Re: 2nd try, Re: tape robot

[Steven Clayton <smclayto@npl.uiuc.edu>]

On Wed, Jun 21, 2006 at 02:09:49PM -0500, Brendan Kiburg wrote:
> 
> Sorry, I used the wrong address for Peter.  Please respond to this email
> instead.
> 
> - Brendan
> Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:59:17 -0500 (CDT)
> From: Brendan Kiburg <kiburg@npl.uiuc.edu>
> To: fegray@socrates.berkeley.edu
> Cc: kammel@uiuc.edu, peter.winter@psi.ch, smclayto@uiuc.edu,
> hertzog@uiuc.edu, dwebber@uiuc.edu
> Subject: tape robot
> 
> Hi guys,
>   As a follow up to our teleconference, I spoke with mulan at lunch
> today.  We agreed to wait a few weeks before shipping the 2nd illinois
> LTO3 to PSI.  We could then begin the data transfer as soon as the PSI
> shipment arrives.  David W. says that the upgraded data transfer line to
> NCSA is scheduled to occur by the end of summer, which is probably too
> late for our immediate needs.
> 
>    Dave H. suggests shipping the UCB robot back to illinois and buying an
> LTO3 drive for it if the LTO2 drive breaks.  Previously we designated PSI
> as the last stop for this device.  Pe
> 
>    We should weigh the risk of potentially losing a functional LTO2 drive
> against saving 6 months before we need to upgrade to LTO3/LTO4 or ship
> this device back to PSI.  If it breaks (again) in transit, then we would
> need to promptly purchase an LTO3 drive/ drive+robot and we would still
> face similar shipping issues again for Run 11.  I am operating under the
> assumption that run 11 will require a comparable amount of storage space
> as run 10.  If this is incorrect, please let me know.
> 
>    Should we ship the LTO2 to Illinois or pursue other purchases?
> 
> Best Regards,
> Brendan
> 

As far as shipping the LTO2 robot, recall that when the company shipped a
replacement drive to Illinois, they packed it in a large box with several
inches (~8"?) of medium or low density foam on all sides.  Could we have PSI
build a nice box for the robot with some 20 cm of soft foam padding on all
sides?  Alternatively, the tape drive could be removed and shipped separately
in such a custom box.

Steven