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Tandberg LTO5 + Atto HBA + Mac + LFTS = reasonable?
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Tim Dowse writes –
I thought that this was the Tandberg free LTFS solution. Is that not right? (he said trembling, preparing to be publicly humiliated)REPLY – OK Tim, I have to ask, since I was 100% unaware of the Tandberg LTFS OS X software that you posted. HOW COME YOU HAVE NOT TRIED IT ? When we see new software, or 10gig card, or switches, etc. that look cool, we try it, and then we say “wow, this works great”, or say “boy, this was a useless piece of junk”. This is how we got started with BRU (which we tried, and was great, and we use it all over). It’s not like you have to spend a lot of $$$ to try the Tandberg LTFS software to see if you can do a simple archive and restore. So my only question to you is “how come you have not downloaded this and tried this, to report back how it works”.
Bob Zelin
Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
maxavid@cfl.rr.com -
Hi Bob and all,
LTFS is LTFS in the manner in which it works. All of the major vendors are simply repackaging the default code produced by IBM back in 2010 with the minor updates that have occurred.
Since we have the LTFS source code and build our own version here to provide purchasers of the TOLIS Group version of the HP tape solutions, we are fully invested in testing the versions of LTFS that are available for OS X, Linux, and Windows. This is how we know that our caveats list still stands as correct after over 3 years.
On the other hand, what we do not test are the add-on packages like Crossroads or Codex and the like as these are not LTFS but rather those companies’ custom wrappers and extensions to the LTFS format.
Therefore, whether you’re getting your primary LTFS drivers from HP, IBM, Tandberg Data, Imation, Quantum, or any other drive vendor for OS X, Linux or Windows, the core to the LTFS mechanisms is the same. And, all of them will tell you the same thing when something gets sideways – it’s open source software.
Tim
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Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters! -
Bob Zelin HOW COME YOU HAVE NOT TRIED IT ?
I have not tried it because I don’t have an LTO drive. I downloaded and installed the software, and it opened. So that much is good.
I am trying to figure out (given the money I have available) whether I can “get away with” a tandberg LTO-5 drive and free software. If not, then I’ll need to spend on BRU, meaning that I’ll have to get an older drive like LTO-1 or 2. I’d prefer a bigger capacity cartridges and open-source formatting if I can get it to work.
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Hi Tim,
What kind of budget are you looking at? Our LTO-4 solution is still very viable (800GB/tape at ~90MB/sec) and the full bundle price including BRU PE is $2,699 and includes everything form the ATTO SAS card to the cables and starter media.
Check out: ArGest Desktop Bundles
Tim
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Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters! -
Sorry, Bob – I got my Tim’s confused :)…
Tim
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Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters! -
Tim Jones What kind of budget are you looking at? Our LTO-4 solution is still very viable (800GB/tape at ~90MB/sec) and the full bundle price including BRU PE is $2,699
I can get the bundle at the top of this thread for just over $1800. I know people will laugh at how little I want to spend, and if I was working in my own shop it would be a different story… but I can’t stretch to $2700… the money just isn’t there (I don’t control budgets where I work).
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Not trying to throw a wet towel on your find – and that is a good price, but does that $1,800 include the external drive, ATTO ExpressSAS H680 and the SAS cable?
I know the physical costs of these items and anyone selling them as a bundle for that price is either taking a loss, selling refurbished, limited warranty items, or selling gray-market units that were originally sold to another OEM. Double check with the vendor that these are not refurbished and that the full manufacturers’ warranties are in affect from the time of YOUR purchase.
Just use caution as there is a reason why everyone else’s prices are higher on these things.
Tim
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Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters! -
It’s the supplier that we have a state contract with. So I’m assuming it’s legit. Not sure why it’s that low.
I appreciate all your input on this issue, thanks Tim.
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Tim Dowse, thank you for this thread. I’m in the same boat as you. I had a look at the bundles offered by Tolis Group and figured that even though their prices are not too bad, I can save money if I buy only the parts that I need. For example, I don’t need an HBA since I already have one. The one year support is nice to have but many times, just like extended warranties, is just a peace of mind insurance that we seldom use and if we need to, it usually turns out in a very unsatisfactory experience that does not meet our expectations as customers. I usually get better support from the forums. Tim Jones here has been very helpful, and he is the reason I would purchase BRU PE if the less expensive alternatives don’t work. Bob Zelin with his vast knowledge and experience also offers a lot of good info and advice, but I’m afraid he tend to focus more on larger, high-end operations.
It is not about being “cheap”. It is about new markets and business models. There is a huge market of freelancers and independent producers that have the same problems and concerns (albeit in a smaller scale) as the big television networks; how to backup and archive hours and hours of content (Terabytes of data). We need companies to do to the LTO archiving market what Apple and Blackmagic Desing did to the video production market…”Democratization”.
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Keep in mind that the bundles and pricing shown are “general” in nature. As it mentions on the web site, we’re happy to adjust the package contents for HBAs and cables if you’re already set.
As for our support package, I believe that anyone that has interacted with our team will quickly admit that we stand behind our support plans. Also, unlike so many other vendors, that 1 year of support includes all updates / upgrades to the software that’s included with the bundle.
Tim
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Tim Jones
CTO – TOLIS Group, Inc.
https://www.productionbackup.com
BRU … because it’s the RESTORE that matters!
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