DVCPROHD Archiving

Sounds great! All I need is a good switch, then and not build a new PC.

Do you guys have any models in mind? I was looking at the newer LTO4 drives which are more expensive than the older ones, but they allow for new tape usage (800GB native/1.6TB compressed) LTO4 tapes and backwards compatibility with the older ones...or will I be ok with LTO3? LTO3 tapes are much cheaper.

Also how does it work if I want to pick lets say a random file from the drive?
 
The drive basically has a server built in with a directory at the head end of each tape. You see the file you want, select it, hen the drive spools up and retrieves the file for you.
 
Thanks, I have an idea how it works now. As long as I can archive it, that's fine for me.

I just checked the LTO3A drives you were talking about with Gigabit connections, they're too expensive ($8,000).
 
We copy all of our P2 data to hard drives in USB2 enclosures then back up the drive to an LTO-3 tape. This way we have fast access to the media and a safety copy if the drive fails.

I've had pretty good luck with Seagate drives and I use quality enclosures with good fans, plenty of vent holes and space around the drive. The LaCie 1TB drives with 2 x 500GB units in them are terrible. We bought one and had it swapped out three times in one week as each one failed due to overheating.

In my experience drives fail without much warning. I've had several firewire drives suddenly start doing the 'click of death' and then fail totally. I agree with Barry about assessing what your personal tolerance to risk is. No medium is 100% fail safe. Even film degrades (although very slowly).
 
STORMDAVE said:
Thanks, I have an idea how it works now. As long as I can archive it, that's fine for me.

I just checked the LTO3A drives you were talking about with Gigabit connections, they're too expensive ($8,000).
Click to expand...

check out thread http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=146406&highlight=lto4&page=2


Those QUANTUM SDLT600A and LTO-3A are tcpip based over ethernet.. great for on the go is you have a powersupply for the tape drive I s'pose.. but the data rate is really slow compared to the HBA based SAS , SCSI or FC ULTRIUM LTO4 tape drives.

I went with a host based SAS adapter on MACOSX (macpro). I use TOLISGROUP's BRU LE (soon to be replaced with PE).

single SAS Ultrium LTO4 internal ($USd1850) and external desktop Ultrium LTO4 tape drives ($usd2600) are somewhat ubiquitous on the web. I purchased mine from http://www.digitape.com. THese guys are very reliable and ship overseas and use credit card. ship with FEDEX (usa) to Hong KOng within 3 days.
hth
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Even if you are only storing the project a few months, days or even hours use two drives. Space is cheap, very cheap but if you don't have a backup you WILL at some point loose the footage.

I'm waiting for the cost of BluRay to drop so that I can back the cards up to disc for long term archiving but at the moment the cost of BluRay is comparable to XDCAM (when you take into account cost of disc, time to transfer and burn etc.).

The message is, when using hard drives, have a backup.

Weenie.
 
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