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From: kenw@noah.arc.CDN (Ken Wallewein)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Pertec tape drives, ALL-IN-1 worries
Message-ID: <615*kenw@noah.arc.cdn>
Date: Sun, 12-Jul-87 11:52:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: noah.615*kenw
Posted: Sun Jul 12 11:52:46 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Jul-87 01:21:27 EDT
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  We need a 6250 bpi tabe drive on our uVaxII, mostly for backups. I know that
sounds odd, but we have 700 mb of on-line storage. 

  We are comsidering 3 tape drives: a DEC TU81+, a Pertec FS2000 with an Emulex
TC03 controller (emulates TS-11), and a CDC Keystone III, with a Dilog
controller. The DEC drive weighs in at $40K, and both of the others run around
$15K. So much for the TU81+. 

  The choice between the other two, however, is not clear. The CDC drive is
slower, and seems to have an average record for reliability. Interestingly, I
have been told that is the basis for the DEC TU81+. 

  On the other hand, the Pertec has better speed, and an apparently quite good
reputation, especially among OEMs of equipment for controls applications.
However, I know of only one site which is using this drive on a Vax (11/750). I
do *not* want the kind of problems it is giving them. 

  Does this drive generally perform well in this environment, or would it be
asking for trouble? I would very much appreciate hearing from anyone with
related experience. 

  Regarding ALL-IN-1: we are considering running it on our system for an
outside client. We have quite a bit of spare CPU time (around 70% idle on
average), and a fair amount of spare disk capacity on a fast CDC drive, so it
seemed reasonable... until I was told about ALL-IN-1 bringing an 8600 with 
12 mb of memory to its knees. Now I'm worried. Does anyone have experience with
ALL-IN-1 on a uVaxII, even a big one? 

  Responses to both of these questions would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, 

/kenw
                                                                 A L B E R T A
Ken Wallewein                                                  R E S E A R C H
                                                                 C O U N C I L