We have most of our data stored on DAT or DLT. I've been able to restore (recently)
data from 1991 to our machine, although some conversion to later versions of soft-
ware has been necessary. The restores have worked fine and the media is okay.
Some of the DAT tapes were copies of data on old 2400 ft. reel tapes and they were
readable and usable.

Cynthia Bridges-Fowler
MIS Operations Analyst
IMC Salt, Inc., a division of IMC Global
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>>> Gary Nolan <[log in to unmask]> 07/14/00 09:15AM >>>
Hi Folks,

They told me I was going to be finished here by the end of June, but they
keep extending the deadline, so now the possible end is July 28?????. So now
this puts me here for the final close down and possible transfer to new
owners. Now we have to save all info offsite so it can be accessed in the
future by someone else, we do not know who, were, when or how.

What solutions does anybody have for long term storage? How long is a DAT
tape good for? I was think of saving one of the important data bases by
transferring it to  Access and saving on a CD, so how long is a CD good for?
The best part is some of this info needs to be accessible for 25 years (in
the rail manufacturing you have to warranty the product for 7 years and
provide certain info for 25 years),  that is a long time in computer years.

I do not know how many of you have been through a closure of a business, it
is hell, we here have been joking that this is our version of the US TV show
Survivor. But in our case we started off with 60 salary people cut 38 the
first week and as work finishes up in each area cut more. We are now down to
about 15 and are betting on who goes next. The best part is you just cannot
quit you forfeit any severance and 15 months severance is a little bit of
money to throw away.

TIA for the help

Gary Nolan
Sydney Steel Corporation (for this week anyway)