Backing Up with Tape Drives: Security Is What Counts

Onstream ADR2 60Si

The ADR2 60Si from Onstream has an unassuming design. There's only one LED to signal operation in the eject button. The latter must also be pressed to open the dust cover and insert a tape. The drive occupies a half-height 5 _" tray; the housing itself appears flatter. The spacing bolts on the base plate ensure the correct screw dimensions. Ventilation slots are positioned in the lid. A fan is positioned under it.

The tape is 14 mm flat; its depth varies with capacity. The net capacity of the ADR2 60Si is 30 GBytes, making the drive unsuitable for larger servers.

There were problems in the test with software compatibility, and operation with Backup Exec is not certified. The performance measurements were therefore made with the included Tapeware XE 6. The drive performance tends towards mediocre.

Yet, at $612, the ADR 60Si comes at an attractive entry price. One disadvantage, however, is the relatively expensive cost for the tapes ($65 per gigabyte). Because of this, it may prove worthwhile taking the ExaByte VXA-2, for example, instead.