Using a DDS5 tape drive to restore from a DDS3 backup tape.

AndrewCAtWayofthebit · 05-10-2006, 10:43 AM

I have a new system with an IBM DDS5 tape drive. I want to restore data from a backup that was made by a Seagate scorpion DDS3 drive. My understanding is that this should be possible. Is this correct? DDS5 = read and write compatible with DDS3? Also, do you think the difference in manufacturers will make a difference?

The reason I ask is that I get read errors on a known working backup.

Thanks,

michaelk · 05-14-2006, 09:15 AM

Your correct i.e according to HP the DDS5 tape drive is downward compatible with read/write to both DDS4 and DDS3 tapes. There could be differences between the two drives such as head alignment that would prevent the HP from reading the Seagate written tape correctly.