets remote disks look local so you can back them up. I've used
these with 8mm. (Note: less recent fddriver versions had
a "reqpchan" macro that needs to be commented out!).
   The remote tape solution runs backup on the machines with
the disks to a tape on a networked box. The remote disk solution
makes the disks look like they're local to the box with the tape
and backs them up. (They should be mounted read-only on the
remote box!)
   Both methods work, but DECnet backup is not stunningly fast. It's
possibly worth while to have two backups going at once just to
overlap more network accesses. I use an 8mm drive on my VAXstation
3100 by the way, on SCSI. Works very nicely, and is not too expensive.
   A full 6250BPI tape holds about 150 megs, so 30 of them
hold about 4.5 gigs. Buying one of the newer 8mm drives gives the
ability to back all that up on one cartridge; you'd need about 4 DATs
to do the same. Quality of 8mm has been excellent in my experience.
Glenn
[e-mail]