Re: When to replace LTO4 tapes

[Jeff Crosby <jlcrosby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I look at these things all the time.

My question, however, is with the tapes.  I really want an idea on how long
the tapes should last.


On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 10:31 AM, Norm Dennis <nhdennis@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> You're tempting fate :-)
>
> When was the last time you did a review of your backup processes?
> Has there been much growth in the volume of data you backup?
> Has there been any business changes that may affect your processes?
> Has there been any technological advances that may benefit the business?
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Norm Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Jeff Crosby
> Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 9:05 PM
> To: PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users
> Subject: [PCTECH] When to replace LTO4 tapes
>
> Wanted to pick everyone's brain.
>
> Our Windows servers get backed up to an HP LTO4 SCSI tape drive.  Last
> night
> it failed with the software saying the tape had media errors and don't you
> ever ever ever use that tape again.  I put a new tape into service and am
> running that backup now.
>
> There are 10 LTO4 tapes for this backup.  Each has used once every other
> week for approximately 4 years now.  I can replace them at $25 apiece.
>  Should I?  Should these tapes last longer?  How do I know in a Windows
> environment that it's time to replace a tape?  If it's time, I may as well
> do all 10 at once.
>
> Our System i tapes have been in use longer than 4 years without issue.  But
> I get a report every Friday morning on the System i that will tell me tape
> errors.  There never are any, so I keep using the same tapes.
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Jeff Crosby
> VP Information Systems
> UniPro FoodService/Dilgard
> P.O. Box 13369
> Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
> 260-422-7531
> www.dilgardfoods.com
>
> The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the opinion of my
> company.  Unless I say so.
> --
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