Need to know DDS drive used to write backup tapes

[Antonio Carlini]

>    If the cartridges (note correct USian spelling) have a tape length 

Is there a non Usian spelling?

> printed on them that will tell you whether they're 1GB, 2GB, 
> etc.  Most 
> DDS drives will read, if not write, older formats.  IOW a DDS3 drive 
> should rad a DDS1 tape.

Indeed. The thing not to do is put a DDS3 (or DDS2) DAT tape in
a DDS1 drive. At least not if the drive is a TLZ04 since you 
will "significantly" degrade the head's lifetime. I never
found out how significant "significant" is. The problem is
that tapes longer than 60m were designed to be used on drives
that wrapped them around the heads at a different angle, so
the tapes are different. The difference is enough to wear
the TLZ04 head much more than is acceptable. I do not know
whether dropping a 120m tape (DDS3) into a TLZ06 (DDS2 drive)
will have similar effects.

So be careful out there!

Antonio

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Antonio Carlini arcarlini at iee.org