Linux-Hardware Digest #869, Volume #12 Tue, 16 May 00 12:13:08 EDT
Contents:
Re: via82cxxx_audio module loaded, but no sound (Young4ert)
Word Perfect on HP 612C - anyone using? (Leon Haverly)
[looking for ] Skymedia information (Johan De Wit)
Re: Help me install my network card? (Amanda Hammond)
Sonic Impact Sound (Ed Jamison)
Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows. (Frederick Artiss)
Re: overtemp alarm?...please help! ("Tom Brinkman")
Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows. (Dances With Crows)
Re: How to configure sound card (Michael Green~)
Re: How to configure sound card (Dances With Crows)
Re: tape drives (aflinsch)
Re: Does anyone here run Windows98 + Linux on a single SCSI hard drive?
("[EMAIL PROTECTED]")
Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows. (JEDIDIAH)
Re: Second NIC problem - Redhat 6 (bgeer)
Re: tape drives (tabascox)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Young4ert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: via82cxxx_audio module loaded, but no sound
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:19:20 -0400
Yes. Try the IP number instead if your system cannot resolve the IP of
the server, i.e.
http://216.35.177.32/sound.html
I hope this helped.
-- =
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS> Remove the "4" from e-mail address to respond.
Bernd E=DFmann wrote:
> =
> Is the URL correct? I couldn't resolve the IP of this Server. Please
> repost correct URL. Thanks.
> =
> Junk Mail wrote:
> > I have the Epox 7KXA, and found that sound required the use of the AL=
SA
> > sound driver. I even wrote a brief web page on this:
> > http://www.leewardfpga.com/sound.html
------------------------------
From: Leon Haverly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Word Perfect on HP 612C - anyone using?
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:32:55 -0400
hi,
i'm having extra spaces appearing between words in letters using the
hp612c printer and the deskjet600C in the wordperfect printer setup.
redhat 6.2
anyone seen or solved the prob ?
tia
--
bye, leon
Leon Haverly Compuwork 770/426-5509 fax 916/314-5919 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Marietta, GA 30064 home 770/422-9355 www.compuwork.com
------------------------------
From: Johan De Wit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [looking for ] Skymedia information
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 13:41:04 GMT
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hi all,
I'm trying to put a website together for the "skymedia sat cards unde a =
unix environment"
Now I'm looking for experience people have/had using these cards under=20
linux (or other unixes).
The topics I want to cover are=20
Faq
Developers Doku
User Doku=20
HW Doku
Links
Software library
and maybe more.
If someone is willing to share info are give comments please drop a mail=
=20
to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Thanks all for your time
Johan.=20
------------------------------
From: Amanda Hammond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Help me install my network card?
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:44:12 -0400
<snip>
>This is deep water for a newbie.
I'll doggy-paddle then. :)
> I recommend finding a decent Linux book
>to wade through recompiling the kernel, etc.
>
>HTH
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try to get that pile-o'-source-code
that you recommended.
Thanks,
Amanda
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 08:44:31 -0500
From: Ed Jamison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Sonic Impact Sound
Anyone have experience with Sonic Impact Sound Cards? I have a Sonic
Impact Aureal A3d Sound Card.
Thanks in advance.
Ed Jamison
------------------------------
From: Frederick Artiss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows.
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:52:03 -0400
You didn't understand the point. UNDER LINUX (xcdroast), you have a whole host of
options about what filesystem to create on the CD. There are options to use "DOS"
or "Windows with long filenames". I would think that "DOS" would create ISO9660
files 8.3 compliant which should be readable by any OS.
Stewart Honsberger wrote:
> On Mon, 08 May 2000 19:32:16 -0400, Frederick Artiss wrote:
> >There are probably Windows or DOS options to try.
>
> I'm sure he could also just have purchased a Jazz 2GiB drive, but neither
> answer will help him any.
>
> Why must people be difficult? He's looking for a Linux answer, not a "go kiss
> Gates" answer.
>
> --
> Stewart Honsberger (AKA Blackdeath) @ http://sprk.com/blackdeath/
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Remove 'thirteen' to reply privately)
> Humming along under SuSE 6.4, Linux 2.2.14
------------------------------
From: "Tom Brinkman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: overtemp alarm?...please help!
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 09:26:22 -0600
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Jon C. Hurd"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I recently built my own system, but I'm getting an odd alarm. It is an
> alternating high and low beeping tone. It usually happens after then
> system has been running for a few hours. I have rebooted my machine and
> gone to the bios to check the cpu temp. It is typically 65 degrees
> Celsius. The set cpu warning temp is 70 degrees Celsius and the
> shutdown temp is 75 degrees Celsius. My system is as follows:
The temp in bios is all but useless. The cpu can go up/down
several degrees in a few seconds. So what you see in bios is
unrelated to the temp while actually running. Get lm_sensor's
and or Khealthcare (for KDE) and you'll be able to monitor the
cpu temp while the cpu is under load.
The cpu's core should be kept under 45C under extreme load,
eg, while running a program like cpuburn for best performance.
That's <45C measured from your p3's internal diode. If a thermistor
(probe) is used, no matter how well placed, the readings need to
be kept under 35C. IOW's any thermistor will report a temp that's
at least 10C cooler than the cpu's actual core temp.
You've got to get your case temps cooler, and definitely the
cpu is too hot. You're close to the max that Intel specs. You'll
get the best cooling advice from alt.comp.hardware.overclocking
and related web pages.
I've got a p3-450 @ 608mhz, Khealthcare. At idle the cpu's
internal temp is 22 to 26C, during a kernel compile or running
cpuburn it rarely gets up to 42C
Tom Brinkman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ABIT BE6-II M/B, Pentium III-550MHz cpu, 128MB pc100 RAM, 3.5GB UDMA-33
> Fujitsu HD, 2GB WD scsi-3 HD, 4 GB Seagate scsi-2 HD, Diamond viper 16MB
> AGP video, Adaptec 2940U2W pci scsi adapter, Lucent 56k pci modem,
> Iomega zip 100, 16x cd-rom...all in a full tower case with a 250-watt
> ATX power supply. I have a cpu fan and cooler and one case fan. And
> the power supply has a fan.
>
> Any assistance is appreciated. Thank you for you time.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jon Hurd please respond to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
. Tom Brinkman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dances With Crows)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows.
Date: 16 May 2000 10:45:55 EDT
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Tue, 16 May 2000 09:52:03 -0400, Frederick Artiss
<<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> shouted forth into the ether:
>You didn't understand the point. UNDER LINUX (xcdroast), you have a whole
>host of options about what filesystem to create on the CD. There are
>options to use "DOS" or "Windows with long filenames". I would think
>that "DOS" would create ISO9660 files 8.3 compliant which should be
>readable by any OS.
Say WHAT?
mkisofs, which is the program that does the actual work of creating the
CD's filesystem, creates an ISO 9660 filesystem by default. ISO 9660 CDs
always have all their filenames in 8+3 format. mkisofs has several
options to add Joliet extensions and/or Rock Ridge extensions to the ISO
9660 filesystem. These extensions allow for long filenames (both),
symbolic links, UID/GIDs, and more than 8 levels of subdirectories (Rock
Ridge.) These extensions are supposed to be totally transparent if the
user mounts the CD using an OS or driver that doesn't understand Joliet or
Rock Ridge.
At least, that's what i've found... the Apex DVD player reads CDs full of
MP3s, but it can't handle Rock Ridge or Joliet extensions, so all the
filenames show up as 8 chars only. This device is less intelligent than a
386 with DOS 6.2, so I don't know what the problem could be with your
system.
Another thing to keep in mind is that very old CD-ROM drives may not be
able to read CD-R media, and any CD-ROM made before 1998 has no chance of
reading CD-RW media. All CD-RW-capable CD-ROM drives are supposed to have
the "MultiRead" logo on them, but I've found a few without the logo that
can read CD-RWs just fine.
--
Matt G / Dances With Crows \###| You have me mixed up with more
There is no Darkness in Eternity \##| creative ways of being stupid?
But only Light too dim for us to see \#| Beer is a vegetable. WinNT
(Unless, of course, you're working with NT)\| is the study of cool. --MegaHAL
------------------------------
From: Michael Green~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: How to configure sound card
Date: 16 May 2000 14:59:40 GMT
I heard that the Creative SB16 ViBRA16X PnP soundcard was not able to play MP3 and
WAV files. I have been able to play .wav files, but I have been having trouble
to no end trying to play MP3 and have not been successful.
Can anyone add any info to this rumor? Are there any workarounds or fixes? Is there
a way to get in touch with someone on specs, if I wanted to write a program to fix
this?
To give more deatails, I am using SUSE 6.2, kernel 2.2.10. I am using OSS 3.8.1z. I
can play
CDROM music okay, I can play .wav files, but cannot play mp3 files. Thanks. You can
email
directly if you like or you can email me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks.
Clayton Cheung <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: I am using Redhat 6.1 and Creative sound blaster, how can I get my sound
: card working? When booting, I saw 2 message related to sound said failed and
: one when it is shutting down.
: I read through the HOWTO folder and still don't get it.
: Cause I am very new so can anyone provide me a very easy to understand
: solution?(And very detail)
: Thank you.
: --
: Posted via CNET Help.com
: http://www.help.com/
--
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dances With Crows)
Subject: Re: How to configure sound card
Date: 16 May 2000 11:19:24 EDT
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[posted and mailed]
On 16 May 2000 14:59:40 GMT, Michael Green
<<8frnos$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> shouted forth into the ether:
>I heard that the Creative SB16 ViBRA16X PnP soundcard was not able to
>play MP3 and WAV files. I have been able to play .wav files, but I have
>been having trouble to no end trying to play MP3 and have not been
>successful.
This seems really odd. Do you have the mpg123 program? It's available on
http://freshmeat.net if you don't have it... I suggest getting that
program, compiling it, and using it to try and play an MP3 file. If
nothing else, it will give you detailed error messages with the following
command, and those error messages could provide insight to you/someone
here:
mpg123 -y -v somefile.mp3
>To give more deatails, I am using SUSE 6.2, kernel 2.2.10. I am using OSS
>3.8.1z. I can play CDROM music okay, I can play .wav files, but cannot
>play mp3 files.
If the soundcard can play .wavs, then it should be able to play MP3s,
since mp3 players decompress the mp3s in chunks, turning the mp3 data into
standard PCM data (like .wavs), which gets piped to the audio device. As
a last resort, you can turn an mp3 into a wav using the command:
mpg123 -w something.wav something.mp3
and then play the .wav using whatever! This is not optimal, but it should
work... HTH,
--
Matt G / Dances With Crows \###| You have me mixed up with more
There is no Darkness in Eternity \##| creative ways of being stupid?
But only Light too dim for us to see \#| Beer is a vegetable. WinNT
(Unless, of course, you're working with NT)\| is the study of cool. --MegaHAL
------------------------------
From: aflinsch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: tape drives
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 11:10:57 -0500
"David C." wrote:
>
> Ross Litscher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> >
> > I would like to get some sort of backup media to use in linux. not a
> > cd-burner. I thought tape a tape drive just because maybe over the
> > past few years they have gotten inexpensive, but i'm not sure.
> > Basically i just want to schedule periodic backups.
>
> A tape drive is your only viable alternative.
>
> Removable media (like Zip, Jaz, CD, etc) are too expensive to make a full
> backup of your system. My Linux box, for example, has about 3G of files
> on a 9G drive. Assuming a typical compression ratio of 1.5:1, this 3G
> of data will require about 2G of storage. This means:
> - 20 Zip disks (about $200 worth of media, and you'll have to
> change disks 19 times during the backup run)
> - two 1G Jaz cartridges (about $180 and one disk swap)
> - one 2G Jaz cartridge (about $110 worth of media)
> - four CD-R disks (about $6, three disk swaps, and not reusable)
> or - four CD-RW disks (about $12, and three disk swaps).
>
> Only the CD solution is really affordable, and you still have to swap
> media three times, which means you either need a CD burner that can hold
> multiple disks (they are expensive) or can't go too far from the
> computer while the backup is running.
>
<SNIP LOTS OF GOOD REASONS TO USE TAPE>
My vote would actually be to use CDRs or CDRWs for the following
reasons
Typically one does not actually need to backup the entire file system.
In a diaster situation, one can reinstall from scratch, then restore
/etc & /home & whatever was not on the original distro disks. On my
system (10G drive with about 1.5G of user data) this equates to a
weekly full backup tarballs of about 300-400M and daily incrementals
from the full backup (not from prior day) of 50-80M on average. In my
case a full set of backups for an entire week easily fits onto a
single cd. In a complete diaster situation, restoring the system to
another machine (install from distro disks, restore last weekly
backup, restore last daily backup, takes about 1 hour).
If you are going to buy a new toy, a cd burner has more uses thatn a
tape drive ;)
Another important thing to consider is system usage. A typical home
user has very different backup requirements than a large corporation.
The original query did not mention exactly what the backup needs were.
------------------------------
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: Does anyone here run Windows98 + Linux on a single SCSI hard drive?
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 16:48:05 +0100
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Sam E. Trenholme" wrote:
>
[snip]
> >
> >I installed Slackware 7.0, it recognizes my Apatec 29160N a-ok with
> >the a7xxx.s boot image, and both my CD-ROM (TEAC CD-532S) and my CD-R
> >(HP 9210).
> >
> >When I told LILO to install at the Superblock, and changed the
> >'bootable' flag to point to the Linux Native partition, I got a
> >"Missing operating system"
>
> The problem is that you are using an older LILO that will only boot if the
> kernel is on the first 1024 cylinders. Since you are using Slackware, I
> assume that you want to do things the hard way.
This is a matter of opinion. Some of us like slackware and hate all the
silly guis that just get in the way. Of course they can be uninstalled but
I prefer the simplicity of Slackware.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (JEDIDIAH)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: xcdRoast making CDs which are not readable by Windows.
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 15:51:50 GMT
On 16 May 2000 10:45:55 EDT, Dances With Crows <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>On Tue, 16 May 2000 09:52:03 -0400, Frederick Artiss
><<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> shouted forth into the ether:
>
>>You didn't understand the point. UNDER LINUX (xcdroast), you have a whole
>>host of options about what filesystem to create on the CD. There are
>>options to use "DOS" or "Windows with long filenames". I would think
>>that "DOS" would create ISO9660 files 8.3 compliant which should be
>>readable by any OS.
>
>Say WHAT?
>
>mkisofs, which is the program that does the actual work of creating the
>CD's filesystem, creates an ISO 9660 filesystem by default. ISO 9660 CDs
>always have all their filenames in 8+3 format. mkisofs has several
Even with some of the funkier 'this will break things' options
turned on, mkisofs manages to create images that Windows can
deal with.
Might this person be running into the 'lets BSOD on reading a
Rock Ridge disk' problem that certain revisions of NT4 has?
This was the first thing I encountered when I started burning
discs.
[deletia]
Without going to the trouble of mastering an ext2fs CD, I don't
see how this fellow could manage to make a disc Windows couldn't
deal with.
There are also localization differences between Win95 and Win98.
They likely aren't relevant here, but there are some CD's that are
readable on Win98 but not on Win95.
--
In what language does 'open' mean 'execute the evil contents of' |||
a document? --Les Mikesell / | \
Need sane PPP docs? Try penguin.lvcm.com.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (bgeer)
Crossposted-To:
alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: Second NIC problem - Redhat 6
Date: 16 May 2000 09:52:58 -0600
>"....." wrote:
>> I just installed redhat 6. My box has 2 NIC's both 3com 905b PCI.
>> I can't seem to get the 2nd NIC to work.
905's can be a bit quirky - be sure you have the latest 3c59x.c driver
file from:
http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers/vortex.html
--
<> Robert Geer & Donna Tomky | * <>
<> [EMAIL PROTECTED] | _o * o * o <>
<> [EMAIL PROTECTED] | -\<, * <\ </L <>
<> Salt Lake City, Utah USA | O/ O __ /__, /> <>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 11:12:59 -0500
From: tabascox <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: tape drives
Hi David and others,
Thanks for your help. Following your suggestions, I bought a
USED HP DAT DSS-2, I payd 90$ and it is a 4/8 GB DAT.
The next problem is easy:
which kind of software I should use for linux-backup ??
(which software do you use ???).
I am running my Linux box at work (.edu), and I need to store 4-5 GB,
automatically, every week-end.
I read that taper can store up to 2GB in a cassette, is this true or
the FAQ is not updated ?? In the future I will buy a DSS-4 for
our Alpha station and I should be able to store 12-16 GB..
Thanks for you effort keeping us "Microsoft outside"
Stefano
"David C." wrote:
> Ross Litscher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> >
> > I would like to get some sort of backup media to use in linux. not a
> > cd-burner. I thought tape a tape drive just because maybe over the
> > past few years they have gotten inexpensive, but i'm not sure.
> > Basically i just want to schedule periodic backups.
>
> A tape drive is your only viable alternative.
>
> Removable media (like Zip, Jaz, CD, etc) are too expensive to make a full
> backup of your system. My Linux box, for example, has about 3G of files
> on a 9G drive. Assuming a typical compression ratio of 1.5:1, this 3G
> of data will require about 2G of storage. This means:
> - 20 Zip disks (about $200 worth of media, and you'll have to
> change disks 19 times during the backup run)
> - two 1G Jaz cartridges (about $180 and one disk swap)
> - one 2G Jaz cartridge (about $110 worth of media)
> - four CD-R disks (about $6, three disk swaps, and not reusable)
> or - four CD-RW disks (about $12, and three disk swaps).
>
> Only the CD solution is really affordable, and you still have to swap
> media three times, which means you either need a CD burner that can hold
> multiple disks (they are expensive) or can't go too far from the
> computer while the backup is running.
>
> Furthermore, at 8X speeds, this backup (onto CD) will take 30 minutes to
> complete. (1 hour at 4X, 2 hours at 2X, and 4 hours at 1X). Time isn't
> usually a significant factor if everything can fit on one disc/tape, but
> it is a real factor if you must swap media periodically.
>
> Of course, if your hard drive has more than 3G of data, increase all
> these numbers proportionally.
>
> Tape, on the other hand is much cheaper. The 2G of compressed data will
> consume:
> - one 90m DDS DAT cartridge ($6)
> - One Travan TR-4 cartridge ($33)
>
> Larger tapes (when used in appropriate drives) will hold more, if you
> have more than 2G of compressed data:
> - 120m DDS-2 DAT holds 4G ($12)
> - 125m DDS-3 DAT holds 12G ($20)
> - 150m DDS-4 DAT holds 20G ($45)
> - Travan TR-5 holds 10G ($40)
>
> Some people say "I'll just back up my documents". Sure, that will make
> the backup much faster and cheaper, but you're in for a lot of work if
> you suffer a hard drive failure afterwards. You'll have to reinstall
> and reconfigure the OS and all your applications. I never want to have
> to do that on my system!
>
> > My question is, can someone recommend a reasonably priced tape drive
> > that is supported nicely?
>
> Anything SCSI-2 compliant is supported very nicely. I use a SCSI based
> DDS-2 DAT drive.
>
> DAT is probably too expensive for you, but Travan drives are fairly
> affordable.
>
> SCSI will cost more than other interfaces, but I think it's worth it.
> Other interfaces are supported as well, though. See below.
>
> > I don't have SCSI interfaces and i've heard things get pretty slow
> > with non-scsi tape drives. is this true?
>
> There are a lot of different kinds of interfaces that you can find on
> tape drives these days:
>
> - SCSI - the old standard. Works great, but you pay for it. It's the
> price of the drive where you pay the most. I wouldn't worry
> about the cost of the SCSI card if you don't have one. Tapes
> are relatively slow devices (expect between 0.25 and 0.75 MB
> per second transfer speed) compared to hard drives (which can
> transfer 30MB/s.) In other words, any SCSI card you find will
> be fast enough for a tape drive - you can get inexpensive SCSI
> cards for $30.
>
> - ATAPI - Attaches to an IDE interface. Pretty fast. Fast enough that
> it won't really be a concern. (Again, tape drives are
> relatively slow devices.) I think there is good Linux support
> for ATAPI drives.
>
> - Parallel - your parallel port is a very slow device. I don't know if
> there is Linux support for parallel-port tape drives. If
> there is any support, I'd expect it only for specific
> brands and models of drive. Only use this if you have no
> other choice.
>
> - Floppy - These used to be very popular. They're relatively slow, but
> not nearly as slow as your parallel port. The annoying thing
> about floppy-based drives is that you need to format the tape
> before using it. This is a _VERY_ time consuming procedure
> (it may take 24 hours or more!). Fortunately, you can buy
> preformatted tapes. There is Linux support for many brands
> of floppy-based tape drives.
>
> - USB - This is the newest idea. I suspect it will work very well in
> the future. Right now, however Linux's USB support is still
> under development, so I don't know if these drives will work
> yet.
>
> I'd recommend SCSI or ATAPI. I don't think you'll have any problems
> with either kind.
>
> In terms of what kind of drive to get, shop around. There are many
> different kinds of media. Given that you're on a budget, you probably
> want to look at drives based on Travan mechanisms. There are five
> versions of Travan:
> TR-1 holds 400M (uncompressed) on a cartridge
> TR-2 holds 800M
> TR-3 holds 1.6G
> TR-4 holds 4G
> TR-5 holds 10G
> A Travan drive can only write to its own kind of tape (TR-1, -2, etc)
> although it can read from any tape smaller than its own kind.
>
> There are also variations on Travan that you can find in stores which
> may or may not be compatible with the standard kinds of tapes.
>
> Travan is based on the QIC mechanism that has been a standard for
> decades. It uses a "serpentine" drive mechanism. There is one head,
> which moves vertically across the width of the tape. When you start
> writing to a tape, it writes one continuous stripe across the top of the
> tape. Then it moves down slightly, and writes another stripe across the
> tape in the opposite direction (so it doesn't have to rewind between
> stripes), and so on, until you're done or the head moves to the bottom
> position.
>
> This kind of mechanism is very reliable.
>
> The one downside to Travan is that the tapes are expensive. Part of the
> reliability of the drive mechanism is that the tape-transport mechanism
> is entirely contained within the tape cartridges. This results in media
> costs of $25-40 per tape.
>
> The other kind of drive you may consider is 4mm DAT. DAT drives come in
> several standards:
> DDS supports 60m tapes (1.3GB) and 90m tapes (2G)
> DDS-2 supports 120m tapes (4G)
> DDS-3 supports 125m tapes (12G)
> DDS-4 supports 150m tapes (20G)
> A DAT drive can both read and write to its own kind of tape (DDS, DDS-2,
> etc) and anything smaller than its own kind.
>
> DAT drives use a "helical scan" mechanism. It uses a rotating head that
> is positioned at an angle to the tape. Much like a VHS VCR mechanism.
> This allows the data to be packed very densely, and can write the entire
> tape in one pass. The downside is that it's a rather delicate mechanism
> (especially given that the head in a 4mm DAT is much smaller than a VHS
> head).
>
> Because the transport mechanism in a DAT drive is not in the tape
> cartridge, the tapes cost much less than Travan tapes. Unfortunately,
> the drives themselves cost more - sometimes MUCH more.
>
> Other kinds of drives include 8mm (which is a helical scan mechanism
> similar to the 8mm drive in camcorders), and DLT (which uses a
> serpentine mechanism). These standards can pack even more data onto
> single tapes than DAT, but the drives can get to be very expensive.
> They're probably beyond your budget. (Although you can sometimes find
> old 8mm drives at flea markets - if you can find a working one, they're
> very nice.) Like DAT, 8mm drives are often used on mainframes and
> workstations.
>
> > what does it take to get a scsi interface and is it worth it if i'd
> > only be using it for a tape drive?
>
> It is definitely worth getting. I wouldn't get a high-performing card
> for a tape drive (since the drive is too slow to really take advantage
> of the card anyway), and slower cards are pretty inexpensive.
>
> Just keep in mind that a SCSI-based drives (of all kinds, not just tape)
> tend to cost more than their ATAPI, equivalent drives. On the other
> hand, many of your high-end drives aren't manufactured with any other
> kind of interface.
>
> > is there something like a scsi pci card? sorry, but i know nothing
> > about scsi. Just glanced at the hardware howto and it seems like scsi
> > might be the way to go with tape drives.
>
> You can get SCSI cards for all kinds of busses. PCI-based ones will
> probably be easier to set up and configure than ISA-based ones. Also,
> PCI-based SCSI cards will be able to reach SCSI's theoretical top
> speeds. (Top speeds are 10M bytes/s for fast-SCSI, 20M for fast-wide-
> or Ultra-SCSI, 40M for Ultra-Wide, 80M for Ultra2, and 160M for
> Ultra3). The ISA bus has a theoretical top speed of 8M bytes/s, and
> usually doesn't achieve better than 5MB/s.
>
> I run my DDS-2 DAT drive off of an ISA-based Adaptec 1542B card. I
> would not recommend this card, since it is ISA based and can be a bit
> tricky to install and configure. But they can be gotten for under $10
> at computer flea markets everywhere, which you may find attractive.
>
> > I'll consider any other non-tape drive recommendations but probably
> > not zip/superdisks.
>
> IMO, there is no other alternative that is both convenient and cost
> effective.
>
> Zips, superdisks and CDs are great for transporting files. CDs are
> great for archiving data. But IMO, only tape is really suitable for
> backing up hard drives.
>
> > well, thanks for any info you can share or other references you can
> > point me to.
>
> Given that you said you are on a budget, I'd recommend an ATAPI Travan
> drive (preferably TR-5, but I'd also consider TR-4.) You can get these
> in a lot of computer stores as well as mail-order.
>
> -- David
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