1 Beyond LTO-5 Netdrive RED

[Joe Pontecorvo]

I am looking for a storage and back-up solution for field use and found LTO-5 NetDrive RED. It will simultaneously back up to LTO tape as well as any drive you plug into the device. It's a stand alone system running windows 7.It will wirelessly transmit to iPad for controlling device is you like.I'm a mac person so a little nervous about windows 7, but it does seem to be a really solid all in one solution. Anyone have any experience with the company or similar products.Any impressions opinions?

[David Collard]

Sounds good. Check the software it comes with even though it's LTO-5. Could be a headache.
Simultaneous back-up is not a huge selling point these days. Basically this is just an LTO-5 compliant
drive wired to a Red SSD drive in a less than stellar packaging. If the price is right, it might be worth a
look. Strangely, there still isn't many LTO-5 vendors out there. Probably because the cost of hard drives
is too competitive.

[Joe Pontecorvo]

Thanks for the feedback David. The software seems really simple and fast.

[Joe Pontecorvo]

The other question is: How long will LTO-5 be around? I now it's a loaded question, but I am generating about 1TB a day on this latest project with an estimated 30 weeks of shooting over a period of 18 months. I have already generated over 46 TB of footage to date. With this in mind I need a reliable back-up and storage system.

So to go beyond the title of this thread for a moment, I would like to hear others experience with this sort of data volume and the solutions you have chosen.

[RayFrisby]

Any news on Pricing ? also is there a Mac version ?

I like the idea you can create two back-ups at the same time on set. One Tape and Hard Drive.
This should cover most producers fears and the process seems very simple.
If the price is right I'm interested.

[ericyoung]

Does it do checksums? If so what kind?

[Joe Pontecorvo]

Just a quick update. I ended up getting the 1 Beyond Wrangler LTO-5 NetDrive system, paid about $4,800.00 (don;t recall exactly), but I think that was a 1,000.00 off NAB special. But you should check the website for pricing. I have been using it on location in Japan for the past month and so far it has preformed great.

Below is some information that i hope answers your questions. I am not a rep and have no association with the company, just happy with this solution and customer service.

Here is the rundown: It runs on a windows 7 platform (easy transition to make from Mac). They installed Mac Drive software so I can use Mac formatted drives via USB 3.0 or eSATA.

It downloads from the built in RED mag reader to LTO-5 tape and external hard drive simultaneously.

The system can transmit a wireless signal and you can use your Mac, or in my case my iPad to control the device via Splashtop app.
Splashtop is a screen sharing app that makes it easy to control the system from your iPad.

Since it's a Turnkey system it frees up your laptop when in location to do other things. It is small enough to fit in a carry on suitcase or carry on pelican.

I didn't set this up, they installed everything I needed and showed me how to operate it. The folks at 1 Beyond have been really helpful since they know I am not a PC person.

The software is of their own design called Wrangler. It is a simple interface that generates a log and gives you verification of a successful transfer. You can copy the checksum log to the drive and tape as well, and you can choose to enable "verify transfer" - but I am told that LTO-5 tape has a built in verification system. Still, if you don't mind the extra time it is probably to be better safe then sorry.

For more info on the system:
http://www.1beyond.com/products/tape...=tapearchiving

[Matthew Conrad]

The idea is cool, but I've started to have the opinion that LTO needs to be done in a controlled environment. I still offer productions LTO, but I do it off site, Between the noise of the deck, and the heat (both the deck and the set) I feel its too sensitive of a process writing to the tape on set.

[Joe Pontecorvo]

The idea is cool, but I've started to have the opinion that LTO needs to be done in a controlled environment. I still offer productions LTO, but I do it off site, Between the noise of the deck, and the heat (both the deck and the set) I feel its too sensitive of a process writing to the tape on set.

Agreed. If I were on set it would be a different matter, but most of my shoots involve travel in remote areas and I get nervous about having a hard drive as my only back-up. I'll be in the steamy jungles of Sumatra next, so I'll let you know how that goes.

[RayFrisby]

Just a quick question about the file management Joe. I'm still learning about LTO back-up and was wondering what happens if you revisit a project you have archived and transfer the files to a Raid for re-editing.
After making all the changes do you save all the data again as a separate File/Folder or is it overwritten on the tape ?