RE: Data Archive

Ivan T. Shaw (ishaw@po-box.mcgill.ca)
Thu, 29 May 1997 17:55:52 -0400

At 12:49 PM 5/29/97 +1000, you wrote blabbed this reply to Haywood Pyle:
>>I know this subject was discussed some time ago but I need to know some
>>more information. We are interested in purchasing a data archive system
>>that will serve our entire lab.
[snip!]
>My two cents worth on data archiving are as follows:
>We have are in a similar position in that we have a Windows NT network and
>a Macintosh attached to our BD cytometer. The Cytometer has a Jaz drive for
>storing data during acquisition and this data is later archived to CD-R.
[snip!]

My impression was that Haywood Pyle was looking for a long-term storage
solution which was platform-independent.

I also vote in favor of CDR, so long as two copies are made of the data
(the media can eventually fail). I would also suggest that disks be written
as pure ISO9660 format so that the discs can be read in any platform
supporting a CDROM (you never know who's writing what analysis software for
what platform).

I know that someone's going to suggest CD-RW but keep in mind that apart
from the CD-RW drive itself, only *one* CDROM manufacturer/model can read
this media. More will follow, but it will mean retrofitting existing machines.

>We are using software called *Gear* and have been happy with it - the
>documentation (in PDF format) is fair-good. It would be interesting to
>hear what other members of the list use :)

Our flow facility has no long-term storage capability but I've been
archiving personal data via Adaptec's Easy CD Pro. I would suspect that
most PC-based labs use either this package, Adaptec's CD Creator, Gear
(like yours) or WinOnCD. Mac labs would likely have Adaptec's (formerly
Astarte's) Toast.

- ivan

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Ivan T. Shaw | Tel: (514) 398-3002
Montreal Neurological Institute | FAX: (514) 398-8540
3801 University | e-mail: ishaw@po-box.mcgill.ca
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