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Home > Archive > Backup Software > December 2004 > Tapedrive: driveletter access
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Tapedrive: driveletter access
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| Hai, group,
as far as I can tell, there are only 2 software products to allow us
to access a (DAT-)tapedrive as an 'local harddisk':
- DATman
- Direct Tape Access (Seagate)
I found some webpage about DATman, giving the impression DATman is
dead. But found almost nothing about DTA (Direct Tape Access).
I prefer to backup things using this approach, but DTA is probably
dead to, because the most recent version I found is 4.01 (1998).
It runs with Windows 95 or Windows 98, but doesn't work with a later
Windows (preferable 2000).
1) Are there ways to 'fool' DTA to make it run under Windows 2000?
2) Are there other 'drive letter' software (for Windows 2000)?
3) Does it support 'large drives', like the DAT72, AIT or DLT?
Need a lot to backup, I have to buy a new drive, but want to know for
sure the drive will work with 'some brand of drive letter access'.
Any help in the issue is appriciated.
Hans (from Holland).
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| Rob Turk 2004-12-05, 5:48 pm |
| "Hans" <news@pfcorner.nl> wrote in message
news:4i46r09c8oeb5071r2o45omlv2di0ahpvf@
4ax.com...
> Hai, group,
>
> as far as I can tell, there are only 2 software products to allow us
> to access a (DAT-)tapedrive as an 'local harddisk':
>
> - DATman
> - Direct Tape Access (Seagate)
>
> I found some webpage about DATman, giving the impression DATman is
> dead. But found almost nothing about DTA (Direct Tape Access).
>
> I prefer to backup things using this approach, but DTA is probably
> dead to, because the most recent version I found is 4.01 (1998).
> It runs with Windows 95 or Windows 98, but doesn't work with a later
> Windows (preferable 2000).
>
> 1) Are there ways to 'fool' DTA to make it run under Windows 2000?
> 2) Are there other 'drive letter' software (for Windows 2000)?
> 3) Does it support 'large drives', like the DAT72, AIT or DLT?
>
> Need a lot to backup, I have to buy a new drive, but want to know for
> sure the drive will work with 'some brand of drive letter access'.
>
> Any help in the issue is appriciated.
>
> Hans (from Holland).
Hans,
Every attempt to make a sequential device (tape) look like a random device
(disk) is in essence a kludge. There's a good reason for DTA and DATman
being unavailable on Win2k and XP. Filesystems like NTFS are hard to 'fake'
on a sequential device.
What problem are you trying to solve by wanting a drive letter in stead of a
regular backup?
Rob
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| On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 22:19:51 +0100, "Rob Turk" wrote:
>Every attempt to make a sequential device (tape) look like a random device
>(disk) is in essence a kludge.
True. If you use it 'random'. Over here it is 'semi sequential'.
Performance is not realy an issue.
>There's a good reason for DTA and DATman being unavailable on Win2k and XP.
>Filesystems like NTFS are hard to 'fake' on a sequential device.
DTA simulates a large 5.25" floppydrive with FAT32. It could be done.
Have 500 GB FireWire drive with FAT32 under Windows 2000.
Had to format the drive on a Windows 98se PC, because 2000/XP is
pushing us to use NTFS, with max. 32 GB FAT32.
>What problem are you trying to solve by wanting a drive letter in stead of
>a regular backup?
Eg. automating things. All 'regular' backupprograms are not command-
line driven. Running batchfiles. Eg. when 'in' an folder (4NT/4DOS),
a simple 'BUP.BAT' backups the current folder (only) to tape, gives a
message if it doesn't fit, allowing to change tape. But the biggest
reason, is the way the RESTORE is handled. The 'average user' is able
to restore 'something' using the EXPLORER, simply open drive T: (how
original T: for Tapedrive) from the LAN. The BUT.BAT creates a simple
database (textlist) where to find the folder he/she needs. Putting the
tape in the drive, wait 1 to 2 minutes for the tape to mount and up
you go. The 'average Windows based backupprogram' is a crime for an
'average user' (is our opinion).
Btw. Google came up with an 3rd software: TapeDisk. Have to dig
through 21000 hits :-( Located 1996, so I guess it isn't a big help.
Have to backup 15-20 GB a day. Started many years ago with QIC-80
120 MB tapes, now DDS3, but need something 'bigger' to reduce tape
changes (and big backupqeues). The 'Drive letter' works fine, so if
we can keep using this (on more speedy equipment), it helps a lot.
The DTA 'TapeServer' we are using is a simpel Pentium II-350 CPU based
PC, running Windows 98se. Works like a charm ;-)
Hans
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| On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 01:23:44 +0100, Hans <news@pfcorner.nl> wrote:
>On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 22:19:51 +0100, "Rob Turk" wrote:
>
Checked out Tapedisk, Windows 98 version. Looks pretty messy to me.
Not an better/easier option than DTA. Writes 'chapters' of 2 GB (in
FAT16) to tape. I guess a larger tape holds multiple chapters. It is
probably someting like a large harddisks partitioned in multiple
partitions of max. 2 GB. Not usable for our situation.
Hans
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| Rob Turk 2004-12-07, 2:45 am |
| "Hans" <news@pfcorner.nl> wrote in message
news:lu77r0tkg0kh199h00jnhe1831fb5uur15@
4ax.com...
> On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 22:19:51 +0100, "Rob Turk" wrote:
>
>
> True. If you use it 'random'. Over here it is 'semi sequential'.
> Performance is not realy an issue.
>
>
> DTA simulates a large 5.25" floppydrive with FAT32. It could be done.
> Have 500 GB FireWire drive with FAT32 under Windows 2000.
> Had to format the drive on a Windows 98se PC, because 2000/XP is
> pushing us to use NTFS, with max. 32 GB FAT32.
>
>
> Eg. automating things. All 'regular' backupprograms are not command-
> line driven.
If you migrate to Win2K (which still runs fine on the PII-350 you use now)
then NTBACKUP can be used in batch mode. As a benefit you will end up with
tapes that can be restored by most other backup applications when you need
to. Kludges like TapeDisk make it very hard to do so, as you first have to
recreate the whole setup after a disaster.
When I read your requirements I'd go for that 500GB firewire harddisk or
migrate to Win2K and use the built-in backup software. An Exabyte VXA-2
tapedrive would fit your speed/capacity requirements nicely.
Rob
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| On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 10:06:52 +0100, "Rob Turk" wrote:
>If you migrate to Win2K (which still runs fine on the PII-350 you use now)
>then NTBACKUP can be used in batch mode. As a benefit you will end up with
>tapes that can be restored by most other backup applications when you need
>to. Kludges like TapeDisk make it very hard to do so, as you first have to
>recreate the whole setup after a disaster.
The whole thing is not for disaster recovery, but for easy restoring
by ppl having no clue about tapes. And restoring from any workstation
in the LAN (or over the Internet) without much administrator (me)
intervention. Using UPS and Ghost for disasters ;-)
>When I read your requirements I'd go for that 500GB firewire harddisk
DO NOT BUY (EVER) LACIE products in this respect.
83% Guaranteed it will fail within the first year.
>or migrate to Win2K and use the built-in backup software. An Exabyte VXA-2
>tapedrive would fit your speed/capacity requirements nicely.
I'll check it out. Thanks.
Hans
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