Backing Up with Tape Drives: Security Is What Counts

Test Results In Detail

All tape drives in the test were easy to use. The decisive differences in the test were found in performance and in the cost of the media.

For users who value high data security, capacity and quick data throughput above all, the choice is relatively simple: the identical SDLT-320 drives from HP and Tandberg offer top performance. Although the cost of the devices is steep, the media are inexpensive.

For a cheaper variant, the DAT drives should be seriously considered. The Seagate Tapestor DAT 40 costs a mere $825 and the media are a good value as well. On the flip side, the user must accept capacity of only 20 GB per tape and a slow transfer rate of 2.75 MB/second. A good compromise is the ExaByte VXA-2. The drive is just a little pricier ($999.99) than the DAT model, and tapes are cheap. The advantage with it is that 80 GB of uncompressed data fit on one tape.

The Onstream ADR2 60Si and the two DLT VS 80s from Dell and Tandberg don't fare so well. The ADR2 60Si is attractive for its low price (approx. $755) in the group up to 50 GBytes, but the tape costs are high, at about $65. The DLT VS 80 has high storage capacity (80 GBytes); however, the drive is slow transferring data and tape prices are also steep at $99.

Drives With Up To 50 GB Net Capacity

Dell Powervault 110T DLT VS 80

More information on this device is contained in the Evaluation and Benchmarks sections as well as in the equipment table.

Tandberg DLT VS 80

The DLT VS 80 uses the same DLT-IV tapes as the DLT7000/ 8000 drives. However, the tapes in the DLT VS 80 run at the slower transfer rate of just 3 MB per second. Filling up a 40 GB tape takes an interminable four hours. In view of the comparatively large-format tapes, the drive is very compact, only occupying a 5 _" slot of half-height. The DLT VS 80 is sturdy: the base plate is produced from incredibly strong, 10 mm-thick aluminum casting.

Three LEDs indicate the current drive status. One lights up when an error occurs, the next one blinks during operation, and the third requests the cleaning tape.

But working with the fully developed and reliable DLT technology comes at a price. At $99 a piece, the tapes are relatively expensive. The price per gigabyte, around $2.50, depending on the supplier, is the highest in the comparison.

In terms of performance measurements, the DLT VS 80 is disappointing, especially when restoring individual files. That's why it takes last place in this category.

Altogether, the test results for the Dell and Tandberg products are no better than passable. In equipment and performance in particular, the devices reveal real weaknesses.