Answers to frequently asked questions for comp.arch.storage: Part 1 of 2

URL: http://alumni.caltech.edu/~rdv/comp-arch-storage/FAQ-1.html

Note: this page has no official connection to Caltech other than the fact that I am an alumnus.

Keywords: computer mass storage, frequently asked questions, disk, tape, RAID, file systems, hierarchical storage management (HSM)

You should maintain pointers to the index page, rather than the individual nodes, since the contents of those may change over time.

Information on disk, tape, MO, RAID and SSD can be found in part 1 of the FAQ. Part 2 covers file systems, hierarchical storage management, backup software, robotics, benchmarking, MTBF and miscellaneous topics.

• Part 2 of the FAQ
• Part 1 (ASCII) of the FAQ
• Part 2 (ASCII) of the FAQ
• Japanese Version of Part 1 of the FAQ
• Japanese Version of Part 2 of the FAQ
• My Home Page

$Header: /nfs/yelo/rdv/comp-arch-storage/faq/RCS/FAQ-1.draft,v 1.38 98/01/16 18:19:48 rdv Exp $

        Many items merely identified, not described.

        Last updated: 1997/9/18

        Most recent changes:

		THIC (Tape Head Interface Committee)
		BayDel
		TeraStor
		HD Forum @ Blue Planet
		Unitree
		ADIC

        comp.arch.storage:
                Storage system issues, both software and hardware

Table of Contents

• Editor's Note
• Disclaimer
• Original Editor's notes
• Truly Frequently Asked Questions
• Tape
  • Cartridge vs Cassette
  • Longitudinal
  • Serpentine
  • Helical Scan
  • Tape Media Lifetimes (Longevity) {Brief}
  • 9-track {brief}
  • 3480/3490/3490E {brief}
    • New IBM Tape (NTP) 3590
  • Magstar Coyote (IBM 3570) {Brief, New}
  • QIC {brief}
    • Travan
      • TapeStor {brief,new}
  • 4mm {brief}
  • 8mm {brief}
    • Mammoth (EXB-8900) {Brief}
    • Sony SDV-300 {New}
  • DLT {full}
    • DLT7000 {Brief}
    • DLT4000
    • DLT2700 (from DEC)
    • DLT2000 (from DEC (now Quantum))
  • MountainGate (was Metrum) VHS {brief}
  • VCR VHS
  • 19MM (D1 and D2) {Brief}
  • ID-1
    • DATATAPE
    • Sony
  • D-2
  • StorageTek Helical {Brief}
  • Optical
  • D-6 {brief}
  • D-3 {brief}
  • Sony DTF {Brief}
    • GY-2120 {New}
  • DATATAPE DTR-48 {Brief}
• Disk
  • CAV, ZCAV and CLV
  • Optical {Brief}
    • CD-ROM
      • DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) (Next-Generation CD) {New}
      • GIANT CD-ROMS {New}
    • WORM {brief}
      • Sony {brief}
    • Erasable
      • Magneto-Optical Physics
      • Sony MiniDisc {Brief,New}
      • Magneto-optical, 5.25-inch
      • Magneto-optical ZCAV, 5.25-inch
      • HP Corsair {Brief}
      • Maxoptix T4-1300
      • Pinnacle Micro {New}
      • Asaca HSMO {Brief}
      • Other Multi-beam MO {None}
      • 3.5-inch MO {Brief}
        • Sony {Brief}
      • Nikon 12-inch MO {Brief}
      • Sony 12-inch MO {Brief}
      • NEC 12-inch MO {Brief}
    • Electron-Trapping {None}
    • Dual Function {Brief}
      • Panasonic/Toray {Brief}
      • IBM {None}
  • Magnetic
    • 5.25-inch
      • Seagate
    • 3.5-inch
      • IBM
    • Hard Disk Manufacturers {Brief}
    • Bernouli {None}
    • Floptical {Brief}
    • PC Removables {Brief}
      • SyQuest EZ135 {Brief}
      • Iomega Zip {Brief}
      • Iomega Jaz {Brief}
      • SyQuest Removable Cartridge hard Drives
      • Kalok removable cartridge hard drives
    • Mainframe {Brief}
  • Other
• RAID {Full}
  • RAID Levels
  • RAID-6
  • John O'Brien and RAID-7
  • RAID Papers
  • R-Squared {Brief}
  • Sun {Brief}
  • Clariion {Brief}
  • BayDel {Brief, New}
  • the RAIDbook {Brief}
  • Software Striping {Brief}
  • RAID Vendors
• Solid State Disk (SSD) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Other Devices
  • Holographic Storage Products {Brief,New}
  • TeraStor {Brief, New}
• RAIT (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Tape)
  • DataVast (was VastNSS)
• RAOT (Redundant Arrays of Other Things :-)

email me at rdv@isi.edu

Copyright 1996 Rod Van Meter