8mm Reliability

[Calvin Hayden x2254]

General question... this may have been brought up in some earlier
postings, but its been a while since I've looked at `em daily.

Any statistics on how reliable 8mm cartridge tapes are when used
for archival purposes (say stored without use for 3+ years)?

How do they compare to 1/2" 9 track, or 1/4" QIC for a purpose 
such as this.  

Reason I ask is this:  we are moving off a vax with a 9 track drive
onto a network of suns with 8mm and 1/4".  We have quite a few 
tapes archived on 9 track, which I am in the process of moving over
to a media I have avaliable on the Suns.  There are no plans for 
a 9 track drive on the suns.

In summary:  How does 8mm tape storage compare with 1/4" QIC or
1/2" 9 track in the area of extended storage?  Is one any better
than the other for this purpose?  If so, which?  A 9 track may be
purchased if its tapes are more reliable as archive media.

Email preffered, followups accepted...  Thanks in advance!


-- 
Calvin Hayden
Texas Instruments, Johnson City, Tn.    
Voice (615)461-2254
UUCP:  ...mcnc!rti!{olympus,tijc02}!{root,cgh018}