Tape performance

We are in the process of configuring tape and controller hardware for running OnLine 5.0 on an IBM 6000 580. Relevant experience might help us. We expect our logging/archiving situation to be as follows: Three levels of archiving with level 0 being monthly; level 1, weekly, and level 2 daily. Daily logical logging controlled in operations using Auto-backup. Our likely tape hardware is: 1 Five gigabyte 8mm tape unit on a SCSI 2 controller. 1 1.2 gigabyte 1/4" cartridge tape on a SCSI 1 controller. We want to use on-line archiving (i.e. while the system is active). We hope to use the 8mm tape for Level 0 archives to avoid multi-volume archives. We would like to use the cartridge tape for level 1 and 2 archives and for logical logging. We have a feel for the administration of tape controls, etc. but we have no feel for the impact of tape operations on our online users. On other equipment and running with the Standard Engine at 4.1 we find substantial degradation when we work with tape. Operations tells us it is due to our platform's inability to let us control the priority of tape operations. Can any IBM 6000 OnLine users give us some feedback? Thanks in advance. +-----------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | Con Woodall | Internet: cwoodall@vth1.vth.colostate.edu| | Veterinary Teaching Hospital| | | Colorado State University | Voice: (303) 491-1244 | | Fort Collins, CO 80523 | Fax: (303) 491-1205 | +-----------------------------+------------------------------------------+