Query: SDLT suitability

[Mike Fisher_3]

Hello experts

We have a client with very
little money to spend
They've asked us to find a solution to their backup needs
We aim to go out to the "second user" market, but first...

CURRENT SETUP:
HP SureStore 2/20 library
DLT drives installed
L2000 WITH HP-UX 11.11

REQUIREMENT:
CHEAP SDLT library like a 2/20
Doesn't have to be HP Brand, but would be nice if it was
Not worried about support
Don't want to go Ultrium etc because they want to read/write their existing DL tapes

MY QUESTIONS:
Did HP do an SDLT library?
What's the oldest suitable library - any brand?
[A fairly current product such as the MSL5026SL 2/26 would be too expensive]

Thank you !
Mike

[Vincent Fleming]

Pre-merger HP did not have SDLT library solution. However, you can try to get a used pre-merger Compaq library. (ie: a used MSL)

Good luck,

Vince

[Eugeny Brychkov]

You will not be able to use DLT tapes with SDLT drives, see http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/products/media/tapebackup_media/superdlt/index.html and http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/products/media/tapebackup_media/tape_dlt/index.html . Cartridges are different.
I think you wanted to say DLT1, not SDLT. So please note that you will not be able to use previously DLT (4000, 7000, 8000) used tapes in DLT1 drives, you'll need new tapes
Eugeny

[Leif Halvarsson_2 · Accepted solution]

Hi,
The HP MSL librarys is in fact Overland librarys. Perhaps you can get a better price if you buy it as Overland.
http://www.overlandstorage.com/products.nsf/files/PowerLoader

Look at the PowerLoader library with 1 or two drives and 15 slots, perhaps this is enough.

About LTO or SDLT, you should notice that SDLT drives only can read DLT media, not write. Not very useful. Perhaps it is better to keep the old library for legacy media (or buy a standalone DLT) and go for LTO.

[Marino Meloni_1]

hi,

why not to move to a mixed configuration, replacing one DLT with a LTO as a first step, then in the future replacing also the second drive.
In this case you will be able to migrate data from one format to the other as you will have both drive in the library.
marino

[Mike Fisher_3]

This is all very interesting

I'm beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel
[& it ain't a train]

Keep 'em coming & I'll award the bunnies tomorrow

Regards
Mike