Backup compression to tape

[Lars Forslin]

I have a Seagate tape drive for Travan media. The media is supposed to
handle 20 GB with compression. I can't find out how to enable compression in
the Win XP backup utility. Is this supposed to happen automatically? Or an I
stuck with only 10 GB on each cartridge?

Regards,

--
Lars Forslin

http://www.connect.to/forslin

"Doing time on earth"

**************************

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

I have a Seagate tape drive for Travan media. The media is supposed to
handle 20 GB with compression. I can't find out how to enable compression in
the Win XP backup utility. Is this supposed to happen automatically? Or an I
stuck with only 10 GB on each cartridge?

If you select manually the items to backup, you will, I believe, get
compression automatically - at least I always have. If you use the
backup wizard, when you get to the 'completing backup wizard' page, hit
the advanced button and ask for hardware compression. Why there is no
compression box to tick on the manual 'options' is a mystery.

Note: the chances of achieving 2:1 compression are slim-to-none,
although you might get 1.5:1 or 1.6:1.

 

[David Candy]

If you have tape that supports backup it should be settable in Tools
Options.. That's what help says. under the /hc command line parameter.

 

[Lars Forslin]

Unfortunately, there is no such setting. I think the documentation is a bit
poor regarding this. Does one have to get third party software to enable
compression? This is an important issue that affects every serious user, so
I think MS should make things a little clearer here.

I read that in the command interface (don't know what it's called in
English) there is this command /hcn. But does that work? One wonders since
there is nothing to check in the GUI.

Lars

 

[Lars Forslin]

Thanks, that comforts me a bit. I can see when I follow the wizard that
compression is enabled. However, in the advanced tab there is no such
setting, it's just the kind of backup you want to make.

Regards,

Lars

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Thanks, that comforts me a bit. I can see when I follow the wizard that
compression is enabled. However, in the advanced tab there is no such
setting, it's just the kind of backup you want to make.

<snip>

Like I said :

Just do the backup .. you should see the compression take place. btw,
don't try to 'append' a backup set to a previously written tape - I
can't figure out whether this flat doesn't work, or just takes forever,
but (trust me) you really don't want to do it.