David,

We have two copy stgpools, one on-site and one off-site. We
use K tapes for the primary and on-site copy stgpool and J tapes for the
off-site.
We have found the K tapes require much more careful handling - dropping one
on it's edge will almost certainly cause the tape to come into contact
with the inside edge of the cartridge case - this being due to reel of tape
sitting much closer to the edge because there is twice as much of it in a
K tape as a J tape.
The J tapes are comparatively much more robust and able to stand the
carriage to the off-site storage.

Regards
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian Smith
Oxford University Computing Services, Oxford, UK.
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~>Mime-Version: 1.0
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~>Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 10:30:01 -0500
~>From: David E Ehresman <deehre01 AT LOUISVILLE DOT EDU>
~>Subject: J vs K 3590 Tapes
~>To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
~>X-Oxmail-Spam-Status: score=1.0 tests=FROM_ENDS_IN_NUMS
~>X-Oxmail-Spam-Level:
~>
~>We are backing up to 3590 tapes.  We currently use K (extended length)
~>tapes for onsite tape storage pool and J (standard length) tapes for
~>offsite copy storage pool.
~>
~>We will soon start replacing some of our older J tapes and are trying
~>to decide whether to replace them with Js or Ks.  Has anyone weighed the
~>pros and cons of using Js vs Ks for offsite tapes.  Which did you decide
~>on and why?
~>
~>David Ehresman
~>University of Louisville