Backup and Tape Device Answers - part 2

[Tim Jones]

Well, we'd hit 8 pages :weight_lift: , so let's freshen the thread here.

Tim

[abook]

Hi Tim,
I've got a question about the Drobo storage 4 bay system. I'm looking for a RAID-like storage unit at a good price. The main thing is I need the space and buying the 4big Lacie just seems like a fancy payment, not so practical.
Do you know how the Drobo compares to other quad storage systems as far as reliablility and price?

thanks

[Tim Jones]

While storage is not the main thrust of this thread, I have seen and used the Drobo in a live environment and the only issue I found was the limitation of the speed on the Firewire buss. The Drobo unit is a very robust solution and their focus on Mac means that their support is top-notch, please be sure that you weigh the performance provided against what you really require.

As compared to the LaCie, or G-Technologies, or a dozen others, since they are all limited by the FW buss, I'd recommend that you pay attention to your wallet :)

Tim

[oleng tjioe]

argh, i didn't see this. ok, let me ask here,

Where can i find (would be great if) 24/7 support people who can answer questions related to BRU Server 2.0.x? i mean asking it here would be o.o.t. right?
Thanks

[Stephen Lovett]

Hi Dead void,

There is a real name policy here btw.

You can buy a service contract through Tolis Group to provide you support. I have one for Bru server.

Steve

[Vlad N.]

Hi Tim,

Can you, please, help me with this question ?

I continue my investigations and I see BRU PE includes a full license to the TOLIS Tape Tools product. So, if I understand well, the Mac OS X/Linux compatibility is not a problem anymore. I can use BRU PE as I like for my own FCP workflow, and write a TAR archive on the LTO-4 tape that all Linux users can read using built-in commands or Amanda.

Now, what about Windows? You don't have a Windows version of BRU, so how can I send a tape to Windows users and to be sure they can read it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Rick Allen]

Hey Tim,
Thanks for the great source of information on these threads. I'm looking at getting a refurb PCIe based G5 2.0DC tower to house a Atto H380 and connect to a HP Lto3 920 sas and a 8 drive jbod sata enclosure probably the ProavioEM8ms. I'll create a raid5 with 4 of the drives and have the other 4 for other stuff. This tower will be used as online server and offline tape backup. Will this work and given I'm really pushing the budget is this a decent system that should last a few years?

Thanks in advance

[Tim Jones]

Hey Tim,
Thanks for the great source of information on these threads. I'm looking at getting a refurb PCIe based G5 2.0DC tower to house a Atto H380 and connect to a HP Lto3 920 sas and a 8 drive jbod sata enclosure probably the ProavioEM8ms. I'll create a raid5 with 4 of the drives and have the other 4 for other stuff. This tower will be used as online server and offline tape backup. Will this work and given I'm really pushing the budget is this a decent system that should last a few years?

Thanks in advance

Hi Rick,

That should be a workable solution. The good news is that when you outgrow the LTO-3, the move to LTO-4 or LTO-5 does not put you in a position to have to toss the current tapes.

Congratulations on finding the PCIe G5! That will last you a while.

Tim

[Tim Jones]

Hi Tim,

Can you, please, help me with this question ?

I continue my investigations and I see BRU PE includes a full license to the TOLIS Tape Tools product. So, if I understand well, the Mac OS X/Linux compatibility is not a problem anymore. I can use BRU PE as I like for my own FCP workflow, and write a TAR archive on the LTO-4 tape that all Linux users can read using built-in commands or Amanda.

Now, what about Windows? You don't have a Windows version of BRU, so how can I send a tape to Windows users and to be sure they can read it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Actually, while TTT will let you write tar tapes on OS X, you don't have a real problem with BRU between OS X and Linux as there are Linux versions of BRU (in fact, we were the first commercial application for Linux - 1994 kernel 0.99PL12). As for Windows (my product manager will probably string me up on Monday for this...), we are working on a Windows version of BRU PE. It's just that I can't give you a date for release expectations as Windows 7 changed quite a few of the rules for us. Once I have a better idea, I'll make an announcement here.