Driver for Overland tape library

[Tony Alfrey]

Net Llama! wrote:
> On Thu, 4 Jan 2007, Man-wai CHANG wrote:
>>> No, it need not be tapes.  Backups should be:
>>> 1.  performed regularly (depending on how often files on the system may change)
>>> 2.  be kept off-site  (that means not in the same building -- some big
>>> companies like Fedex, etc., will have two data sites, one with
>>> accounting data, one with tracking data, and back up between the two
>>> sites -- located in two different states).
>> At home, I am using 2 harddisk to back up everything. I use them
>> alternatively. For more critical data, I keep a copy on DVD-RW.
>>
>> Tapes require special storage facilities, or they would be oxidized(?).
> 
> On which planet is this?
> 

This planet.  He's confusing the general deterioration of the adhesion 
of the magnetic oxide on the tape with the fact that the stuff on the 
tape is already oxidized, but magnetic tape does deteriorate.  Ask any 
audio recording studio in LA where they put tape that they expected to 
have usable 10 years down the road.  I can personally attest to the 
oxide layer literally falling off the backing of old tape when taken out 
of the vault and run through the transport.

-- 
Tony Alfrey
tonyalfrey at earthlink.net
"I'd Rather Be Sailing"