My original message was:
"Hello managers!
> We currently use Polycenter's Networker Save and Restore (NSR) version
> 3.2A as our tape backup software, and we've been using it for about the
> last two years. The reason why we have avoided upgrading to a later
> version is because of the additional jukebox license that we would have
> to buy for the "sequential access loaders" on our two tape drives (TLZ6L
> and TZ885) so that the tape could be advanced if EOT was reached during
> the backup.
>
> I have put in a call to our vendors this morning to see what this
> license is going to cost us for our Alpha server 2100 and 4100 as we are
> considering upgrading to NSR version 4.4, but I think that it's kind of
> ridiculous to have to pay for this functionality that I feel should be
> included with the backup software package.
>
> What kind of problems has anyone had going from NSR version 3.2A to 4.4?
> Is there a better tape backup software out there that we should be using
> instead of NSR? Does anyone else find it annoying to have to pay extra
> for the jukebox license for the newer version of NSR for tape drives
> with magazine loaders or am I just being a tightwad?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Stephen Spalding
> Associate System Administrator
> Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance
> sspaldin_at_mem-ins.com
> 1000 West Nifong
> Columbia, MO 65203
> (573) 499-4230
> (800) 442-0590
> fax (573) 499 - 4310"
>
>
>
Sorry for the delay in summarizing, but I've been waiting until a few things
happened for us before doing so. From the responses that I got, there's not
a whole lot of love out there for NSR version 4.4 due to miscellaneous
problems with it. However, I also understand that if you use the DU advanced
file systems, your only options on tape backup software is either NSR or
vdump/vrestore; has anyone heard otherwise? Another tape backup software
that I've heard mentioned several times is Amanda which can be found at
http://www.cs.umd.edu/projects/amanda/. This is freeware software which is
nice to have, but it is also unsupported aside from an email mailing list
such as this one.
We have upgraded one of our servers to NSR version 4.4 and have been running
with it for about a week now. So far, after a few minor bumps getting it
installed, it has run okay. It will not advance the tape on our TLZ6L tape
drive with a four tape magazine which is no problem during the week but a
headache over the weekend and holidays when we're not here. I've been
thinking about coming up with a shell script to advance the tape in the tape
drive for us instead of us paying the $2,000+ fee per server for the jukebox
license, but I'm having a little difficulty figuring out how to do this. I'd
appreciate it if anyone would care to share anything that he/she has come up
with on this. I'll make an addendum summary with any responses that I get.
Thanks!
Stephen Spalding
Received on Wed May 27 1998 - 16:03:09 NZST