Here are my 2 cents.

Both Magstar and DLT are good media, but, in my opinion, they serve =
different
purposes.  The DLT is track for track the cheapest source of data =
storage around.
However you get what you pay for.  This is where performance comes in.  =
If you
have to load up and scan the whole tape looking for a single file, then =
magstar has
DLT beat hands down.  Think how long it would take to find a file on a =
DLT if it was
located at the end of the tape?  I know I have never waited more that a =
minute for
my 3590 to find and restore a small file.  Also you have to look at =
queue up time.  A
magstar tape can be loaded and scanning in few seconds (especially a =
3570).  The
magstar media is suppose to last longer too, b/c the tape actually =
floats on a layer of
air and never really touched the heads.  You can spin the tape more =
often w/ less
wear.

So what it comes down to in my meager opinion is if you are looking for =
basic cold
storage for disaster situations, then DLT will work fine  But if you are =
in a active
restore environment (we restore archive data and use HSM all the time) =
then you
have to go with the slicker magstar media.

cheers, Ben

PS-  watch for the DLT-10000  it is comming out soon.

"GSHEPPAR@CUUKMAIL" wrote:

> To:         I1017261@IBMMAIL   IBMMAIL -I1017261 *ibmmail.I1017261
> Hi Y'all,
>
> Can someone please explain why MagStar(3570) is a premium tape =
technology. Why
> should I use it over DLT ? I'm not after technical reasons but real =
business
> benefits of this technology.
>
> Thanks.