Ultrium 2 LTO Tape Drives / Tape Drive Recommendations

[Charlie_Kangas]

My company's 40/80 gig tape drive no longer meets the need so I am looking to upgrade. We have Dell Poweredge 4600 Servers. Dell has recommended the following drive:

PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L Ultrium tape drive
SPECS:
Media Type = Ultrium 2 LTO format cartridges
Capacity = Native: 200GB Compressed: 400GB
Transfer Rate = 24MB/s; 86.4GB/hr
Interface = LVD SCSI (Dell Supported 39160 HBA or internal controller)

I don't know anything about the Ultrium 2 LTO drives, so wanted to get the forums opinion on it in regards to using it with Backup Exec 9.1. Anybody had any experiences, good or bad with these types of drives and/or this specific drive?

Anyone have any recommnedations for 160/320 or 200/400 drives that would be cheaper (this one is 1,300) and almost as good as this one? It's overkill for our needs, but I think it's always best to overspec and plan for future growth.

[priya_khire]

Hello,

In order to use it with Backup exec, first check if it is listed as Compatible in the Hardware compatibility list for BE 9.1. Here is the link:

Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers (tm) 9.x (9.0, 9.1) Hardware Compatibility List. Includes HCL information for supported drives, libraries, virtual tape devices, fibre-channel HBAs, switches, routers/bridges, and iSCSI components.

http://support.veritas.com/docs/282347

In case it is, install the latest device drivers from the link below:
http://support.veritas.com/docs/273853

In order to know more on the way devices and media can be used with Backup exec, refer to t he admin guide. Check the chapters on device and media management. Here is the link for download:

http://support.veritas.com/docs/266190

Note : If we do not receive your reply within two business days, this post would be marked �assumed answered� and would be moved to �answered questions� pool.

Regards.

[Amorphous_Sage]

Hi, you should have no issues with any LTO2 drive as they are pretty standard -- the Dells are IBM units in the servers I look after but they swap manufacturer from time to time.

Certance are probably cheapest for a plain OEM (just the drive with no software) LTO2 drive and that will be fine.

[Charlie_Kangas]

OK,

I got the drive the other day. How confusing. It says Dell on it and also says Manufacutured by Quantum with a Model number of CL1001. However, when you read the Dell documentation it says the drive will show up in Server 2003 as a "CERTANCE ULTRIUM 2 SCSI Sequential Device." I looked at the HCL for backup exec 9.1 and the driver it shows for the Dell Ultrium 2 LTO is an IBM driver. I don't see the Quantum or Certance driver listed. How confusing. Are you sure this drive will work with backupexec 9.1?