jmartz wrote:
>
> Tim Jones wrote:
> >
> > Actually, the T1000 PPT works with the latest drivers
> > (http://www.estinc.com/pub/linux/) on an EPP parallel port.
>
> That link is dead. The last I checked, the only solution for the
> external parellel T1000 was to rip it out and stick it in as
> an internal floppy. But, maybe I am wrong, maybe there is a driver.
Nope - it uses the trakker module in the new ftape and works fine.
Jochen did the work on that segment of the driver. Sorry, the link
should've been http://ftp.estinc.com/pub/linux/.
> > Also, the
> > Ditto Max works, it just takes a very strong machine. I know because I
> > wrote the initial support for the Max drives.
> >
> The External version of the ditto Max works ?
Yes
> Why dose mine write to the tape fine ?
> And not give me an error till an hour into reading,
> then I get an i/o read error ?
>
> I am runing a pentium 75, that should be planty fast enough.
Survey says - BZZZZT. Sorry, if you have less than a 166 MHz system
running in console mode, you will NOT get good backups with an internal
on a DASH DX card or 133 MHz for the parallel port external.
> I have an exact identical, computer except 48meg, vs 64meg.
> I run windows 95 on the 48meg computer, which is less memory
> and windows 95 runs the drive with out any problem at all.
> Its just a relitivly slow tape drive, its not a DLT or something,
> I don't think a super computer is needed to run a Ditto Max.
> Whats the deal here, I thought linux was supperior ?
Linux is a TRUE multitasking system that requires a large IRQ processing
overhead. The DOS drivers that come with the Max software from Iomega
use a priority that is not friendly under Linux and a VERY proprietary
ECC algorithm. Iomega would not allow us to Open Source these
algorithms, so we had to make do with a generic implementation that
slows us down.
> > The fact that you can wait for the backup and that a 1.6GB drive works
> > for you is great.
>
> Thats not correct, the Ditto Max is 3.5gb uncompressed, and the 5gb
> uncompressed tapes are said to work to, and seem to work for me,
> atlest I can write to them. So, really you can get 10gb on a
> Ditto Max, with 2:1 compression, thats better then the tr-4.
In my statement, I was referring to the T1000 (see opening comments).
Yes, the Ditto Max will use the 5/10 tapes under Linux because the Max
and Max Pro are simply differentiated under Windows by a setting in the
registry that tells the non-Pro software to not use the 5/10GB tapes.
> > But, most new systems are shipping with 8GB+ of disk
> > space, so higher capacity devices are needed.
>
> Thats true, I got a 16gb drive, but it will be a long time before
> it is passed the 10gig mark, I am currently useing a 2gb Ditto,
> and I am geting almost 1gb compressed, the tape is very close to
> full, thats why I need to get the Ditto Max working ASAP.
> But, it will be some time till I would need more then 5gig uncompressed.
If you download the latest version of the ftape drivers, set the IRQ and
Port info for the EPP mode parallel port properly, the Ditto MAX will
work on the parallel port. I do this on a 133MHz notebook with great
success in console mode (we demo BRU running to the Max drive at
tradeshows this way). Also, the DASH DX and Ditto Max internal work
great as well if the settings are correct and the system is a 166 MHz+.
The main problem seen with the Max is with the poor tolerancing that
Iomega placed on drive components. We have sibling serial number Iomega
drives here that are incapable of reading one another's backups - even
under the Windows software. The first thing that Tecmar did with these
drives was to strip out the old, wide toleranced, components and replace
them with higher quality components from their TR-4 drives. The result
is that the Tecmar branded Max drives are now MUCH more reliable.
> > The OnStream drive gives
> > us the best of both worlds - low relative cost (when compared to 4MM,
> > 8MM, or DLT) and high capacity. If you weigh in a 2:1 compression (30GB
> > per tape), the price of the backup comes out to $.01 per megabyte.
> > While your TR-3 hits you with a $.20+ per megabyte cost.
> >
> But, I am not buying a new system, what am I supposed to do, buy a new
> computer, or a new tape drive, every 6 months just because a new one
> is one the market. I was damn lucky to talk the company into forking
> out the bucks for a Ditto Max, and really thats all the drive I need.
> And why buy a new drive when there is nothing wrong with the one
> that I already got ?
Not my point. If you have what you need and it's working - great.
Otherwise, an inexpensive replacement that offers expansion is what you
should look for; the OnStream drive provides this.
Please download and build the latest drivers. Read the comments in the
MCONFIG file and the modules/insert script. All should go well with both
your Max and your T1000.
Tim
