%META:TOPICINFO{author="ChrisBartram" date="1196391761" format="1.1" version="1.1"}%
%META:TOPICPARENT{name="HomesteadingInformation"}%
---+++ HP3000 Homesteading Planning Considerations 

   * Spare hardware will become increasingly harder to find as time goes on
      * Supported disc drives are already VERY OLD and no longer made
      * Disc drives are likely your #1 risk factor; plan to have spares or move to a newer external array ASAP!
   * Skilled programmers and administrators are also falling off the grid quickly
   * Some HP3000 software vendors are also silently disappearing
   * HP3000 hardware support is still readily available from non-HP vendors, but costs will likely increase dramatically over the next several years
      * Maintaining some sort of hardware support contract is your best bet at being able to maintain access to spare parts when you will need them. Sites with no support contracts will pay even higher rates for time & materials when an emergency repair becomes necessary
   * HP3000 supported backup media (especially DDS and early DLTs) will become harder to find as well
      * Historically tape backup devices fail/need repair more often than almost any other component
      * If you're not validating your backups, beware that as some backup devices go bad they may write data that is not readable by any other device (including a repaired/replaced tape drive); leaving you with unrestorable backups after you do finally repair your bad drive

-- Main.ChrisBartram - 30 Nov 2007