Tape Libraries Ratings

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Best Overall--4mm: Exabyte 218 4mm Tape Library

The Exabyte 218 4mm Tape Library ($11,500) ably performs
automated backup and restore functions, file migration, and
archival storage for networks. It's one of the few 4-mm
units that has dual drives, which raises its price but adds
fault tolerance and concurrent operations (i.e., it can
perform reads and writes at the same time). You can add an
optional bar-code reader ($1150) to help you keep track of
and quickly retrieve the 152 GB of DDS-2 backup in the
unit's 19-cartridge magazine library.


Weighting


Technology        10%
Implementation    40%
  Features 45%
  Usability 45%
  Value 10%
Performance       50%



RATINGS

                     
Price   Tech-  Imple-  Perfor- Features Usabi-  Overall
                            nology  menta-   mance            lity   Rating
                                     tion

Exabyte 218 4mm     $11,500   ***    ****    *****    ****    ****    ****
  Tape Library
Hewlett-Packard     $ 3,510   ***    ****    *****    ****    ****    ****
  SureStore 12000e
ADIC VLS (Virtual   $ 9,295   ***    ****    *****    ***     ****    ****
  Library System)
  4mm
Micro Design SCSI   $ 3,595   ***    ****    *****    ****    ***     ****
  Express 2000DC 
Aiwa AL-D220        $ 7,995   ***    ***     ***      ****    ***     ***
  AutoLoader
Seagate 4586 NP     $ 2,471   ***    ***     ***      ***     ****    ***
Storage Solutions   $ 9,995   ***    ***     ****     ***     ***     ***
  DATa-ray 32


Key

***** Outstanding
 **** Very Good
  *** Good
   ** Fair
    * Poor

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Best Overall--8m m: Exabyte 210 8mm Tape Library

Exabyte's 210 8mm Tape Library ($13,325) uses two Exabyte
EXB-8505 XL drives and moves 11 8-mm cartridges containing
154 GB of backup with a robotics cartridge handler. This
provides easy-to-manage automated backup for large networks
and midrange systems. The SCSI-2 tape library offers easy
front access with its stand-alone desktop cabinet, as well
as keylock security. Exabyte bundles excellent
documentation with the tape library, which earned a high
usability score because it's easy to snap the
tape-cartridge magazine in and out.


Weightings


Technology        10%
Implementation    40%
  Features 45%
  Usability 45%
  Value 10%
Performance       50%



RATINGS

                     
Price   Tech-  Imple-  Perfor- Features Usabi-  Overall
                            nology  menta-   mance            lity   Rating
                                     tion


Exabyte 210
 8mm      $13,325  ***    ****   *****     ****    ****    ****
  Tape Library
Qualstar TLS-4220    $12,500  ***    ****   *****     ***     ****    ****


Key

***** Outstanding
 **** Very Good
  *** Good
   ** Fair
    * Poor

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Best Overall--DLT: Overland Data DLT Library Xpress/LXB 2210 Base Module

DLT tape libraries are becoming a hot spot among tape
backup solutions because they provide high-speed,
high-capacity, high-reliability backup. Overland Data's
dual-drive DLT Library Xpress/LXB 2210 ($15,495) is no
exception, with its 300-GB backup capacity and fast backup
and restore times. The tape library affords wide
flexibility for customizing tape backup solutions because
it supports a wide range of network OS (NOS) platforms and
third-party backup applications.


Weightings


Technology        10%
Implementation    40%
  Features 45%
  Usability 45%
  Value 10%
Performance
       50%



RATINGS

                     
Price   Tech-  Imple-  Perfor- Features Usabi-  Overall
                            nology  menta-   mance            lity   Rating
                                     tion


Overland Data DLT    $15,495  ****   ****   *****     *****   *****   *****
 Library Xpress/
 LXB 2210 Base
 Module
ADIC Scalar 458      $50,995  ****   ****   *****     ****    ****    ****
  2000XT
Quantum DLT 2500XT   $ 4,995  ****   ****   *****     ***     ****    ****


Key

***** Outstanding
 **** Very Good
  *** Good
   ** Fair
    * Poor

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Exabyte 218 4mm Tape Library

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Exabyte 210 8mm Tape Library

photo_link (10 Kbytes)

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Overland Data DLT Library Xpress

photo_link (12 Kbytes)

Overland Data DLT Library Xpress/LXB 2210 Base Module