The price of barcode labels is relative to the level of aggravation you are
willing to endure.  Their price includes some profit for them, but also the
knowledge that the labels will fit your tapes.

On the other hand, there are all sorts of software out there to generate
barcode labels, you just have to factor in the cost of your time to set the
software up and get it to work the way you want it to.  Depending on your
budget, your cost of time, and whether you just want to eat fish, or want
learn how to catch fish for a lifetime; that will determine which way you
go.

Don

Donald L. (Don) Ritchey
E-mail:  Donald.Ritchey AT exeloncorp DOT com

-----Original Message-----
From: Fran Fabrizio [mailto:fran AT cis.uab DOT edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 10:52 AM
To: donald.ritchey AT exeloncorp DOT com
Cc: amanda-users AT amanda DOT org
Subject: RE: Barcode readers: how important?


On Tue, 2003-11-25 at 10:31, donald.ritchey AT exeloncorp DOT com wrote:
> How many tapes do you manage?  If the number is under 50 to 100 (depending

Right now, it's not likely to exceed 20-25.  It's a system we hope to
"grow into". :-)

> But, if you do the sensible thing, sending some subset of your tapes
offsite
> for disaster recovery purposes, then the barcodes become necessary to
ensure
> that you and/or Amanda can then reload the library without having to
reread
> every tape on reinsertion into the library.  

This is definitely in our plans - our administrative person has already
been tasked with securing an offsite lockbox for the purpose.  This is a
good enough reason to have the barcode reader for me.

Next question:  They want $250 for 300 barcode labels.  That seems
excessive.  Can these be made/obtained more reasonably?

Thanks,
Fran  



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