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In Search Of: Tolis Tape Tools for PPC
Hey there,
I’m currently working on a project where I need to read tapes written with unknown tools on a PPC Mac (running 10.2.0), and I am rather stuck at the moment due to Apple never choosing to add the drivers & support necessary for tape drives & other sequentially media to OS X.
Not too long ago, I discovered Tolis Tape Tools, a set of tools that seems to be at least a partial solution to my problem. I was able to locate the installer for PPC, but it needs a password to be opened, and that password was supposed to be given when the tools were originally purchased like two and a half decades ago.
For those that know the fate of the Tolis Group, like I soon discovered, you’ll start to understand my issue. OWC and their support were of next to no help, but I figured I’d try anyway. A bit of a waste of time, and kind of crazy how they seem to have no recollection of acquiring an entire company.
Long story short(er), I’m here now, and hoping someone has an idea they wouldn’t mind sharing.
Many thanks,
Bennett
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4 Replies
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Hi Mads,
Thanks for your response, though unfortunately it isn’t that simple. I truly wish it were.
When I initially discovered that page, I figured it would have been an easy rest of the way to accomplishing my goal, but it seems that company is entirely inactive/defunct with no real guaranteed way to contact them (their phone number says it is unassigned/out of service).
I suppose what I’m looking for, optimally, is someone who owned the set of tools they offered back then, and still might have a copy handy that they might not mind letting me use (we can work out details).
Or, at the very least, more information on who currently owns the rights to distribute this software, and how else I could potentially obtain it, or the password to unlock the file that I have currently.
Thanks,
Bennett
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Hey Bennett,
This is a weird one, as it is a company that is in our industry, but no HTTPS on their website.
“Only” 4 employees, and a $ 24 million turnover in 2024…
https://rocketreach.co/globalstor-data-corp-profile_b59a2d86f9c3e5ff
The two Leif brothers are on LinkedIN, with many connections, but no activity.Could be that they invented something clever, and are living on the income of that.
RocketReach may be able to reveal an email for you to one of the brothers. You tend to get a free trial, so cost you nothing.
They have been active on their website within the last year, so something is “awake”.
The word “Tolis BRU” shows up three times on this page, but do proceed with caution:
https://fossies.org/linux/nmap/nmap-service-probesThere is also this on The Cow, which will lead you to Bob Zelin and Neil Sadwelkar. They are amongst the top storage experts on the COW, and anywhere else.
https://creativecow.net/forums/thread/tolis-closed-recommendations-for-lto-backup-moving-forward/
Me, I can only point in a direction, but can’t explain what to do.
If Bob and Neil can’t help you, you might be left with contacting a “data rescuing” service with all of the old kit, and pay them to do it.
Hope that this helps.
Atb
Mads -
Mads,
Thank you again for the extensive research. Seriously, grateful that you went out of your way to do this for me.
I am going to look over your findings and proceed from there soon.
Bennett
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