> -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Clark Morris > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 8:53 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: OEM software electronic download report card > > > On 12 May 2007 13:44:55 -0700, in bit.listserv.ibm-main you wrote: > > >Mark Zelden wrote: > >[...] > >> As far as more options... I know you use Sun/STK like we do... I > >> think I heard VTCS 6.2 will have some help there. > > > >VTCS 6.2 supports 4GB VTVs. Before compression. > >AFAIK, new IBM VTS supports even 12GB VTVs. > The 3 year old computer this is being typed on has 80 GB. My > wife's one year old laptop, has 100 GB and the small external > drive on top of the desktop has 320 GB. Should I be > impressed with a 12 GB VTV that would require multiple > volumes to back up any of the aforementioned drives if full? > Let's see, 25+ volumes for the external drive that is not > much bigger than the 3480 cartridge I have somewhere in my room.
I don't know the characteristics of all the devices / media concerned. But I am wondering about the "shelf life" of a standard desktop class hard drive and a 3592J cartridge (we use 3592J carts for all off-site storage). I am concerned on both sides of the question. Would the hard drive be usable (hardware-wise) after 5 years sitting in a vault? Would the "PCs" which are around in 5 years still be able to read the data on the desktop class hard drive? Will the current hardware be able to connect to this "ancient" device? Will the software able to access the filesystem? Will there be software that can read the file? (i.e. what is the file format and will it still be readable by software in 5 years)? Should the drive contain software which can read the data, thus only leaving the question of being able to access the device itself (hardware and filesystem)? Should the drive contain an bootable OS which can run the software which can read the data? But will a PC in 5 years be able to boot that OS? Many questions, no answers from me. And the same question apply to data written on a 3592J cart. Of course, I believe in "refreshing" data every time a hardware change occurs. I.e. read the old media and write to new media, dispose of the old media. But I've been in shops which put out "10 year" tapes which they then never access again unless there is a problem. Makes me wonder. -- John McKown Senior Systems Programmer HealthMarkets Keeping the Promise of Affordable Coverage Administrative Services Group Information Technology This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and its content is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this transmission, or taking any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
