Quantum LTO 5 questions

[Tom.Wong]

Using under MAC OSX 10.5.7, so thought I'd post here.

Working with a half height external quantum lto-5. Using bru at the moment, but finding that it's not working out for what I need it for. Really simple and easy to use, but if I have a large size drive to back up, it automatically spans across tapes without my ability to control it in the least, and on occasion it hangs up on the back up, while I'm on the third + tape, and I have to start it all over again.

Does anybody know of any alternative software that will work with my LTO, and specifically allow me to control or create a file tree so I can organize the LTO the way I want? Im used to doing this with cache A decks, but that's cache A, and currently I don't think there are cache A lto 5's. If anybody can help me out here that will be great. Key points, creating file trees of my choice, possibly even file browsing on the tape itself, maybe even span control to set how many tapes I want it to go across, sort of like doing dvd backups across multiple discs.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I'm pretty sure Cache-A has their LTO-5 units out now.

Anyway, you're going to run into more trouble with your setup because it's a Quantum unit. Quantum on the Mac just doesn't play that nice at times. So you will see the occasional lock-ups or other issues. I had a Quantum LTO-4 a while back and it worked alright, but it was rather fickle in regards to software compatibility. Retrospect worked well with it, but that software just sucks. BRU software is pretty flexible, but if you just choose to archive one volume that is larger than a tape, it will automatically span tapes. What else is it supposed to do? You can create individual archive sets or archives by folder structure, projects, etc.. It's all in how you manage it.

I'm not sure why you would want control over spanning, as in how many tapes to span. No reason to leave extra space on tapes when you're spanning data. But you should be able to limit tape archive size -- you can via the command line interface, not sure about within the GUI. The integrated file browser system lets you add folder structures or individual files. It preserves path info from the system and volume you are archiving from, but you can redirect on output to anywhere you want. You can browse individual files in tapes you have created -- no reason to load the tape. Just open your archive set, browse to the file(s) you want, choose where to extract them to and then the software will direct you as to which tape(s) to insert, etc.. Very similar overall to Cache-A, just a bit different interface. I guess I'm not sure what you would like to do specifically, you can pretty much do all of what you're asking for within BRU. The custom file tree thing may be a bit out of scope, depending on what you're really wanting to do.

You may want to contact Quantum and Tolis Group (BRU) about hardware issues with the LTO-5 unit you're using. Quantum uses host adapters in their kits from LSI Logic, which Apple supplies rudimentary drivers for, embedded in OSX. Ideally, you would want to use a better host adapter, but Quantum optimizes their drive firmware to interface with the LSI controller -- unless you have specific drivers for the LTO unit itself, like on Windows, but we don't on the Mac. The rule of thumb around here for LTO drives on the Mac has been to use the HP tape drives with ATTO controllers for the most reliable configuration. I have both an LTO-4 and an LTO-5 from HP, running on ATTO controllers and BRU software. No issues to report, everything is running swimmingly <knock wood>.

Cache-A are another option. More pricey than the HP+ATTO+BRU solution, but not really different than setting up a dedicated backup workstation.

 

[Tom.Wong]

unfortunately i have no choice on the existing set up i'm working on, but will look deeper into the bru software to see if this works out. thanks so much.

 

[Mark Pedersen]

I'm pretty sure Cache-A has their LTO-5 units out now.

The rule of thumb around here for LTO drives on the Mac has been to use the HP tape drives with ATTO controllers for the most reliable configuration. I have both an LTO-4 and an LTO-5 from HP, running on ATTO controllers and BRU software. No issues to report, everything is running swimmingly <knock wood>.

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for the great post. Which HP LTO-5 unit are you running, and which ATTO controller?

M

 

[Jake Russell]

The rule of thumb around here for LTO drives on the Mac has been to use the HP tape drives with ATTO controllers

Jeff,

I'm also curious which HP LTO-5 unit and ATTO controller you specifically recommend. Thank you.

 

[Mark Pedersen]

Hey guys,

An update on our LTO-5 plans. We contacted BRU and they do support Quantum LTO-5 drives. They recommended going with an ATTO controller, however, so we are going with the ATTO 44ES controller for the Quantum i40 Scalar tape library.

We chose Quantum based on overall service and support. The drive mechanisms are the same between the HP and Quantum units.

Thanks for the info Jeff!


M

 

[Adam Eden]

I have a SDLT 320 tape drive and love it. I have been using DLT for over 10 years now and I usually replace the drive every 3 years.

I have found that SONY and other manufacturers have stopped making DLT tapes so does that mean i need to invest in a LTO drive? Have the drives you guys talking about replaced DLT?

Also I there are half height/full height LTO drives. What is the best and most cost effective in backing up 320-500 gig uncompressed of normal or RED data?

I have been used to paying $30- $40 for 320 Super DLT tapes

Also is there an LTO drive that works on firewire as i am over SCSI for the SDLT! But I dont mind retrospect

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for the great post. Which HP LTO-5 unit are you running, and which ATTO controller?

M

Here I'm running an HP LTO-5 3000 external desktop unit and an HP LTO-4 1760 external desktop unit. Both are currently connected via ATTO H680 SAS hosts in Mac Pros, running BRU PE. I have also run both libraries off an R680 host (same controller, but with onboard RAID) and and H380 (older non PCIe 2.0 3Gbps host). All work fine.

I have not made many LTO-5 tapes just yet, still have a supply of 4 media to work on and the cost per GB has been higher on the LTO-5 media. The 5 tapes will have to drop below $50 in order to get the cost per GB the same. Currently, they hover around $68-$74 each, even in bulk. No good discount vendors or eBay sellers with media just yet. But I can buy 5-packs of LTO-4 media for $100 all day long and free shipping on eBay and elsewhere.

I use the H680 card as both an interface for the LTO unit and also for connecting eSATA devices via a SAS to eSATA fan-out cable.

I'm interested to know how the Quantum library works for you. The Quantum desktop units don't perform quite as well as the HP units when on the Mac. It's a controller thing, since Quantum optimizes their firmware to interface well with their preferred controller (LSI), which has terrible driver support on the Mac.

@ Adam,

Unfortunately, there are no firewire LTO, they are all SAS and FC for the new models. FW800 isn't really fast enough for LTO-4, nowhere close for LTO-5. I'm not sure I understand the industry's aversion to SATA, that would be a great option to have.

LTO-4 units are a good option as some models are still available to fit your SCSI host if you want to keep it. Otherwise LTO-5 would be the more future-proof choice. LTO-4 tapes are 800GB uncompressed and I can usually pick them up for about $20~$22 each. So still cheaper per GB than hard drives, but you do have the up-front cost of the tape drive to factor in. It seems that LTO-5 tapes are just about to become cheaper per GB than LTO-4 as they are sinking below the $40 price point.

 

[Brett Dicus]

Hello Jeff.

Out of all of the LTO drive manufacturers, which one has the quietest operating level? I am currently using a Quantum LTO2, and looking to upgrade.