PreRoll Post

[Kevin Francis]

There is quite a bit of discussion about PreRollPost in this forum. I posted this user review a little over a year ago:

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/330/857

[Dan Montgomery]

Kevin,

We have quite a few users of this software now. It’s matured a lot over the last 3-years. Some of the more recent additions is the (obvious)support for the new mTape LTO drives. PreRollPost installer has all the drivers needed to get up and running in just a click, regardless of your tape manufacturer.

Many users of PreRollPost are supplying video to Discovery Channel and need an easy, certified way to create LTFS tapes that meet their specs.

There’s a free demo you may try, even if you don’t yet have an LTO deck. And of course several tutorial videos available to help you get familiar with it quickly.

BTW, I’m pretty sure mLogic has plans for more reviews of the mTape & PreRollPost together. We and they will both be showing the two products together at IBC for those folks coming to the show.

Dan

Offload with Confidence…

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Kevin –
so exactly what is your question ? Is PreRoll Post a wonderful product ? YES IT IS. Is it worth buying, instead of the free HP StorOpen ? YES IT IS. Is it better than BRU ? That is a stupid question – they are different products. Both are wonderful.

Do I love the MLogic MTape – yes I do.

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Kevin Patrick]

[Bob Zelin] “Is it better than BRU ? That is a stupid question”

Well then, glad I didn’t ask that question.

I’m about to fall off the fence I’ve been sitting on for some time and finally acquire an LTO based archive system.

I’m glad to hear you like MLogic’s drive, since that’s what I plan on purchasing now that I’ve upgraded to an expansion-card-free Mac Pro Tube.

I was going to go with BRU software, based on what little knowledge I have. I came across PreRoll Post and was just wondering there might be a reason why I’d pick PreRoll over BRU.

[Bob Zelin]

both are great companies. I use both, depending on client demands. PreRoll Post does NOT support tape libraries (only single tapes), so if you need library function, it’s a no brainer – you choose Tolis BRU.

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Tim Jones]

Just to add a bit of compatibility input here – BRU PE and BRU Server both properly support and recognize the mLogic mTape units. In fact, it was our work with mLogic and Areca that enabled the unit to properly handle tape block sizes over 64K.

We are also compatible with the 1 Beyond unit as it uses the ATTO Thunderbolt to SAS bridge.

Tim
—
Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!

[Bob Cole]

[Bob Zelin] “PreRoll Post does NOT support tape libraries (only single tapes), so if you need library function, it’s a no brainer – you choose Tolis BRU. “

Hi Bob, I know this is a dumb question, but I’m not sure what you mean by this. Are you saying that PreRoll Post won’t span between two tapes? What exactly is the “library function”?

Bob C

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Tim –
you just said –
In fact, it was our work with mLogic and Areca that enabled the unit to properly handle tape block sizes over 64K.

So is Tolis supporting the Areca card now ?

bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Tim Jones]

Not yet – Areca only fixed things for the embedded TB to SAS adapter used in the mLogic mTape unit. We are still trying to get them to extend the code changes to the entire line. It involves both a driver change and new firmware for the HBAs.

Tim
—
Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!

[Tim Jones]

A library houses multiple tapes – from 8 to 1,000’s. For software to properly use the multiple tape capabilities automatically, it must be written to use the automation capabilities.

With all BRU products, you can use 1 tape to 1,000’s of tapes as a single archive with completely automated spanning of the tapes. With LTFS-based solutions, the user (or the software) must manually split the data to be written to tape into tape-sized chunks (either 1.4TB or 2.3TB) before it’s written. If you try to write more than the adjusted tape capacity to an LTFS volume, you’ll get the same error that you get when you try to write more to a disk than will fit – “No space left on device”.

Tim
—
Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!