Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc
Archive-name: tapedrive-faq
Last-modified: 1/14/1995
This a document which answers several questions about tape drives.
Information about SCSI drives is not included here since you can find all you
want to know at the comp.periphs.scsi FAQ.
My thanks to all who mailed me with suggestions and information.
Please feel free to correct/add anything, preferably by email.
Yaron
[1] QIC40/80
[1-1] What is QIC80, QIC40?
[1-2] Are those 250MB tape really 250MB?
[1-3] I have two floppies. Can I add a tape drive?
[1-4] How fast is the tape? Will a dedicated controller speed it?
[1-5] Do I need a parallel interface tape?
[1-6] Review of several backup software.
[1-7] Are Colorado/Conner/Archive/... compatible with each other?
[1-8] How does the drive/software know how long is the tape?
[2] QIC11,24,120,150,320,525,1000,2GB,10GB
[2-1] What are all those QIC?
[2-2] R/W Compatibility chart for QIC
[9] Names and Addresses
[9-1] QIC
[9-2] Archive=Maynard
[9-3] Colorado Memory Systems
[9-4] Iomega
[9-5] Irwin
[9-6] Mountain
[9-7] Wangtek
Subject: [1-1] What is QIC80, QIC40?
QIC stands for Quarter-Inch Cartridge. QIC80 is the standard for 80MB tapes,
QIC40 for 40MB tapes. Both standard allows for extended length cassettes of
300ft which gives 120MB and 60MB respectively.
Subject: [1-2] Are those 250MB tape really 250MB?
No. It is 120MB. All makers of tape drives now state the *compressed*
capacity of the drives assuming 2:1 compression (1.4:1 more typical):
stated real
Name capacity capacity standard tape length # tracks
DC2000 80MB 40MB QIC40 200ft (normal) 15
DC2060 120MB 60MB QIC40 300ft (extended) 15
DC2080 160MB 80MB QIC80 200ft 28
DC2120 250MB 120MB QIC80 300ft 28
DC???? 340MB 170MB QIC80 425ft (extra ext.) 28
For all the recording density is 12500 ftpi; max tape speed is 90 ips.
Subject: [1-3] I have two floppies. Can I add a tape drive?
It depends. On all modern tape drives: yes. Some old tape drives cannot do
this (my old Jumbo). If you have one of this you will have to buy either a
4-floppy controller or a dedicated tape controller.
Subject: [1-4] How fast is the tape? Will a dedicated controller speed it?
The tape connected through a floppy interface is limited to the floppy speed.
On ATs 500Kbit/S. On old XT 250Kbit/S. With card support for 2.88MB floopy,
1Mbit/S. Many of the newer cards support this transfer rate.
If the card operate at 500Kbit/S, a dedicated controller card will speed up
the tape by two. In many cases, those cards do hardware compression, helping
even more.
Subject: [1-5] Do I need a parallel interface tape?
This tape is used usually for backing up several computers. It needs extrenal
power supply. It is more expensive than an internal drive.
Subject: [1-6] Review of several backup software.
JUMBO TAPE
----------
Small. Not many features but does the work. Seems to work only with
colorados drives. Latest version is 4.03. Can be found by archie jumbo403.zip.
From "Stan Faullin":
Useful DOS program. Has very basic Backup (total, modified, selected),
Restore, Compare, Erase and Format functions. Some versions come with a
Windows scheduler, but it will NOT run in the background in a DOS window. The
compression scheme used in some previous versions is NOT compatible with their
latest release, so you may not be able to read backups made with version 3.x
with version 4.x. Separate versions of this software are available for their
internal model or the parallel port model.
Windows:
The Lite version supports both parallel port versions and internal versions.
The only Windows backup program for a parallel port device, but only supports
the Colorado Trakker unit. Can run in the background. Can be found by archie,
cbwlite.exe.
From "gregb@oclflt.den.mmc.com (gregb)":
CMS Trakker 250 is supplied with a "generic" software package:
it performs backup, restore, selective backup & restore, compression,
compare. It works with DOS and Windows 3.1.
For an additional $49.95 ($39?) you can purchase their fancier version.
Central-Point backup
--------------------
Big. Many many features. Confusing directory selections. Works with
most drives.
Conner Basic 1.0
----------------
From "Moshe Braner braner@emba.uvm.edu":
useless -- only backs up entire drive.
Conner Basic 1.1
----------------
From: pjk@netcom.com (Phil Koenig)
If you got the low-power backup software bundled in -- Conner Backup
Basics -- and it is V1.0, you are entitled to a free upgrade from Conner.
The new version has an only slightly better addendum to the manual, but
the software now is about as flexible as most users would want -- partial
backup and restore by directory or file, etc. It has worked well for us,
and I recommend that you ask for your copy.
From: dmiller@im.lcs.mit.edu (Dick and Jill Miller)
I emphasize that v1.1 of Conner Backup Basics fixes many of the prior
problems, although its prompts, on-line help and printed documentation
still deserve improvement.
Conner Exec
-----------
From "Moshe Braner braner@emba.uvm.edu":
Very large (2.5 megs for DOS version, windows version even larger).
Did not work with my parallel-port Conner 250meg QIC-80 drive.
QICstream==Conner "Simply Safe Software Backup Basics version 3.0P"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Small and works fine. Works with parallel port Conner drive.
Symantec Norton Backup
----------------------
Is included with Norton Desktop for Windows, which is a much better deal than
purchasing Norton Backup for Windows alone.
Symantec Norton Backup for Windows
----------------------------------
GNU-Tar
-------
Can be used with a proper driver??
Subject: [1-7] Are Colorado/Conner/Archive/... compatible with each other?
If you use the same software: Yes. If you want to use different software,
turn compression off. Compression is done in software on those drives and
not compatible.
Subject: [1-8] How does the drive/software know how long is the tape?
The magnetic tape has holes in it. Inside the cassette enclousre there is
a small mirror. The drive sends an IR beam through it. Near the end of tape
the drive recieves it. If the IR reciever is dusted, the drive may 'reel off'
the cassette.
Subject: [2-1] What are all those QIC?
(Thanks to Karl-Peter Huestegge and Jan Christiaan van Winkel)
QIC-11 is not an Industry Standard and there exist some incompatible
versions.
Standard Capacity Tracks Speed Rec-density Flux-Trans Cartridges
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
QIC-11 15/30MB (300ft) 4/9 90ips
20/40MB (450ft) 4/9 90ips 6400ftpi DC300XL
10000ftpi DC300XLP
27/60MB (600ft) 4/9 90ips 10000ftpi DC600A
QIC-24 45MB (450ft/137m) 9 90ips 8000bpi 10000ftpi
55MB (555ft/169m) 9 90ips 8000bpi 10000ftpi
60MB (600ft/183m) 9 90ips 8000bpi 10000ftpi DC600A
QIC-120 125MB (600ft/183m) 15 72ips 10000bpi 12500ftpi DC600A
QIC-150 155MB (600ft/183m) 18 72ips 10000bpi 12500ftpi DC600XTD
DC6150
QIC-150 250MB (1000ft/305m) 18 72ips 10000bpi 12500ftpi
QIC-320 320MB (600ft/183m) 26 72ips 16000bpi 20000ftpi DC6320
QIC-525 525MB (1000ft/305m) 26 72ips 16000bpi 20000ftpi DC6525
* QIC-1000 1000MB (760ft)
* QIC-2GB
* QIC-10GB
Subject: [2-2] R/W Compatibility chart for QIC
(The left column should be read: "Tape drives designed for the QIC-???
standard *should* be able to read/write the following Tape formats:".)
TAPE-DRIVES | Tape - Formats |
designed for: | QIC-11 | QIC-24 | QIC-120 | QIC-150 | QIC-320 | QIC-525 |
----------------|--------|--------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
QIC-11 | R W | | | | | |
QIC-24 | R W | R W | R | | | |
QIC-120 | R - | R - | R W | R | | |
QIC-150 | R - | R - | R W | R W | | |
QIC-320 | R - | R - | R W | R W | R W | ? ? |
QIC-525 | R | R | R W | R W | R W | R W |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[9-1] QIC
Quarter-Inch Cartridge Drive Standards, Inc.
311 East Carrillo Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101
Telephone (805) 963-3853
Fax (805) 962-1541
[9-2] Archive=Maynard
Costumer support, from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm EST
800-227-6296
407-263-3500
BBS 407-263-3502 (300/1200/2400)
407-263-3662 (9600/14400)
[9-3] Colorado Memory Systems
Voicemail support 303 635-1500
BBS 303 635-0650
FAXback service 800 368-9673
Tech Support 303 635-1501
Phone (United Kingdom) 44-344-773 100
FAX (United Kingdom) 44-344-763 637
BBS (United Kingdom) 44-344-763 216
These numbers may be uncorrect:
Product Information/Purchases . 800-845-7905
DOS Computers: Hardware and
Software questions ............ 800-845-7906
UNIX/XENIX Computers:
Hardware/Software questions ... 800-845-7908
Tech Support .................. 800-432-5858
[9-4] Iomega
Tech Support 800-456-5522
[9-5] Irwin
Tech Support 800-412-1879
[9-6] Mountain
General 800-458-0300
Tech Support 408-438-7897
BBS 408-438-2665
[9-7] Wangtek
Voice 805-583-5255
Fax 805-582-8249
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To correct/add/argue, Please email:
yak@techunix.technion.ac.il