🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1468@atari.UUCP> apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt) writes:
>In article <4002@druwy.ATT.COM> dlm@druwy.ATT.COM (Dan Moore) writes:
>> [...] If
>> you use a good VCR with high quality tapes and some sort of ECC (Error
>> Correcting Code) they are acceptable.  I'd still create 2 different
>> backup tapes every time I backed up (assuming the data is reasonably
>> important).
>
>I brought up a supermicro system in 1980 or so (I forget the
>manufacturer and year) from a VCR backup of the root pack, and learned a
>thing or two: the standard technique (at the time, at least) was to
>write each block several times -- up to ten -- before going on to the
>next block.  This makes the backup slower than the nominal kbyte/sec
>rate, but you figure with the ECC that at least ONE of the ten block
>images will decode with no uncorrectable errors. 
>
The system you are talking about was probably an Alpha Microsystems
AM-1000.  It was a 68000 multi-user system with a VCR backup built in.
I had one of these for several years (I sold it last year).  I would
imagine that VCR backup technology has improved somewhat; the AM-1000
took about 20 Minutes to backup 10 Megabytes - not blazing fast.
Even so, I found it extremely reliable.  I never once had a problem
backing up or restoring files from tape.  This was also using a vintage
1970's VCR.  It appeared that it wrote 10 copies of each block on one
video frame, so you got a minimum of 10 copies on the tape.  If the 
disk drive was slow, the VCR backup hardware would just keep writing the
same block (10 times/frame) on successive video frames.  This huge amount
of redundancy pretty much assured a clean copy, albiet slow writing.

I found that the big disadvantage to VCR backup was when it came time
to restore files.  If I needed to load a file that was one hour into
the tape, I either had to let it run for an hour or use a search feature
where I manually fast-forwarded the VCR until I got close to the
file I wanted.  Does anyone know if the VCR backup products for the Atari
let you do this?

I think a VCR backup system for the Atari is a good idea.  It has the
advantage of large data storage (no more 57 floppy backups) and very
inexpensive media.  Most Atari owners probably already own a VCR,
although many people would probably end up buying one for the computer
instead of hauling the VCR in from the living room.

--
John Waycott		mcdphx!ellymae!waycott