Up to date on LTO

[Tim Jones]

Hi Folks,

We are still receiving daily inquiries on LTO tape and archiving workflow and how things should be looked at for long term archival. One of the most often asked questions is about the differences between the various LTO generations.

To try and make the technology more understandable, I've created a simple non-marketing white paper and I wanted to share it with the RED user base. Since I can't build tables in forum messages, I've posted the white paper on our website. Here's the link (no login, registration, or personal info required :001_rolleyes: ):

LTO - Big, Fast, Cheap

After reading it, if you have further questions or notice something missing that would make the document more useful, please send me a PM and I'll get right on it. Hopefully this will help in understanding LTO and what it provides for long term archival expectations.

Tim

 

[Tim Jones]

I've updated the bad link to the whitepaper.

 

[Jason H]

opps

 

[Jason H]

HI,

i have a cache LTO4 prime for sale in the FS section for 4999.00 . New it was 8000.00

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread...-prime-used-once-NEW-8grand-buy-used!-4999-00

used once! ;(

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Thanks for writing this Tim. Very helpful.

 

[stu aull]

Thanks Tim!~!
I guess the biggest hurdle is getting user-friendly software that allows easy drag-n-drop, etc with our Macs (or PCs). I heard a couple of vendors were working on intro-ing newer/cheaper software packages targeting video production use.
Most gear and prices seem to be aimed at Enterprise-level users ( ie big Corporate). Think in this digital-file age of TV there is some good coin to be made by catering to us small post/production co.s for their digital archives....


Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Tim Jones]

Hi Stu,

That's exactly what we do. BRU Producer's Edition is $499 and it's included with our bundles. Check out our bundles at http://ww2.productionbackup.com/hardware-bundles. You can get a full LTO-5 bundle (HBA, Cables, drive, software, media, cables, warranty and support) for $3,929. LTO-4 is only $2,979.

Tim

 

[M Most]

I guess the biggest hurdle is getting user-friendly software that allows easy drag-n-drop, etc with our Macs (or PCs).

All you really have to do is use LTFS, available for multiple platforms. Once you mount and format an LTO5 cartridge using LTFS, you use the standard operating system tools (I.e., Finder, or standard Windows tools) just as you with any hard drive.

 

[Michael Lindsay]

LTFS is fantastic for us.... We bought Bru and retrospect and both went in the virtual bin. For once free really works!

Really recommend it!

 

[stu aull]

Ok - so I have re-looked at the Link.... and can't find what an LTFS is....


I am sold on the _concept_ of LTO 4/5 - but still cringing at the $3K buy in. That is a LOT of HD storage to consider in hopes the LTO stuff settles down into a more Mom-n-Pop Shop price range (thinking under $2K is going to be the magic price point for a lot of us). And yes, I have heard all the arguments (and agree) with the limitations/risks of long term HD storage. Its a temporary fix.

Will be curious to see who in the LTO biz blinks first and brings out the Under $2K version. I know some nice (Mac) software is out there for around $300-ish. Surely the Drives can be produced @ the $1500 range? Time will tell.

Don't mean to come across as a smart-@ss here - I know enough about this to be dangerous. And I have kept an eye on this storage media for the past couple of years and have seen the price of admission drop from the $5-7K range, so things are moving in the right direction! Just trying to figure out the best time to jump aboard...

Stu Aull
Alaska

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

LTFS is an acronym. Stands for "Linear Tape File System"

Is available on LTO-5 and future generations.

Not a feature on LTO-4 & cannot be added...


The buy-in is less expensive than losing a drive full of data with no backup!

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Didn't see Tim mention it, but they released the big v3.0 upgrade to BRU-PE the other day. I've been out of town and haven't tried it yet. I plan to give it a spin this weekend.

The buy-in price for a tape system package is a bit cringe-worthy, but do the math on that. Especially with HDD prices still high, the tape system pays for itself and even costs you less in the long run. Or at least it does if you back-up enough data.

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

I think connectivity is a factor here. You still need a pricey SAS card to plug these things into. I don't see why there aren't simpler eSATA, USB 3, and Thunderbolt solutions. And no, the current Thunderbolt "solution" is just an added Sonnet box to put a SAS card into. We need self contained, simple, plug and play, external tape drives for tape backup to be practical for most of us.

 

[stu aull]

+1
!!

Stu Aull
Alaska