Tape backup on fd and tar

[Jim Van Zandt]

Eric Hansen writes: 

>My question is, if I hook up this bargain drive to my floppy
>controller, can I still use Unix-type backup utils such as "tar"?

Yes.  You will need to compile and load the "ftape" module, then write
to /dev/ftape.

I have a Colorado Memories Jumbo 250.  I was never able to reliably
write a backup tape and read it back again.  About six months ago, I
finally gave up on it and got a Zip drive instead (which works
perfectly, and offers random access, but holds only 95 MB per disk).
The new tape drives may be more reliable, and I'm sure the software
continues to improve.  I suggest you look around for successful users
before investing, though.

                       - Jim Van Zandt