[Geek] Equipment Request

[azekeil]

I'm after a DLT tape machine - something like a Tandberg DLT8000. I want to archive about a terabytes worth of uncompressable stuff and my work have a load of old DLT tapes (after upgrading to SDLT) - so I'm after a cheap/free tape drive to use them with. Anyone know of a spare one lying around?

Feel free to offer other suggestions for long-term cheap storage (not DVDs - I haven't got the patience to burn 220+ DVDs).

Comments

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

Hard drives work for me and can be much cheaper per Gb than tapes...

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but like I said work have at least 30 tapes at 40GB each. I'm just after the machine now.

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

That's still only 1.2Tb *and* you've gotta spend a year changing tapes... :)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I can leave it for (*calculates*) just under two hours before having to change a tape, and I only have to do it 30 times or so, which while a slog is doable whereas 220 times is not.

Besides, if I can get a tape machine for < 400 quid (which I think I can) then I'm better doing that than buying HDDs.

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&5777981580

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Yes I looked on eBay and it will be my last resort, but I was hoping that someone's work might have no more use for one and might be willing to let it go cheaply / for free... (well you don't know until you ask!)

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

It appears that tape libraries go surprisingly cheaply :)

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

This one seems very good, albeit significantly more expensive...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5202471636

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5778806343

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

!

Actually I've just realised my Adaptec 2940 is not LVD, so I'll need one of those as well.. got one lying around?

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

Don't think so but I'd imagine that you could pick one up for a bargain on Ebay...

[nemy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the txt! :0) would love to make it to the gaming do, but I've got a gig in London on that day so wont be able to do both.

Thanks again! :0)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

No worries. Just keep an eye on my journal for invites etc :)