Replacing tape changer with USB disk drives.

[Christopher Sean Hilton]

I run FreeBSD 7.0-STABLE on a file server and until recently used a  
Tape Changer for backups. I'm considering my options for a new backup  
solution. I'm actually thinking of ditching tape and using an  
externally attached USB or Firewire disk drive.

My experimentation isn't giving me good feelings about doing this with  
FreeBSD. To start this off I installed an Adaptec USB 2.0 interface  
into my server. In the time that I've been working with it I notice  
that it periodically bogs down and that it has the potential to panic  
the kernel and cause a reboot. I recognize that this could be:

      The USB card that I'm using.

      The chipset in the USB enclosure that I'm testing with.

Has anyone gone this route? If so what was your experience?

-- Chris

Chris Hilton                       tildeChris -- http://myblog.vindaloo.com
                                         email -- chris/at/vindaloo/ 
dot/com
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                          "I'm on the outside looking inside, What do  
I see?
                                Much confusion, disillution, all  
around me."
                                          -- Ian McDonald / Peter  
Sinfield