Overview of IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives
The Linear Tape-Open (LTO) program was conceived as a joint initiative of IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Seagate Technology. In 1997, the three technology provider companies set out to enable the development of best-of-breed tape storage products by consolidating state-of-the-art technologies from numerous sources. In November 1997, they produced a joint press release about LTO technology. The three technology provider companies for LTO technology are now Hewlett-Packard (HP), IBM Corporation, and Quantum.
In the tape storage industry, the member companies saw a common set of problems affecting clients in the midrange and network server areas. Multiple tape options were available, each offering certain strengths in terms of capacity, performance, data integrity, reliability, and cost, but no single option seemed to meet all of these client needs effectively. The objective of LTO technology was to establish new open-format specifications for high-capacity, high-performance tape storage products for use in the midrange and network server computing environments and to enable superior tape product options.
This chapter provides information about the LTO format specifications in general terms, including first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generation Ultrium technologies. The documented LTO specification includes information referring to the data cartridge, the format in which data is written, elements of the drive specification relating to that format, and the compression algorithm description. This information applies to all product offerings of LTO manufacturers to ensure cartridge interchangeability.
The information in this chapter that relates to the LTO Ultrium drive also relates to the IBM LTO Ultrium drive. It might differ from information from other manufacturers in regard to features, such as data rate and reliability. This chapter includes the following sections:
2.1 The LTO organization
For more information about marketing, technical, and licensing details for the Linear Tape-Open program, see the following websites:
2.1.1 Overview
Two LTO formats (Ultrium and Accelis) were introduced in 1997, and licenses for the technology were made available. Since then, the Accelis format has not been actively pursued by manufacturers because it is apparent that the Ultrium format meets market needs. The three LTO sponsoring companies took steps to protect client investment by providing an Eight-Generation Roadmap that illustrates native capacity (see Figure 2-1). They also established an infrastructure to enable compatibility between products.
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Important: Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Quantum reserve the right to change the information in this migration path without notice.
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Figure 2-1 Eight-Generation Roadmap1
The LTO Ultrium compatibility investment protection is provided based on the following principles:
•An Ultrium drive is expected to read data from a cartridge in its own generation and at least the two previous generations.
•An Ultrium drive is expected to write data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate previous generation in the format of that generation.
For more information about compatibility among the available Ultrium 1, Ultrium 2, Ultrium 3, Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 media, see 2.3.1, “IBM Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 compatibility” on page 72.
The three technology provider companies (HP, IBM, and Quantum) all made significant contributions of time and expertise to the definition of the LTO format specifications. All three companies have deep knowledge of client needs. They provided expert knowledge and engineering skill in the critical areas of magnetic recording technology, mechanism design, media materials, and cartridge design. This cooperative process created stronger LTO format definitions than any of the individual companies might have developed working alone.
Open licensing and manufacturing
To answer industry calls for open-tape format specifications, LTO format specifications were made available to all who want to participate through standard licensing provisions. More than 30 companies, including HP, IBM, and Quantum, became LTO technology licensees. The licensees include an impressive array of worldwide storage industry leaders, including the following companies:
•Accutronics Incorporated
•Advanced Research Corporation
•Alps Electric Company Limited
•Atmel Corporation
•EDP/Colorflex
•EMag Solutions
•Exabyte Corporation
•FalconStor
•FujiFilm Corporation
•Fujitsu Ltd./FCPA Intellistor
•Hewlett-Packard Company
•Hi/fn
•HiStor
•Hitachi Computer Peripherals
•IBM Corporation
•Imation Corporation
•M4 Data Limited
•Matsushita Electric Industry
•Maxell
•Mitsumi Electric Company Limited
•Mountain Engineering II Incorporated
•NEC Corporation
•NXP
•Otari Incorporated
•Ontrack Data International
•Overland Storage
•Plasmon IDE Incorporated
•Quantegy Incorporated
•Quantum Corporation
•Sony Corporation
•Spectra Logic
•Oracle
•Tandberg Data
•TDK Corporation
•Toray
•Verbatim Corporation
In attracting these other industry-leading companies, LTO program technology and LTO specified products (tape drives and tape storage cartridges) can reach the market from multiple manufacturers, not just the technology provider companies. This availability is critical to meeting an open market objective and is accomplished through open licensing of the technology.
License packages
The following combinations of packages are available for potential licensees:
•Ultrium Specification Document provides the opportunity to review the Ultrium format specification with minimal investment and is suitable for companies that are interested in a feasibility investigation.
•Ultrium Tape Cartridge License Package is for companies that are only interested in designing Ultrium tape cartridges.
•Ultrium Tape Mechanism License Package enables licensees to design Ultrium tape drive mechanisms.
Each license package contains one or all of the following types of documents:
•Format specification documentation provides technical information about the format that is necessary to develop mechanisms and cartridges that interchange between products of the same format.
•License documentation provides more technical information about tolerance interdependencies and interchange verification testing. It also provides a conceptual overview of the design.
•The trademark style guide describes the use of the Ultrium trademarks and logos. Figure 2-2 shows an example of an LTO Ultrium logo.
Figure 2-2 Ultrium logo example
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More information: For more information about packages, documentation, and licensing, see the following LTO web page:
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Compliance verification
The technical strategy for accomplishing format compliance verification among the licensees was defined and an independent Compliance Verification Entity (CVE) was selected. To promote interchangeability of tape cartridges, a third-party verification test company was enlisted to perform specification compliance verification testing. These tests are required annually for all companies that use the logo.
The objective of the compliance testing is to test only the ability to produce, read, or write Ultrium cartridges that meet the format specifications. The objective of this format compliance testing is not to evaluate Ultrium drive quality, mean time before failure (MTBF), physical form factor, or other parameters that are not directly related to the LTO program formats and interchangeability. LTO program licensees have wide latitude to establish their own mechanical, electrical, and logical designs to meet the format specifications. These factors are not tested as part of the compliance verification process.
2.1.2 LTO standards
LTO technology was originally developed for two open-tape format specifications: Accelis and Ultrium. The Accelis format (fast-access) is not being developed because the Ultrium format provides adequate fast-access performance.
LTO core technology
Multichannel linear serpentine recording is at the core of the LTO formats. It enables an optimum balance of reliability and data integrity, performance, and high capacity. In the LTO recording format, data is written in tracks that run down the length of the tape.
The LTO Ultrium 6 format records data on 2176 tracks across the ½-inch tape width. This linear recording format has a serpentine characteristic. The drive mechanism makes multiple passes from the beginning of the tape to the end of the tape and back to read or write the full capacity of the cartridge. In the LTO Ultrium 6 format, the 2176 tracks are split into five bands of 544 tracks each. Table 2-1 shows the values for the Ultrium 6 and previous LTO generations.
Table 2-1 Data tracks, density, and channels
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LTO generation
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Data tracks
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Tracks/band
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Linear density
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Read/write channels
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Ultrium 1
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384
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96
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124 kbpi
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8
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Ultrium 2
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512
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128
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188 kbpi
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8
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Ultrium 3
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704
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176
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250 kbpi
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16
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Ultrium 4
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896
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224
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328 kbpi
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16
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Ultrium 5
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1280
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320
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368 kbpi
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16
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Ultrium 6
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2176
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544
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368 kbpi
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16
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Data is written to the innermost bands first to provide protection to the data that was recorded earliest in the process by writing it in the center, which is the most physically stable area on the tape. Data also is verified as it is written. On the first pass of a round trip down the length of the tape and back, 16 tracks (see the “Read/write channels” column in Table 2-1) at LTO Ultrium 6 format are concurrently read or written. At the end of the tape, the second pass of the round-trip starts. The read/write heads are indexed and positioned over 16 new tracks, and the tape reverses direction back toward the beginning of the tape to complete the round trip. For the next round trip, the heads again are indexed to a new position over a new group of 16 tracks.
Because track densities (as shown in Table 2-1) are high and because the tape is subject to lateral movement as it is moved, for performance and data integrity, the read/write heads must always be positioned precisely over the correct tracks. This positioning is accomplished by using the timing-based servo technique. This technique makes it possible to use high track densities (now and in the future) without changing the format of the media. This technique also provides the ability to read data, even with media imperfections.
In the LTO system, electronic signals are generated through the real-time reading of servo data bands that are pre-recorded on the LTO tape. These signals enable the servo system to dynamically control the positioning of the read/write heads across the width of the tape. Similar magnetically based, track-following servo systems are used successfully in tens of thousands of tape drives that are in use today, such as the IBM TotalStorage 3590 tape drive (IBM 3590) and IBM TotalStorage 3592 tape drive (IBM 3592).
The LTO formats also use advanced error correction codes for data integrity. These systems automatically correct most cross-track errors and provide data correction even if a full track is lost. Data is further protected by the demarcation of bad areas of the tape (for example, where servo signals are unreliable) and through dynamically rewriting bad blocks. Cartridge memory is embedded in the LTO cartridges to record use and error information. A noncontacting radio frequency module, with nonvolatile memory capacity of 16320 bytes for Ultrium 6, 8192 bytes for Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 5, and 4096 for LTO Ultrium 3, provides for storage and retrieval.
Ultrium tape formats
Figure 2-3 and Figure 2-4 show the IBM Ultrium cartridges, which are distinguished by color. The first-generation IBM Ultrium LTO cartridge is black, the second generation is purple, the third generation is slate-blue, the fourth generation is green, and the fifth generation is burgundy. The Ultrium 6 cartridge is colored black. The IBM Write Once Read Many (WORM) cartridges are two-tone cartridges with a platinum bottom. The top is like the normal LTO Ultrium cartridges. For the third generation of IBM WORM cartridges, the top is slate-blue; for the fourth generation, the top is green; and for the fifth generation, the top is burgundy. The Ultrium 6 WORM cartridge is colored black with a platinum bottom.
Figure 2-3 Generations of IBM LTO Ultrium tape cartridges
Figure 2-4 IBM LTO Ultrium 3 WORM tape cartridges
The Ultrium tape format specification is the implementation of LTO that is optimized for high capacity and performance with outstanding reliability, in a stand-alone or automated environment. The Ultrium cartridge uses a larger single-reel design (see Figure 2-3 on page 46 and Figure 2-4 on page 46) and ½-inch tape to provide ultra-high storage capacity. The tape is extracted from the cartridge by the tape drive through a leader pin and is wound onto a take-up reel that is contained within the drive. This design is focused on client requirements for high capacity and performance and is ideally suited for backup, restore, and archive applications. Ultrium drive technology is intended to meet the needs of the enterprise on a roadmap, or migration path, that extends well into the future. The Ultrium tape format established a new benchmark for large volume backup and archive options.
WORM tape format
Beginning with LTO Ultrium format generation 3, WORM functionality provides for nonerasable, nonrewritable operation with tape media and is for long-term, tamper-resistant record retention. LTO Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 drives provide the same WORM capability.
The format specification for WORM for LTO Ultrium generations includes low-level encoding in the cartridge memory and is mastered into the servo pattern as part of the manufacturing process. This encoding prevents tampering.
Data can be appended at the end of a WORM cartridge to which data was previously written, which allows the full use of the high-capacity tape media.
Interleaved recording
The LTO drive uses an interleaved, serpentine, longitudinal recording format. The first set of 8 or 16 data tracks is written from near the physical beginning of the tape to near the physical end of the tape. The head then repositions to the next set of tracks for the return. This process continues until all tracks are written and the tape is full.
The format of the recording of the data and servo tracks is defined as part of the LTO specification to meet the requirement for interchange among implementations of different manufacturers.
Servo tracks
Servo tracks or bands enable accurate positioning of the tape drive head over the data track, which ensures that the head does not stray onto an adjacent track. They are necessary to support high-data densities on the tape where the tracks are extremely close together. The servo bands are written when the cartridge is manufactured, before the cartridge is usable for data storage and retrieval. If the servo bands are erased, the tape becomes unusable.
2.1.3 Data compression
The LTO Consortium created a superior data compression technique known as LTO Data Compression (LTO-DC). Although an excellent data compression algorithm, adaptive lossless data compression (ALDC) is not optimized for incompressible data, such as encrypted or previously compressed data. For incompressible data, it is best not to apply any data compression algorithm, but rather to pass the input data directly to the compressed data stream (pass-through). Given the variations in data, there are times when ALDC is desirable and times when a simple pass-through is better. For example, if ALDC-based data compression is used, it is best if all segments of incompressible data are recorded without expansion by using a pass-through technique.
Figure 2-5 shows the LTO-DC data compression technique that uses the two schemes.
Figure 2-5 LTO-DC block diagram
The ability to swap schemes between ALDC and a pass-through mode gives a tape drive the power to automatically adapt to the incoming data stream.
No standardization of when to swap modes (scheme swap) when compressing data was specified by LTO-DC. LTO-DC was approved by Ecma International as the Streaming Lossless Data Compression (SLDC) standard. For more information, see this website:
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Compression technique: LTO uses the SLDC technique for compression. The IBM 3592 tape drive also uses the SLDC compression technique.
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Because no standardization is specified, all vendor implementations might perform scheme swapping differently. What is specified and tested is that the resultant compressed data stream is decompressible by the defined set of LTO-DC rules. This capability enables interchange between drives from multiple vendors. Each vendor’s Ultrium drive can read and decompress the LTO-DC streams of the other vendors’ Ultrium drives.
2.1.4 Tape cartridge
The Ultrium tape cartridge is a single-reel cartridge, meaning that the whole tape is wrapped around a single reel when the cartridge is not loaded in a drive. During the loading process, the threader of the drive catches the leader pin of the tape and threads it through the drive and the machine reel. During the read/write process, the tape is stored on the machine reel and the cartridge.
Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7 show two views of the tape cartridge.
Figure 2-6 View of the Ultrium tape cartridge from the top and rear
The cartridge is approximately 10.2 cm long, 10.5 cm wide, and 2.2 cm high (which is approximately 4 x 4.16 x 0.87 inches). The cartridge contains 12.6 mm (½-inch) metal-particle tape with a high-density recording area.
Figure 2-7 shows several components of the cartridge.
Figure 2-7 Ultrium cartridge view from top and front
The cartridge includes the following components:
•Grips
Molded areas on the cartridge casing that are finger grips for manual loading.
•Label area
At the designated area at the rear of the cartridge where the adhesive bar code label is applied.
•Sliding door
Cartridge door (see Figure 2-6 on page 49) that protects the tape from contamination whenever the cartridge is out of the drive. Behind the door, the tape is threaded onto a leader pin (as shown in Figure 2-8), which is used to pull the tape from the cartridge for use. A locking mechanism prevents the media from unwinding when the cartridge is not in the drive.
Figure 2-8 Leader pin attached to the tape medium
•Notches
Two sets of molded notches in the cartridge casing are on the sides near the rear. The first pair enables the robotic gripper to pull the cartridge out of the drive mouth after the cartridge is unloaded. The second pair enables the drive to grip the cartridge and pull it into the loading position inside the drive.
•Misinsertion protection
A cutout in the front side of the cartridge casing that prevents the cartridge from being inserted into the drive in the wrong orientation. This feature prevents the use of unsuitable cartridges of similar, but not identical, construction.
The various cartridges are color-coded for easy visual distinction, as shown in Table 2-2. (For more information, see “Ultrium tape formats” on page 46).
Table 2-2 Data cartridge identification by case color
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Data cartridge
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Case color
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Ultrium 6 WORM
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Black top, platinum (silver gray bottom)
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Ultrium 5 WORM
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Slate burgundy top, platinum (silver gray bottom)
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Ultrium 4 WORM
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Slate green top, platinum (silver gray bottom)
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Ultrium 3 WORM
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Slate blue top, platinum (silver gray bottom)
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Ultrium 6
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Black
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Ultrium 5
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Burgundy
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Ultrium 4
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Green
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Ultrium 3
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Slate blue
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Ultrium 2
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Purple
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Ultrium 1
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Black
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Although the servo tracks are similar on Ultrium 1 and Ultrium 2 cartridges, Ultrium 2 cartridges are required with an Ultrium 2 drive to achieve Ultrium 2 capacity. Similarly, Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 cartridges are required to achieve Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 drive capacity. For more information about media compatibility among the generation, see 2.3.1, “IBM Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 compatibility” on page 72.
LTO data cartridge capacity
When the Ultrium tape cartridge is processed, the Ultrium tape drive uses a linear, serpentine recording format. The Ultrium 4 drive reads and writes data on 896 tracks, and the Ultrium 5 drive writes data on 1280 tracks, also 16 tracks at a time. The Ultrium 6 drive reads and writes data on 2176 tracks, 16 tracks at a time. The first set of tracks is written from near the beginning of the tape to near the end of the tape. The head then repositions to the next set of tracks for the return pass. This process continues until all tracks are written and the cartridge is full or until all data is written.
To ensure that the IBM Ultrium tape drive conforms to the IBM specifications for reliability, IBM suggests the use of only IBM LTO Ultrium tape cartridges. The IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium data cartridges cannot be interchanged with the media used in other IBM non-LTO Ultrium tape products.
Table 2-3 lists the native data capacity of Ultrium data cartridges.
Table 2-3 Native capacity
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Data cartridge
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Native data capacity
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Ultrium 6 WORM
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2500 GB (6250 GB at a 2.5:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 5 WORM
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1500 GB (3000 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 4 WORM
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800 GB (1600 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 3 WORM
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400 GB (800 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 6
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2500 GB (6250 GB at a 2.5:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 5
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1500 GB (3000 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 4
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800 GB (1600 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 3
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400 GB (800 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 2
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200 GB (400 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Ultrium 1
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100 GB (200 GB at a 2:1 compression ratio)
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Metal particle tape medium
The metal particle tape medium consists of a transparent polyethylene base material with two coatings. On one side, the base has two fine coats of a strong yet flexible ferromagnetic material, which is dispersed in a suitable binder. This side is the surface on which the data is written. The back surface is coated with a non-ferromagnetic conductive coating.
Metal particle media have high coercivity, which is a measure of their ability to retain their magnetic properties after the data is written to the tape. Coercivity is one of the factors in enabling a potentially longer shelf life than other media.
Cartridge memory
Within the cartridge is the LTO Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM), which is a passive, contactless silicon storage device that is physically a part of the cartridge. The memory chip also is known as medium auxiliary memory (MAM). For more information, see the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Tape Drive SCSI Reference, GA32-0928.
Information about the cartridge and tape is written to the LTO-CM. The LTO-CM is only accessible and used by the drive itself and contains no customer data. The LTO-CM is serial Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) with read-only and rewritable areas. It is housed inside the cartridge casing at the left rear (label side) corner as shown in Figure 2-7 on page 49.
The LTO-CM is used to hold use and error information about the cartridge, the media inside that cartridge, and the data on the media. The storage capacity of the Generation 6 LTO-CM is 16320 bytes, double the 8160 byte capacity of the Generation 5 and 4 LTO-CM. The Generations 1, 2, and 3 cartridges use a 4096 byte LTO-CM. The LTO-CM is in the left rear corner of the cartridge. A copy of this information also is kept in the first data set within the user data area and is given the data set number zero.
Communication between the drive and the LTO-CM is performed by a low-level radio frequency (RF) field generated (in the IBM implementation) by the drive. The LTO-CM is nonvolatile storage that is updated by using the RF field. It requires no other power source. This type of technology has an expected shelf life of more than 30 years.
Although transparent to the user, keeping this type of information enhances the efficiency of the drive and the cartridge. Data and block locations are stored in memory. For example, the end-of-data location is stored so that when the tape is next loaded, the drive can use the fast locate function to move directly to the recording area and begin recording. Storing data about the age of the cartridge, the number of times it was loaded, and the number of errors it has accumulated aids in determining the reliability of the cartridge. This data is of particular value if it is stored with the cartridge itself, so that whenever the cartridge is mounted on any host system, the history is accessible.
This product is not the first tape product where information was kept on the cartridge. However, previously it was written on the tape medium itself in a portion of the tape not accessible to users, before the beginning-of-tape marker, such as in the IBM 3590 tape drive.
Bar code label
Each data and cleaning cartridge that is processed by an Ultrium tape library must have a bar code label. This bar code label is mandatory for libraries that have an installed bar code reader. The label, as shown in Figure 2-9, contains a human-readable volume serial number or volume label and the corresponding machine-readable bar code.
Figure 2-9 Bar code label example
The bar code has the following format:
•Quiet zones at each end of the bar code
•A start character indicating the beginning of the label
•A six-character volume label
•A two-character cartridge media-type identifier (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, or L6) that identifies the cartridge as an LTO cartridge (“L”) and indicates the LTO generation of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
Other identifiers also are specified by the LTO standard. Therefore, the LTO-3 WORM cartridge is identified by LT, the LTO-4 WORM cartridge is identified by LU, the LTO-5 WORM cartridge is identified by LV, and the LTO-6 WORM cartridge is identified by LW.
•A stop character indicating the end of the label
When read by the bar code reader of the library, the bar code identifies the volume label of the cartridge to the tape library. The bar code volume label also indicates to the library whether the cartridge is a data, cleaning, or diagnostic cartridge.
Tape cartridges are often supplied with the labels already attached, or labels can be attached after purchase. The Ultrium cartridge features a recessed area for the label (see Figure 2-6 on page 49). The label must be applied only in the recessed label area. If the label extends outside of the recessed label area, it can cause loading problems in the drive.
Volume label format
The LTO cartridge label uses the Uniform Symbol Specification-39 bar code symbols.
The volume label of a cartridge consists of six characters, starting from the left. Except for cleaning and diagnostic cartridges, these six characters are limited to the following ASCII characters:
•Uppercase A - Z (ASCII character code: 41h - 5Ah)
•0 - 9 (ASCII character code: 30h–39h)
The volume label must consist of six, all uppercase alphabetic, all numeric, or alphanumeric characters, such as ABCGVE, 123621, or F8H5N9. The volume label cannot consist of fewer than six characters.
A volume label format of CLNUnn represents a universal cleaning cartridge. A volume label of the form CLNvnn is used for a unique cleaning cartridge, where v is an alphanumeric identifier that represents the vendor of a drive-unique cleaning cartridge. (An IBM-unique cleaner cartridge uses the label format CLNInn.) This identifier is logged in the vendor information pages in the Ultrium tape drive.
A volume label of the form DG(space)vnn is used for diagnostic and service cartridges. The drive uses the v to determine whether the drive-unique diagnostic cartridge is loaded. The nn represents a specific cartridge and is logged in the vendor information pages in the Ultrium tape drive.
The internal and external labels on a cartridge do not need to match. Therefore, the volume label on the bar code label does not need to match the volume label recorded on the tape in the tape label area when it is initialized. However, it is preferable for them to match to avoid confusion.
For more information, see the IBM LTO Ultrium Cartridge Label Specification section of this website:
Ordering bar code labels
For more information about ordering bar code labels, see Appendix B, “IBM LTO Ultrium and 3592 media” on page 449.
Write-protect switch
The write-protect switch is at the front of the cartridge to the left of the bar code label (see Figure 2-6 on page 49). The position of the write-protect switch on the tape cartridge determines whether the tape can be written to. The tape cannot be written to when the switch is pushed to the right. When the write-protect switch is set to inhibit writing, a visual lock mark (such as a padlock) is visible.
In most cases, back up and recovery host application software is used to achieve the most benefit from the use of an LTO system. It is better to rely on the host application software to write-protect the cartridges rather than to manually set the write-protect switch. This way, the host software can identify a cartridge that no longer contains current data and is eligible to become a scratch cartridge. If the switch is set and the host application sets the cartridge to scratch status, the tape drive is unable to write new data to the tape.
Cartridge life
The magnetic tape inside the cartridge is made of highly durable materials. However, the tape wears after repeated cycles. Eventually, such wear can cause an increase in tape errors, records of which are stored in the LTO-CM. Cartridge performance can be tracked and monitored, which enables predictive failure analysis and enhances data integrity. This tracking is done automatically, and the drive issues a message when errors on the tape exceed a threshold.
The IBM Ultrium 3, 4, 5, and 6 data cartridges have a usable life of 20,000 load and unload cycles in a typical office computer environment. Ultrium 1 and Ultrium 2 data cartridges have a usable life of 10,000 load and unload cycles. The data that is recorded on the cartridge has an archive storage life of a minimum of 30 years with less than 5% loss in demagnetization. The cartridge must be stored at 16° C (60° F) to 25° C (77° F), with 20–50% non-condensing humidity, and a wet bulb temperature of 26° C (79° F) maximum.
Specifications for cleaning cartridges
In the past, to support client and application requirements and expectations for cleaning, each LTO drive vendor provided its own cleaning cartridge specifically for its Ultrium drives. To avoid potential interoperability problems, the LTO consortium decided to introduce a universal cleaning cartridge. IBM only offers the universal cleaning cartridge type, and this can be used on any LTO drive type.
The IBM Ultrium LTO tape drive is self-monitoring and self-cleaning. Therefore, use the automatic cleaning function that is provided with the library or by the application as recommended by IBM. Each drive determines when it must be cleaned and alerts the library or the application to initiate a cleaning cycle.
To prevent recontamination of drive surfaces, each specific cleaner cartridge is limited up to 50 cleaning cycles. Cleaner tape use is determined by the length of the tape already used, and so the average number of cleaning cycles for a cleaning cartridge is 50, but it may be marked used before, or after, 50 mounts.
2.1.5 IBM LTO Ultrium common subassembly drive
Certain elements of the Ultrium drive design are covered by the LTO format specification, such as anything related to writing the specified data format that enables tape interchange. However, there is no strict LTO definition in terms of how the drive module is constructed. Therefore, in this area, manufacturer drives might differ from each other in performance and specification, such as the data rate or quality design points.
This section relates specifically to the IBM LTO implementation. However, it emphasizes again that the IBM LTO Ultrium cartridges are compatible with those of all other licensed manufacturers.
The IBM LTO Ultrium common subassembly drive (as shown in Figure 2-10) is a high-performance, high-capacity tape drive. The drive records data by using the specified linear serpentine recording format on ½-inch tape that is housed within the LTO Ultrium cartridge. The data tracks are located by using preformatted servo tracks, as described in “Servo tracks” on page 47.
Figure 2-10 IBM LTO Ultrium common subassembly
The original basic unit was the first-generation IBM LTO series of products. Subsequent generations of IBM LTO promote extensive reuse, making the IBM Ultrium drives extremely reliable. Especially starting in LTO-3, several reliability improvements were made to tape path and internal tape handling. These units are a common subassembly and, therefore, do not have an IBM machine type. The subassembly is not available for clients to purchase directly, but only as a part number that is used in the assembly of other IBM machine types. The subassembly does not have its own power supply, but is powered by the library, frame, or casing into which it is integrated.
The IBM machine types that integrate the subassembly are addressed in 2.6.2, “The IBM LTO Ultrium family of tape drives and libraries” on page 99, and in later chapters. The subassembly is sold on the other equipment manufacture (OEM) market to other LTO library manufacturers. The common subassembly is a single field-replaceable unit (FRU). That is, if it fails, the whole unit is replaced, and no parts or subassemblies within the unit are replaced when the drive is maintained by an IBM service support representative (SSR).
Drive head
When the cartridge is inserted into the drive, a threading mechanism pulls the leader pin and attached tape (see Figure 2-8 on page 50) out of the cartridge, across the drive read/write head, and onto a nonremovable take-up reel. The drive head can then read or write data from or to the tape.
In generations 1 and 2, the drive has a 2 x 8 element head, reading or writing data eight tracks at a time, as shown in Figure 2-11 on page 57. Unlike the IBM 3590, for example, it does not cover the whole width of the tape.
Figure 2-11 Generation 1 and 2: One of eight element heads shown, with servo elements
The write elements are immediately followed by read/verify elements. Therefore, two sets of eight head elements (eight write elements and eight read elements) allow the tape to write in the forward and reverse directions down the length of the tape. Two sets of heads (read/write and write/read) are required because the tape is written and read in both directions.
The LTO Generation 3, LTO Generation 4, LTO Generation 5, and Generation 6 drives have a 2 x 16 element head, reading or writing data at 16 tracks at a time. Conceptually, they are similar to the 8 element head, except that they have elements of a smaller size.
Figure 2-12 shows the allocation of read and write heads for forward and reverse wraps.
Figure 2-12 Conceptual allocation of read and write heads for forward and reverse wrap
Four servo elements are used: two for each set of read/write elements. The head uses both servo tracks at each edge of the data band it writes.
For more information, an animated conceptual explanation can be found in the LTO Ultrium technology primers at this website:
The animation on the website provides a basic understanding of LTO technology.
Data compression
As described in 2.1.3, “Data compression” on page 47, data compression implementation can differ from vendor to vendor. However, all vendors conform to the basic rules, and the data that is written by one vendor’s drive can be read by the drives of any other vendor.
The LTO consortium decided, as many other vendors also do in the open environment, to indicate characteristics of LTO products for both native data and when assuming a data compression ratio of 2:1. For enterprise-related (mainframe) tape products, IBM and other manufacturers assume a compression ratio of 3:1, even though the IBM LTO and IBM 3592 use the same compression algorithm (SLDC). In any case, the real compression that is reached by the drive depends on the nature of the data. Any capacity sizing estimates should be based on the native value.
Interfaces
The IBM LTO Ultrium drive is available with a choice of the following interfaces:
•SCSI:
– Low Voltage Differential (LVD)
– High Voltage Differential (HVD; LTO-1 and 2 only)
•Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS)
•Fibre Channel (FC)
•Universal Serial Bus (USB)
When an IBM tape drive product is ordered, a drive interface is chosen. The interface cannot be changed after it is ordered. If a different interface is required, the complete drive assembly must be replaced.
Historically, SCSI connections were used for attachment of tape drives and libraries to open systems. Fibre Channel connections using SANs have become standard technology. SAS connections are now the SCSI standard. SCSI LVD options were still available on the Ultrium 4 Full-High drives when this was written. USB 3.0 connectivity is now available on TS2250 and TS2260.
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Important: IBM LTO Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 tape drives have only FC, SAS or USB connectivity options.
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SCSI single ended
SCSI single ended was the most common form of SCSI signaling. Many removable drives, scanners, and almost all 50-pin SCSI devices fit into this category. Often “single-ended” or “SE” is not written on the documentation. If a device does not specifically indicate LVD, Ultra2 Wide, differential, or a similar definition, it is probably single ended. Typically, single-ended devices support a total bus length of 1.5 meters (5 ft.) or less.
IBM high-performance SCSI tape drives (IBM 3590, IBM 3570, and LTO Ultrium drives) are all differential-attached drives, not single-ended drives.
SCSI differential (HVD)
HVD (often referred to as just differential) uses differential signaling. The idea behind differential signals is that each bus signal is carried on a pair of wires. The first wire of the pair carries the same type of signal as a single-ended SCSI. However, the second wire of the pair carries its logical inversion. The receiver of the signals takes the difference of the pair (therefore, the name), which makes it less susceptible to noise and capable of supporting greater cable lengths. HVD and single-ended SCSI are incompatible with each other.
In general, IBM HVD tape devices support an overall bus length of 25 m (82 ft.) that use point-to-point or multidrop interconnection (daisy chaining). For each daisy-chain device, the maximum cable length must be reduced by 0.5 m (1.6 ft.).
SCSI differential
The newer SCSI differential interface implementation, LVD, uses less power than the HVD differential interface and allows the higher speeds of Ultra2 SCSI. LVD requires 3.3 V dc instead of 5V dc for HVD.
LVD is sometimes referred to as Ultra2 Wide SCSI, which is a general marketing term for 16-bit Fast-40 or 80 MBps. Only LVD and HVD can run in Ultra2 Wide mode and only LVD in current commercially available products.
IBM LVD tape devices support a bus length of 25 m (82 ft.) point-to-point and 12 m (39.4 ft.) by using multidrop interconnection (daisy chaining). For each daisy-chain device, the maximum cable length must be reduced by 0.5 m (1.6 ft.).
The terms fast, wide, and ultra indicate characteristics that are separate from those characteristics implied by differential, single-ended, and high or low voltage. Table 2-4 shows the SCSI terms that are used to describe different host and device adapters and what they imply with regard to bus width and speed.
Table 2-4 SCSI terms and characteristics
|
SCSI term
|
Bus width (bits)
|
Speed (MBps)
|
Maximum length
|
Maximum number of devices
|
|
SCSI
|
8
|
5
|
6 m
|
7
|
|
Fast SCSI
|
8
|
10
|
3 m
|
7
|
|
Fast Wide SCSI
|
16
|
20
|
3 m
|
15
|
|
Ultra (Wide) SCSI HVD
|
16
|
40
|
25 m
|
15
|
|
Ultra (Wide) SCSI 2 LVD
|
16
|
80
|
25 m/12 m
|
15
|
|
Ultra 160 SCSI LVD
|
16
|
160
|
12 m
|
15
|
A faster bus does not imply that an attached device supports that data rate, but that multiple devices can operate on the bus at that maximum speed. For more information about SCSI terms and related specifications, see the SCSI Terms and Terminology Table from the SCSI Trade Association at this website:
To ensure best performance, avoid daisy chaining if possible.
Serial-attached SCSI history
Serial-attached SCSI (SAS) was introduced because parallel SCSI has a maximum bandwidth of 320 MBps. There was a need for a faster interface to attach tapes and disks on a host bus adapter (HBA). In 1981, Adaptec designed a standardized bus that became ANSI approved. From that time forward, it was called Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).
SCSI attaches hard disks on an I/O bus. However, over the years, all types of devices were able to connect to the SCSI bus, such as tape drives, scanners, plotters, printers, and optical devices. As the types of devices changed, the bandwidth increased from 5 MBps up to 320 MBps, better known as Ultra320 SCSI.
In 2003, the SCSI bus speed was increased up to 640 MBps, but it never became a standard for the SCSI speed. One problem when the SCSI speed increases is a phenomenon called clock skew. Clock skew occurs in synchronous circuits in which the clock signal that is sent from the clock circuit arrives at different components at different times. This action is typically the result of two causes. The first cause is material variability, in which a signal travels faster or slower than expected. The second cause is distance. The further a signal must travel, the longer it takes to arrive. Therefore, signals arrive at different points at different times. As the clock rate of a circuit increases, timing becomes more critical, and less variation can be tolerated while still functioning properly.
The industry was looking for a new, faster interface. A serial version of SCSI was designed and approved in 2002 by the SCSI Trade Association and by the International Committee for Information Technology Standards. In 2005, the first devices came on the market with a SAS interface. The first generation of SAS has a native speed of 3 Gbps and the current generation of SAS is 6 Gbps. Figure 2-13 shows future generations on the SAS roadmap.
Figure 2-13 SAS roadmap2
A benefit of SAS is that it can communicate with Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) devices. SAS has a point-to-point architecture and a bandwidth of 300 MBps. Because of its point-to-point architecture, more devices can be handled at the same time on the bus with a maximum of 128 targets. Another advantage of SAS is that the connection cables between the HBA and the devices are much thinner and more scalable. SAS devices do not need external terminators. The I/O bus is electronically terminated.
The total cable length from the device to the HBA is limited to 5.5 m (18.04 ft.). The total cable length in an LVD configuration is 25 m (82 ft.) when a point-to-point connection is used or 12.5 m (39 ft.) when a multidrop connection is used.
Figure 2-14 shows an IBM 6 Gbps SAS adapter, part number 46M0907.
Figure 2-14 SAS HBA with IBM part number 46M0907
The Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe), small form-factor IBM 6 Gb SAS HBA, is based on LSI's SAS2008 controller and can handle medium- to large-capacity server storage applications by connecting an 8-lane PCIe adapter with one external x4 SFF-8088 connector and four internal SATA connectors.
The following connecting interfaces are used for connecting the external devices:
Figure 2-15 Mini-SAS (SFF-8088) connector
•SFF-8470, as shown in Figure 2-16.
Figure 2-16 SAS (SFF-8470) connector
All IBM SAS tape drives have a Mini-SAS (SFF-8088) interface. SAS cables are available in several lengths with a maximum length of 5.5 m (18.04 ft.) and in any combination of the SFF-8470 and SFF-8088 connectors.
The requirements for SAS bus connections are different for the SCSI bus. Each tape drive is required to have a dedicated bus to the initiator, referred to as point-to-point connection. SAS architecture does not support multiple tape drives that are connected to a single host adapter port. The following IBM LTO tape drives are available with the SAS interface:
•IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
•IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
•IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
SCSI Connector types
When cables are ordered, careful attention should be paid to the type of connector on the cable and device so that everything connects correctly. This section describes the SCSI major connector types.
SCSI HD68
The HD68 connector (as shown in Figure 2-17) is the normal 68-pin SCSI connector. All IBM LTO SCSI drives (except the drives in the 3584) have an HD68 connector. Before 12 June 2001, all LTO tape drives in the IBM 3584 used HD68 connectors.
Figure 2-17 HD68 connector
SCSI VHDCI
The very high-density connector (VHDCI) is a mini-SCSI connector (as shown in Figure 2-18), about half the width of the HD68 connector. The IBM LTO drives in the IBM 3584 have a VHDCI connector.
Figure 2-18 VHDCI connector
Fibre Channel
One of the biggest challenges with SCSI tape technologies is the limited ability to share storage devices between systems. Fibre Channel (FC) storage area networks (SANs) enable greater connectivity of servers to storage devices including tape drives. It becomes possible to share devices easily between systems by Fibre Channel attaching them to SAN switches, which allows any servers that are attached to that SAN fabric and have the correct SAN zoning to access to the devices. The latest FC devices are 8 Gbps capable, where older devices attach at 4 Gbps, 2 Gbps, or 1 Gbps. FC devices auto-negotiate speeds with switches to find the highest compatible speed.
The following IBM LTO tape drives are available with the FC interface:
•IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
•IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
•IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High and Half-High tape drive
The maximum distances that a drive or library supports on a Fibre Channel link are determined by the link speed and the device to which the drive or library is attached.
If the library attaches to a server HBA, the distances that are supported by that HBA should be referred to. If the library attaches to a switch, the distances that are shown in Table 2-5 are supported.
Table 2-5 50 micron cabling distances
|
Data rate/Link speed
|
M5 (OM2) cable
|
M5E (OM3) cable
|
M5F (OM4) cable
|
|
8 Gbps
|
50 m (164 ft.)
|
150 m (492 ft.)
|
190 m (623 ft.)
|
|
4 Gbps
|
150 m (492 ft.)
|
380 m (1 247 ft.)
|
400 m (1312 ft.)
|
|
2 Gbps
|
300 m (984 ft.)
|
Not specified
|
Not specified
|
|
1 Gbps
|
500 m (1640 ft.)
|
Not specified
|
Not specified
|
FC Connector types
This section describes the following FC connector types:
•FC SC
•FC LC
FC SC
The duplex Subscriber Connector (SC) connector (as shown in Figure 2-19) is a low-loss, push/pull fitting connector. Each of the two fibers has its own part of the connector. The connector is keyed to ensure correct polarization (transmit to receive and receive to transmit) when connected. Most 1 Gbps SAN devices, including IBM Ultrium 1 FC drives, use SC connectors.
Figure 2-19 SC Connector
FC LC
Connectors that plug into SFF or small form-factor pluggable (SFP) devices are called LC connectors, as shown in Figure 2-20. Also, a duplex version is used so that the transmit and receive are connected in one step. The primary advantage of these LC connectors compared to SC connectors is that the LC connectors use a smaller form factor. Therefore, manufacturers of Fibre Channel components can provide more connections in the same amount of space.
Figure 2-20 LC connector
Most 2 Gbps or higher SAN devices, including the IBM Ultrium 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 FC drives, use LC connectors.
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Universal Serial Bus (USB) has been around since the early 1990 and was designed as a standard to connect various input/output (I/O) devices to a personal computer. The first standard was USB 1, which was low speed at a maximum rate of 12 Mbps. USB 2 was introduced and improved the maximum speed to 280 Mbps, which allowed it to be used to connect external storage devices for data backup purposes.
USB 3.0 (also known as SuperSpeed USB) was released in 2008 and improved the speed to a maximum bandwidth rate of 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). That translates to 640 MBps (megabytes per second). This allows the connection to high-speed devices, such as LTO tape drives. IBM has introduced two tape drive models, the TS2250 and TS2260, both with the capability to connect by using a USB 3.0 Type B interface.
A USB 3 connector is identified by the color of the connection, which is blue. Figure 2-21 shows the common USB type A and B connectors.
Figure 2-21 USB 3 connectors
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 1 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 1 drives offer the following connection types:
•Ultra2 Wide LVD SCSI that uses an HD68 connector
•Ultra Wide HVD SCSI that uses an HD68 connector
•FC-AL, 1 Gbps that use SC connector (3584 installed drives only)
•SCSI drives that are installed in the 3584 using a VHDCI connector
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 2 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 2 drives offer the following connection types:
•Ultra 160 LVD SCSI that uses an HD68 connector
•Ultra Wide HVD SCSI that uses an HD68 connector
•Switched FC 2 Gbps that use an LC connector
•SCSI drives that are installed in the TS3500 tape library using VHDCI connectors
The FC drive can work in fabric or FC-AL mode. According to the SNIA standard, the drive first attempts to connect as a FC_AL. If this approach fails, the drive tries to log on as a fabric device. It automatically senses the speed and connects with 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps.
With the IBM 3584, the FC port speed and the FC protocol mode can be set.
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 3 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 3 drives offer the following connection types:
•Ultra 160 LVD SCSI that uses HD68 connector
•3 Gbps SAS
•6 Gbps dual SAS on version 2 (V2) Half-High models
•Switched FC 2 or 4 Gbps that use LC connector
•SCSI drives installed in the 3584 use the VHDCI connector
The FC drive can work in fabric or FC-AL mode. According to the SNIA standard, the drive first attempts to connect as FC_AL. If this approach fails, the drive tries to log in as a fabric device. It automatically senses the speed and connects with 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, or 4 Gbps.
With the IBM 3584, the FC port speed and the FC protocol mode can be set.
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 4 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 4 drives offer the following connection types:
•Ultra 160 SCSI LVD that uses HD68 connector
•3 Gbps dual port SAS
•6 Gbps dual SAS on version 2 (V2) Half-High models
•4 Gbps native FC
•8 Gbps FC that uses LC connector on version 2 (V2) Half-High models
The FC drive can work in fabric or FC-AL mode. According to the SNIA standard, the drive first attempts to connect as FC_AL. If this approach fails, the drive tries to log in as a fabric device. It automatically senses the speed and connects with 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, 4 Gbps, or 8 Gbps (V2).
With the IBM 3584, the FC port speed and the FC protocol mode can be set.
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 5 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 5 drives offer the following connection types on Full-High and Half-High models:
•6 Gbps dual port SAS
•8 Gbps native FC
•USB 3.0
With the USB option the drive has a single SAS port and a single USB port host interface. The USB host interface supports USB 3.0 connectivity and can negotiate a transfer rate. It also supports USB 2.0 connectivity at the slower transfer rates. The USB interface auto-negotiates speed.
There are no configurable topologies, thus no feature switches associated with USB. The tape drive with SAS/USB ports requires a device driver for USB 3.0 operation.
The FC drive can work in fabric or FC-AL mode. According to the SNIA standard, the drive first attempts to connect as FC_AL. If this approach fails, the drive tries to log in as a fabric device. It automatically senses the speed and connects with 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, 4 Gbps, or 8 Gbps.
With the IBM 3584, the FC port speed and the FC protocol mode can be set.
Available interfaces for IBM Ultrium 6 tape drives
IBM Ultrium 6 drives offer the following connection types on Full-High and Half-High models:
•6 Gbps dual port SAS
•8 Gbps native FC
•USB 3.0
With the USB option the drive has a single SAS port and a single USB port host interface. The USB host interface supports USB 3.0 connectivity and can negotiate a transfer rate. It also supports USB 2.0 connectivity at the slower transfer rates. The USB interface auto-negotiates speed.
There are no configurable topologies, thus no feature switches associated with USB. The tape drive with SAS/USB ports requires a device driver for USB 3.0 operation.
The FC drive can work in fabric or FC-AL mode. According to the SNIA standard, the drive first attempts to connect as FC_AL. If this approach fails, the drive tries to log in as a fabric device. It automatically senses the speed and connects with 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, 4 Gbps, or 8 Gbps.
With the IBM 3584, the FC port speed and the FC protocol mode can be set.
IBM Ultrium drives can be connected to many different types of servers. For more information about the server interface cards or Host-Bus-Adapters (HBAs) that are supported with the IBM Ultrium drives, see this website:
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Important: When Fibre tape drives are connected to a Fibre HBA on the host server, make sure the Fibre Channel Tape Support option is enabled on the Fibre HBA so that proper class 3 error recovery is performed on the Fibre Channel. For more information about how to set this option, see the HBA manufacturer.
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2.2 Tape encryption overview
Data is one of the most highly valued resources in a competitive business environment. Protecting this data, controlling access to it, and verifying its authenticity while maintaining its availability are priorities in this security-conscious world. Tape encryption is a process that answers many of these needs.
Beginning with Ultrium 4 and TS1120 (3592-E05) cartridge drives, the encryption of data on tape became possible.
The IBM TS1120 (3592-E05), TS1130 (3592 E06), TS1140 (3592 E07), TS1150 (3592 E08), Ultrium 4 drives, including the TS1040 (3588 F4A), Ultrium 5 drives including the TS1050 (3588 F5A), the TS1060 (3588 F6A) tape drives, can encrypt data as it is written to tape.
The TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, and TS1150 support multiple types of IBM TotalStorage Enterprise 3592 tape cartridge, including WORM cartridges.
The Ultrium 4 drives support IBM Ultrium 4 data cartridges for encryption, the Ultrium 5 drives support Ultrium 5 media, and the Ultrium 6 drives support Ultrium 5 or Ultrium 6 data cartridges for data encryption, including WORM cartridges. Encryption is performed at full line speed in the tape drive after compression.
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Note: Compression before encryption is more efficient, as compressing encrypted data can affect the compression ratio. It is recommended not to mix software encryption with hardware compression or hardware encryption with software compression.
|
|
Important: The encryption process is less than 1% of the performance impact on the read/write throughput.
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Encryption for the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, and TS1150 tape drives is available at no charge. These drives can be installed in the TS3500 tape libraries.
For the Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 tape drives, the application-managed encryption method is available at no charge. The stand-alone tape drives include this application-managed encryption offering.
However, for those drives that are installed in libraries, system-managed and library-managed encryption requires a billable feature code (FC5901 for TS2900, FC1604 for TS3500, FC5900 for all other libraries) to be installed to support transparent LTO encryption. IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager also is required in this case.
Supported tape libraries for different drives are shown in Table 2-6.
Table 2-6 Drive encryption support
|
Drive
|
TS2900
|
TS3100
|
TS3200
|
TS3310
|
TS3500
|
TS4500
|
|
LTO4
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
|
LTO5
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
LTO6
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
TS1120 encryption- capable drive
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
|
TS1130
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
|
TS1140
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
TS1150
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Encryption adds significant strength to the security of the stored data without the processing overhead and the performance degradation that is associated with encryption that is performed on the server or the expense of a dedicated appliance.
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Important: TS1120 tape drives that were produced before 8 September 2006, do not have the encryption capability. However, a chargeable upgrade is available (FC5592) to upgrade the TS1120. This encryption capability includes drive hardware and microcode additions and changes.
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Encryption keys are used to encrypt data when it is written and to decrypt the data when it is read from a data cartridge. IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager assists the encryption-capable tape drives in generating, protecting, storing, and maintaining encryption keys.
For more information about and examples of tape encryption, see IBM System Storage Tape Encryption Solutions, SG24-7320.
2.2.1 IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager, previously called IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager, is the IBM strategic platform for storage and delivery of encryption keys to encrypting storage end-point devices.
Security Key Lifecycle Manager provides a simple solution to the complex problem of key management. Traditionally, the more encryption you deploy, the more keys you have to manage. These keys have their own lifecycles, separate from the data that they’re protecting, and these lifecycles must managed, from initialization and activation through expiration and destruction. Security Key Lifecycle Manager can help you better manage the encryption key lifecycle, allowing you to simplify, centralize and automate your organization’s key- management processes and reduce operational costs.
Security Key Lifecycle Manager serves keys at the time of use to allow for centralized storage of key material in a secure location, a unique approach that supports multiple protocols for serving symmetric and asymmetric keys. Users can also centrally create, import, distribute, back up, archive and manage the lifecycle of those keys using a customizable graphical user interface (GUI).
Security Key Lifecycle Manager provides an easy-to- use, web-based GUI that helps simplify key configuration and management tasks. With this GUI, administrators can easily create keystores, assign keys and manage the lifecycle of both from a centralized console. For more information about the Security Key Lifecycle Manager, see the IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager Information Center at this website:
For more information about this offering, see the IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager website:
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Keystore backup: Because of the critical nature of keys in the keystore, ensure the keystore is backed up on a regular basis. This way, it can be recovered as needed and can read the data cartridges that were encrypted by using the certificate with that drive or library. Backups should not be encrypted.
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Encryption Key Manager: The legacy product, Encryption Key Manager, should not be downloaded for new tape encryption installations. Encryption Key Manager still can be downloaded by existing Encryption Key Manager customers that implemented Encryption Key Manager, or by IBM i5/OS™ customers who want to run their key manager on i5/OS.
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2.2.2 Encryption methods
The encryption methods for the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, TS1150 and the Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 tape drives differ slightly. Those differences are described next.
The following sections also contain a brief description of encryption methods. In these sections, we use the term Key Manager (KM) to refer to Security Key Lifecycle Manager and any other key managers.
Symmetric key encryption
Encryption of data by using a symmetric key and algorithm is sometimes called private key encryption or secret key, which is not to be confused with the private key in an asymmetric key system. In a symmetric key system, the cipher key that is used for encrypting data is the same as the cipher key that is used for decryption.
The encryption and decryption ciphers can be related by a simple transformation on the key, or the encryption key and the decryption key can be identical. In the IBM Tape Encryption solution Security Key Lifecycle Manager, the same encryption key is used for encryption and decryption of the data. This key is protected by an asymmetric key algorithm and is never available in clear text.
Symmetric key encryption is several orders of magnitude faster than asymmetric key encryption. Secret key algorithms can support encryption one bit at a time or by specified blocks of bits. The AES standard supports 128-bit block sizes and key sizes of 128, 192, and 256. The IBM Tape Encryption solution uses the AES standard with a 256-bit key. Other well-known symmetric key examples include Twofish, Blowfish, Serpent, Cast5, DES, TDES, and IDEA.
Asymmetric key encryption
Another important method of encryption that is widely used today is referred to as public/private key encryption or asymmetric encryption. When this encryption methodology is used, ciphers are generated in pairs. The first key is used to encrypt the data, and the second key is used to decrypt the data.
This technique was pioneered in the 1970s and represented a significant breakthrough in cryptography. The RSA algorithm is the most widely used public key technique. The power of this approach is a public key, which is used to encrypt the data. This public key can be widely shared, and anyone who wants to send secure data to an organization can use its public key. The receiving organization then uses its private key to decrypt the data, which makes public/private key encryption useful for sharing information between organizations. This methodology is widely used on the Internet today to secure transactions, including Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
Asymmetric key encryption is much slower and more computationally intensive than symmetric key encryption. The advantage of asymmetric key encryption is the ability to share secret data without sharing the same encryption key.
Managing encryption
There are three different methods of encryption management available. These methods differ in where the key manager application is located. The operating environment determines which is best, with the result that key management and the encryption policy engine can be in any one of the environmental layers that are described next.
Application-managed tape encryption
The application-managed tape encryption method is best in operating environments that run an application that already is capable of generating and managing encryption policies and keys, such as the IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager Policies that specify when encryption is to be used are defined through the application interface. The policies and keys pass through the data path between the application layer and the encryption-capable tape drives.
Encryption is the result of interaction between the application and the encryption-enabled tape drive and is transparent to the system and library layers. Because the application manages the encryption keys, volumes written and encrypted with the application method can be read only by using the application-managed tape encryption method.
Application-managed encryption is provided at no cost for those IBM tape drives which support encryption.
System-managed tape encryption
The system-managed tape encryption method can be used for open systems operating environments where there is no application that is capable of key management. Encryption policies that specify when to use encryption are set up through each instance of the IBM device driver. Key generation and management are performed by the key manager, a Java application that is running on the host or externally on another host. Policy controls and keys pass through the data path between the system layer and the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, TS1150, and Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 tape drives that are installed in the libraries.
Encryption is transparent to the applications. System-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are transparent to one another. A tape that is encrypted by using system-managed encryption can be decrypted by using library-managed encryption. The reverse is true, if they both have access to the same key manager keystore.
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for enabling system-managed tape encryption for Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6
Library-managed tape encryption
The library-managed tape encryption method is supported on the following IBM tape libraries:
•TS2900 tape autoloader with Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 Half-High tape drives
•TS3100 tape library with:
– Ultrium 4 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
– Ultrium 5 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
– Ultrium 6 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
•TS3200 tape library with:
– Ultrium 4 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
– Ultrium 5 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
– Ultrium 6 Full-High and Half-High tape drives
•TS3310 tape library with Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 Full-High tape drives
•TS3500 tape library with the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, TS1150, TS1040, TS1050, and TS1060 tape drives
•TS4500 tape library with TS1150, TS1140, TS1050, and TS1060 tape drives
These tape drives can be installed in the TS3500 tape library, but the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, TS1150, and LTO tape drives cannot be mixed within the same logical library. However, TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, and TS1150 tape drives can be mixed within the same logical library.
Key generation and management are performed by the key manager, a Java application that is running on a library-attached host. The keys pass through the library-to-drive interface. Therefore, encryption is transparent to the applications. When it is used with certain applications, such as IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager, library-managed encryption includes support for an internal label option. When the internal label option is configured, the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, TS1150, Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 tape drives automatically derive the encryption policy and key information from the metadata that is written on the tape volume by the application.
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for enabling library-managed tape encryption for Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 tape drives.
System-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are transparent to one another. A tape that is encrypted by using system-managed encryption can be decrypted by using library-managed encryption. The reverse is true, if they both have access to the same key manager keystore and both use IBM AIX® and the IBM device driver. Otherwise, this capability might not be available.
|
Important: IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for enabling system-managed and library-managed tape encryption for Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 tape drives
|
2.2.3 LTO Ultrium tape encryption
The LTO Ultrium tape encryption differs from the 3592 drive encryption. Unlike the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, and TS1150 tape drives, the Ultrium 4, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 6 tape drives cannot store a wrapped form of the symmetric encryption key on the tape cartridge. The symmetric encryption key is stored in the keystore that is attached to the key manager. An associated key identifier or alias maps to the data key in the keystore. This alias is stored with each block of data on the tape. AES 256-bit encryption is used, as with the TS1120, TS1130, TS1140, and TS1150 tape drives, to encrypt and decrypt the data on the data cartridge. The IBM key manager for tape products is Security Key Lifecycle Manager.
2.3 IBM Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 highlights
This section is an overview of the features of IBM Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 tape drives, such as drive and cartridge compatibility, cartridge capacity, and drive performance. An overview of IBM libraries and the multipath architecture also is provided.
2.3.1 IBM Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 compatibility
The following rules describe the compatibility among the various LTO cartridge generations:
•Data cartridges one generation and earlier are read/write compatible.
•Data cartridges two generations and earlier are read only.
•Data cartridges three generations and earlier are not supported.
Ultrium 6 drives can read and write Ultrium 5 cartridges, and read only Ultrium 4 cartridges, and thus can interchange data with Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 4 tape drives. However, the Ultrium 6 drive allows only an Ultrium 5 cartridge to be written at the LTO Generation 5 operating point (1500 GB). More specifically, the Ultrium 6 drive does not allow an Ultrium 5 cartridge (1500 GB) to be re-formatted to the Ultrium 6 format (2500 GB). This concept is generally true when a data cartridge is used in a higher generation LTO Ultrium tape drive.
Table 2-7 shows the read/write compatibility among the six generations of data cartridges.
Table 2-7 Ultrium data cartridge compatibility
|
IBM Ultrium tape drive
|
IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge
|
|||||
|
|
2500 GB
(Ultrium 6
|
1500 GB
(Ultrium 5)
|
800 GB
(Ultrium 4)
|
400 GB
(Ultrium 3)
|
200 GB
(Ultrium 2)
|
100 GB
(Ultrium 1)
|
|
Ultrium 6
|
Read/Write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Ultrium 5
|
N/A
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Ultrium 4
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
N/A
|
|
Ultrium 3
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
|
Ultrium 2
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
|
Ultrium 1
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Read/write
|
The various generations of data cartridges can be recognized quickly by the case color or media identifier at the right side of the bar code label. Table 2-8 shows the different case colors and media identifiers for the different LTO Ultrium generations.
Table 2-8 Cartridge color and media identifier
|
LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge
|
Case color
|
Media identifier
|
|
LTO Ultrium 1
|
Black
|
L1
|
|
LTO Ultrium 2
|
Purple
|
L2
|
|
LTO Ultrium 3
|
Slate Blue
|
L3
|
|
LTO Ultrium 4
|
Green
|
L4
|
|
LTO Ultrium 5
|
Burgundy
|
L5
|
|
LTO Ultrium 6
|
Black
|
L6
|
|
LTO Ultrium 3 WORM
|
Slate Blue and Silvery Gray
|
LT
|
|
LTO Ultrium 4 WORM
|
Green and Silvery Gray
|
LU
|
|
LTO Ultrium 5 WORM
|
Burgundy and Silvery Gray
|
LV
|
|
LTO Ultrium 6 WORM
|
Black and Silvery Gray
|
LW
|
2.3.2 LTO performance
IBM LTO drives provide high performance and continue to improve with each new generation of products. Applications that are highly dependent on tape-processing speed can benefit from the significant performance that is provided by the LTO Ultrium tape drives.
IBM LTO Ultrium drives provide high-speed tape operations and relief to users who have difficulty completing tape activities in the time available. For those applications with limited system backup windows or have large amounts of disk data to back up, LTO Ultrium tape drives are ideal.
By using the built-in data-compression capability of the LTO Ultrium drive, far greater data rates than the uncompressed data rate can potentially be achieved. However, the actual throughput is a function of many components, such as the host system processor, disk data rate, block size, data compression ratio, SCSI bus capabilities, and system or application software. Installing multiple tape drives in general (or more than two in the case of IBM LTO) on a single SCSI bus can adversely affect data transfer rates.
IBM LTO Ultrium 1 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 1 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•15 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•30 MBps sustained data transfer rate at a 2:1 compression ratio
•60 MBps maximum sustained data rate (at maximum compression)
•100 MBps burst data transfer rate for Fibre Channel
•80 MBps burst data transfer rate for Ultra2 SCSI LVD drives
•40 MBps burst data transfer rate for Ultra SCSI HVD drives
•20 s nominal load-to-ready time
•18 s nominal unload time
•73 s average search time to first byte of data
•110 s maximum rewind time
•4 mps read/write speed
•6 mps search/rewind speed
•32 MB buffer
IBM LTO Ultrium 2 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 2 Drives provide more than twice the performance of IBM Ultrium 1 with sustained data rates of 35 MBps native and 70 MBps with a 2:1 compression ratio. IBM Ultrium 2 has faster load and unload time, faster data access time, faster rewind time, and faster cartridge fill time compared to IBM Ultrium 1. The Ultrium 2 drive provides speed matching with five speeds for the Ultrium 2 cartridge. The Ultrium 2 drive also reads and writes to an Ultrium 1 cartridge at a higher speed than the Ultrium 1 drive.
The IBM LTO Ultrium 2 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•35 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•70 MBps sustained data transfer rate at a 2:1 compression ratio
•110 MBps maximum sustained data rate (at maximum compression)
•200 MBps burst data transfer rate for Fibre Channel
•160 MBps burst data transfer rate for Ultra 160 SCSI LVD drives
•40 MBps burst data transfer rate for Ultra SCSI HVD drives
•15 s nominal load-to-ready time
•15 s nominal unload time
•49 s average search time to first byte of data
•80 s maximum rewind time
•6.2 mps read/write speed
•8 mps search/rewind speed
•64 MB buffer
IBM LTO Ultrium 3 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 3 Drives offer more than double the performance of IBM Ultrium 2 with sustained data rates of 80 MBps native and 160 MBps with a 2:1 compression ratio. IBM Ultrium 3 provides speed matching with five speeds for Ultrium 3 and Ultrium 2 cartridges and reads and writes an Ultrium 2 cartridge at the speed of the Ultrium 2 drive.
The IBM LTO Ultrium 3 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•80 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•160 MBps sustained data transfer rate at a 2:1 compression ratio
•Over 200 MBps maximum sustained data rate (at maximum compression)
•200 MBps burst data transfer rate for Fibre Channel
•160 MBps burst data transfer rate for Ultra 160 SCSI LVD drives
•15 s nominal load-to-ready time
•15 s nominal unload time
•54 s average search time to first byte of data
•88 s maximum rewind time
•6.2 mps read/write speed
•8 mps search/rewind speed
•128 MB buffer (256 MB in the Half-High v2 drive)
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•120 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•Sustained data transfer rate at a 2:1 compression ratio:
– For SCSI, 140 MBps
– For SAS, 240 MBps
– For FC, 240 MBps
•12 s nominal load-to-ready time
•17 s nominal unload time
•57 s average search time to first byte of data
•54 s average rewind time
•8 mps read/write speed
•8 mps rewind speed
•256 MB buffer
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•140 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•Sustained data transfer rate at a 2:1 compression ratio:
– For SAS, 280 MBps
– For USB, 280 MBps
– For FC, 280 MBps
•12 s nominal load-to-ready time
•17 s nominal unload time
•Average search time to first byte of data:
– 49 s for a Full-High drive
– 72 s for a Half-High drive
•Average rewind time
– 60 s for a Full-High drive
– 75 s for a Half-High drive
•6 mps read/write speed
•Rewind speed
– 10 mps for a Full-High drive
– 6.4 mps for a Half-High drive
•Data buffer size
– 512 MB for a Full-High drive
– 256 MB for a Half-High drive
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive
The IBM LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive has the following performance characteristics:
•160 MBps native sustained data transfer rate
•Sustained data transfer rate at a 2.5:1 compression ratio
– For SAS, 400 MBps,
– For USB, 400 MBps
– For FC, 400 MBps
•12 s nominal load-to-ready time
•17 s nominal unload time
•Average search time to first byte of data
– 49 s for a Full-High drive
– 60 s for a Half-High drive
•Average rewind time
– 42 s for a Full-High drive
– 62 s for a Half-High drive
•6.8 mps read/write speed
•Rewind speed
– 10 mps for a Full-High drive
– 9 mps for a Half-High drive
•Data buffer size
– 1024 MB for a Full-High drive
– 512 MB for a Half-High drive
2.3.3 Reliability
The IBM LTO Ultrium tape format differs from earlier non-Ultrium IBM products. The Ultrium technology has the following reliability and availability features:
•Data integrity
The drive performs a read after write for verification. Incorrectly written data, such as the result of a tape defect, is automatically rewritten by the drive in a new location. Data rewritten as the result of media defects is not counted against the drive error performance.
The drive never records incorrect data to the tape media without posting an error condition.
•Power loss
No recorded data is lost as a result of normal or abnormal power loss while the drive is reading or writing data. If power is lost while writing data, only the data block that is being written might be in error. Any previously written data is not destroyed.
•Error correction
Data integrity features include two levels of error correction that can provide recovery from longitudinal media scratches.
•Integrated head cleaner
The head of the drive must be kept clean to prevent errors that are caused by contamination. During the load process, a brush integrated into the drive mechanism cleans the head before it is used with the tape. This brush keeps the head and media free of debris on a continuing basis and requires fewer drive-cleaning operations.
•Surface Control Guiding Mechanism
The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism, which is patented by IBM, guides the tape along the tape path by using the surface of the tape rather than the edges to control tape motion. By using grooved rollers (as shown in Figure 2-22), an air cushion builds between the tape and the rollers that keep the tape in the right position. On LTO Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6, flangeless rollers are installed on all four rollers for Full-High tape drives to allow the tape to float naturally. Ultrium 6 Half-High drive rollers are semi-flangeless; only two of the rollers are flanged.
This feature helps to prevent tape damage (especially to the edges of the tape) and debris build-up on the roller that can accumulate in the head area, which minimizes the chance of physical damage to the tape media.
Figure 2-22 Surface Control Guiding Mechanism
•Flat lap head
The flat lap head (as shown in Figure 2-23) improves contact between the read and write recording elements and the tape, which increases the quality of the recording and readback of data.
Figure 2-23 Flat lap head
The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism and the flat lap head help minimize debris that is generated as the tape moves through its path, which resulting in increased reliability of reading and writing data. This feature also potentially increases the life expectancy of the media by not using the edges of the tape to guide it over the read/write head, which historically was a major source of debris on the tape path.
•Statistical Analysis and Reporting System
Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) is another IBM exclusive feature. Only IBM LTO drives provide this level of preventive diagnostic reporting. (For more information about reporting, see 12.2.6, “Tape System Reporter” on page 429.) The Ultrium drive uses this reporting system to assist in isolating failures between media and hardware. SARS uses the cartridge performance history that is saved in the cartridge memory module and the drive performance history kept in the drive flash EEPROM to determine the most likely cause of failure. It can then cause the drive to request a cleaner tape, to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware has degraded. SARS reports the results of its analysis in the form of a Tape Alert, if necessary.
2.4 IBM LTO Ultrium 6 tape drives
The latest LTO technology, Ultrium 6, was released in 2012. IBM Ultrium 6 offerings represent significant improvements in capacity and performance over the previous generation, Ultrium 5, while protecting investment in the previous technology.
The Ultrium 6 tape drive is a high-performance, high-capacity tape drive. The drive records data by using a linear serpentine recording format on half-inch tape that is housed within a cartridge. The data tracks are located by using preformatted servo tracks.
Ultrium 6 tape drive provides the following improvements over the older Ultrium 5 models:
•Increases the native transfer speed to 160 MBps compared with 140 MBps for Ultrium 5 tape drive
•Increases the compressed speed to 400 MBps compared with Ultrium 5’s 280 MBps
•More than doubles the potential capacity of a cartridge in Ultrium 5 format
Ultrium 6 tape drive features at a glance
The LTO Generation 6 tape drive range has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 160 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 400 MBps
•LTO Ultrium 6 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 2.5 TB
•8 Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option
•6 Gbps SAS dual port attachment option
•USB 3.0 single port and 6 Gbps SAS single port attachment option
•1024 MB internal data buffer for Full-High drives
•512 MB internal buffer for Half-High drives
•Application-managed encryption support
•System-managed and Library-Managed encryption support for non-stand-alone drives
•16 KB cartridge memory with Ultrium 6 media
•LTFS single drive-use and Library Edition support
•IBM Linear Tape File System partitioning support
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO Ultrium 6 tape cartridges, the Ultrium 6 tape drives can read and write to LTO Ultrium 5 cartridges and read LTO Ultrium 4 cartridges. They cannot read Ultrium 1, Ultrium 2, or Ultrium 3 cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO Ultrium 6 drives. In addition to using the IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge with up to 2500 GB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO Ultrium 6 tape cartridges.
Table 2-9 shows the native data transfer rate when a data cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-9 Native data transfer rate with various media
|
|
Generation 6 media
|
Generation 5 media
|
Generation 4 media
|
|
Supported methods of Operating
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
|
Native date rate SAS and USB (MBps)
|
160
|
140
|
120
|
|
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
|
160
|
140
|
120
|
Connectivity
The LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These drives offer the following connection types:
•6 Gbps SAS for point-to-point attachment (not in TS3310 or TS1060/TS3500 configuration)
•8 Gbps Fibre Channel interface for point-to-point or FC-AL attachment (not on TS2260 or TS2360)
•USB 3.0 Type B connector attachment for TS2260 only.
IBM Ultrium drives can be connected to many different types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or Host-Bus-Adapters (HBAs) that are supported with the Ultrium drives, see this website:
Performance
The LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive uses 2176 data tracks to read and write to Ultrium 6 tape. These tracks are grouped in five servo bands. Like the Ultrium 5 drives, the high-bandwidth servo system features a low-mass servo to help more effectively track servo bands and improve data throughput with damaged media in less-than-optimal shock and vibration environments.
The native data transfer rate for Ultrium 6 tape drives is 160 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach 400 MBps. IBM suggests the use of the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 6 2500 GB data cartridge, which provides up to 6250 GB of storage with a 2.5:1 compression ratio.
Dynamic speed matching
The LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive performs dynamic speed matching at one of 14 speeds to adjust the native data rate of the drive as closely as possible to the net host data rate (after factoring out data compressibility). This approach helps to reduce the number of backhitch repositions and improves throughput performance. Backhitching is the condition that occurs when a data cartridge stops, reverses, and restarts motion. A backhitch is the result of a mismatch between the data rates of the connected server and the tape drive.
Table 2-10 on page 80 shows the data rates for the LTO Ultrium 6 Drives.
Table 2-10 LTO-6 Drive speed matching data rates
|
Performance Parameters
|
Generation 6 Media
|
Generation 5 Media
|
Generation 4 Media
|
|
Speed matching data rates MBps
|
160.00
150.77
141.54
132.31
123.08
113.85
104.62
95.38
86.15
76.92
67.69
58.46
49.23
40.00
|
140.0
130.0
120.0
112.7
105.5
98.2
90.9
83.6
76.4
69.1
61.8
53.5
46.3
40.0
|
120.0
113.1
106.1
99.2
92.3
85.3
78.6
71.4
64.6
57.6
50.8
43.8
36.9
30.5
|
Encryption
The LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive family is encryption-capable and supports application-managed tape encryption at no charge on the SAS and Fibre Channel tape drives. In case of library use, system-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are supported with the Transparent LTO Encryption features (FC5901 for TS2900, FC1604 for TS3500, FC5900 for all other libraries). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for encryption key management with LTO Ultrium 6 drives.
Statistical Analysis and Reporting System
The Ultrium 6 tape drives use the Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to help isolate failures between media and hardware. The SARS uses the data cartridge performance history that is saved in the cartridge memory module and the drive performance history that is kept in the drive flash Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) to help determine the likely cause of the failure. SARS can cause the drive to request a cleaning tape, to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware degraded.
IBM Linear Tape File System software application
IBM Ultrium 6 tape drives are compatible with the IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) software application. LTFS uses the LTO Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 media partitioning functionality. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost and can be used without other database applications. LTFS presents tape media as though it were a file system on a disk drive. LTFS supports only IBM LTO Ultrium 5, Ultrium 6 and IBM 3593-E07 tape drives.
Tape as a storage medium has many benefits: it is reliable, portable, low-cost, low-power, and high-capacity. However, tape is not particularly easy to use, has no standard format, and data often cannot be used without first copying it to disk.
With LTFS, accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge became as easy and intuitive as using a USB flash drive. With LTFS file manager, reading data on a tape cartridge is as easy as dragging and dropping. Users can run any application that is designed for disk files against tape data without concern for the fact that the data is physically stored on tape.
LTFS implements a true file system for tape. LTFS also supports library automation, including the ability to find data on a tape in a library without mounting and searching tape volumes.
IBM LTFS provides support for IBM tape automation in addition to the single drive edition IBM Linear Tape File System. By using LTFS Library Edition, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of LTFS, which runs on a single computer system. In addition, it provides for caching of tape indexes and for searching, querying, and displaying tapes' contents within an IBM tape library without the requirement to mount tape cartridges
For more information about LTFS, see Linear Tape File System: Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
2.4.1 The IBM LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive range
The IBM LTO Ultrium 6 drive range is a mix of Half-High and Full-High stand-alone and library-installable drives. This offers high-performance, high-capacity data storage devices to back up and restore open systems applications. The drive can be integrated into an enclosure, such as a desktop unit, tape autoloader, or tape library.
The IBM LTO Ultrium 6 drive range consists of the following components:
•TS2360 (3580 Model S63) SAS Full-High stand-alone drive
•TS2260 (3580 Model H6S) two port SAS Half-High stand-alone drive
•TS2260 (3580 Model H6S FC 5760) single SAS and USB 3.0 port, Half-High stand-alone drive
•Ultrium 6 SAS Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS2900 tape autoloader
•Ultrium 6 SAS Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 6 FC Half-High or Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 6 SAS half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 6 FC Half-High or Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 6 FC tape drive sled inside a TS3310 tape library
•TS1060 (3588 F6A) FC tape drive sled within a TS3500 tape library
•TS1060 (3988 F6C) FC tape drive sled within a TS4500 tape library
IBM TS2360 (3580 S63) tape drive S63
IBM TS2360 tape drive model S63 (3580 S63) is an external Full-High (4 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2360 model S63 tape drive uses a 6 Gbps dual port SAS interface for connection to a wide spectrum of system servers. The new TS2360 attaches to selected IBM Power Systems™ models and to IBM System x and PC servers. The TS2360 also supports Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Oracle Solaris, and UNIX. The two ports per drive are available to improve availability and ease of attachment. The Ultrium 6 SAS drive attempts to connect at 6 Gbps, but auto-negotiates down to 3 Gbps or even 1.5 Gbps if the system it is connected to cannot support 6 Gbps or has problems on the physical connection. Expander use is not supported.
The TS2360 can read and write to Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 cartridges and is read compatible with Ultrium 4 data cartridges. The Ultrium 6 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
IBM LTFS Standalone Drive Edition (LTFS SDE) software is included with each TS2360 tape drive. LTFS uses LTO-6 tape drive partitioning. It enables a self-describing tape file format and to deliver an easy tape storage and distribution solution without the use of more database applications. Customers of IBM LTFS software are those who require a standard tape cartridge format at a low cost and use stand-alone IBM LTO-5 or LTO-6 tape drives.
The enclosure width allows two TS2360 storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit that requires three EIA units (3U) of rack space.
The TS2360 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2360 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 1024 megabytes.
For more information about the TS2360 Ultrium tape drive, see Chapter 5, “IBM TS2360 tape drive” on page 177.
Figure 2-24 shows a TS2360 Full-High LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive.
Figure 2-24 TS2360 LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive
IBM TS2260 (3580 H6S) tape drive H6S
IBM TS2260 tape drive model H6S (3580 H6S) is an external Half-High (2 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack-mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2260 Model H6S tape drive uses a dual-port 6 Gbps SAS (serial-attached SCSI) host interface or an optional single 6 Gbps SAS and single USB 3.0 port. The new TS2260 attaches to selected IBM Power Systems models and to IBM System x and PC servers. The TS2260 also supports Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Oracle Solaris, and UNIX.
There are two options for host connectivity:
SAS connectivity only The two ports per drive are available to improve availability and ease of attachment. The Ultrium 6 SAS drive attempts to connect at 6 Gbps, but automatically negotiates down to 3 Gbps or even 1.5 Gbps if the system that it is connected to cannot support 6 Gbps or has problems on the physical connection. Expander use is not supported.
SAS or USB connectivity A single SAS port and a single USB port host interface are provided. The single-port SAS connector provides the same 6 Gbps connectivity as the dual port, while the USB host interface supports USB 3.0 connectivity and can negotiate a Super Speed transfer rate. It also supports USB 2.0 connectivity at the slower transfer rates. The USB interface automatically negotiates speed. There are no configurable topologies, so no feature switches associated with USB. The tape drive with SAS or USB ports requires a device driver for USB 3.0 operation.
The TS2260 can read and write to Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 cartridges, and is read-compatible with Ultrium 4 data cartridges. The Ultrium 6 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
IBM LTFS Standalone Drive Edition (LTFS SDE) software is included with each TS2260 tape drive. LTFS uses LTO-6 tape drive partitioning. It enables a self-describing tape file format and to deliver an easy tape storage and distribution solution without the use of more database applications. Customers of IBM LTFS software are those who require a standard tape cartridge format at a low cost and use stand-alone IBM LTO-5 or LTO-6 tape drives.
The enclosure width allows two TS2260 storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit that requires two EIA units (2U) of rack space.
The TS2260 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2260 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 512 Megabytes.
For a more information about the TS2260 Ultrium tape drive, see Chapter 4, “IBM TS2260 tape drive” on page 167.
Figure 2-25 on page 84 shows a TS2260 Half-High LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive.
Figure 2-25 TS2260 LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 library drives
The library-installable Ultrium 6 tape drives can read and write to Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 cartridges and are read-compatible with Ultrium 4 data cartridges.
The LTO Ultrium 6 tape drives support data encryption on the base drive with Ultrium 6 or Ultrium 5 media. System Managed and Library Managed Encryption and associated IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager access are available as a chargeable licensed key, Transparent LTO Encryption (feature code 5901 for TS2900, feature code 5900 for TS3100 or 3200, and feature code 1604 for TS3500 libraries). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required with this feature.
The Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 drives support media partitioning and the use of the IBM Linear Tape File System Library Edition (LTFS LE) and LTFS EE if installed in a supported library.
For more information about LTFS, see Linear Tape File System: Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
For more information about LTFS EE, see IBM Linear Tape File System Enterprise Edition V1.1.1.2 Installation and Configuration Guide, SG24-8143.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High (4 EIA units high) drives are available for use in the TS3100, TS3200, TS3310, TS3500, and TS4500 libraries. The following drives are specified and ordered with the library:
•The TS3100 library can accommodate one Ultrium 6 SAS or FC Full-High tape drive.
•The TS3200 library can accommodate two Ultrium 6 SAS or FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 base L5B unit can accommodate two Ultrium 6 FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 optional E9U expansion unit can accommodate four Ultrium 6 FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3500 libraries can accommodate up to 192 TS1060 drives, depending on their base and expansion frame configurations.
•The TS4500 libraries can accommodate up to 60 TS1060 drives, depending on their base and expansion frame configurations.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 1024 MBs.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Half-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Half-High (2 EIA units high) drives are available for use in the TS2900, TS3100, and TS3200 libraries. The following drives are specified and ordered with the library:
•The TS2900 autoloader can accommodate one Ultrium 6 SAS Half-High tape drive.
•The TS3100 library can accommodate two Ultrium 6 SAS or FC Half-High tape drive.
•The TS3200 library can accommodate four Ultrium 6 SAS or FC Half-High tape drives.
IBM LTO Ultrium 6 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 512 MBs.
2.5 IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drives
The IBM LTO Ultrium 5 drives were released in 2010. At the time, IBM Ultrium 5 offerings represented significant improvements in capacity and performance over the previous generation, Ultrium 4, while protecting investment in the previous technology.
The Ultrium 5 tape drive is a high-performance, high-capacity tape drive. The drive records data by using a linear serpentine recording format on half-inch tape that is housed within a cartridge. The data tracks are located by using preformatted servo tracks.
Ultrium 5 tape drive features at a glance
The LTO Generation 5 tape drive range has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 140 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 280 MBps
•LTO Ultrium 5 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 1.5 TB
•8 Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option
•6 Gbps SAS dual port attachment option
•USB 3.0 single port and 6 Gbps SAS single port attachment option
•512 MB internal data buffer for Full-High drives
•256 MB internal buffer for Half-High drives
•Application-managed encryption support
•System-managed and library-managed encryption support for non-stand-alone drives
•8 KB cartridge memory with Ultrium 5 media
•LTFS single drive-use and Library Edition support
•IBM Linear Tape File System partitioning support
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO Ultrium 5 tape cartridges, the Ultrium 5 tape drives can read and write to LTO Ultrium 4 cartridges and read LTO Ultrium 3 cartridges. However, it cannot read LTO Ultrium 1 or Ultrium 2 cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO Ultrium 5 drives. In addition to the use of the IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge with up to 1500 GB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO Ultrium 5 tape cartridges.
Table 2-11 shows the native data transfer rate when a data cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-11 Native data transfer rate with various media
|
|
Generation 5 media
|
Generation 4 media
|
Generation 3 media
|
|
Supported methods of Operating
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
|
Native date rate SAS and USB (MBps)
|
140
|
120
|
80
|
|
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
|
140
|
120
|
80
|
Connectivity
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These drives offer the following connection types:
•6 Gbps SAS for point-to-point attachment (not in TS3310 or TS1050/TS3500 configuration)
•8 Gbps Fibre Channel interface for point-to-point or FC-AL attachment (not on TS 2250 or TS2350)
•USB 3.0 Type B connector attachment for TS2250 only.
IBM Ultrium drives can be connected to many different types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or Host-Bus-Adapters (HBAs) that are supported with the Ultrium drives, see this website:
Performance
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive uses 1280 data tracks to read and write to Ultrium 5 tape. These tracks are grouped in five servo bands. Like the Ultrium 4 drives, the high-bandwidth servo system features a low-mass servo to help more effectively track servo bands and improve data throughput with damaged media in less-than-optimal shock and vibration environments.
The native data transfer rate for Ultrium 5 tape drives is 140 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach 280 MBps. IBM advises the use of the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 5 1500 GB data cartridge, which provides up to 3000 GB of storage with a 2:1 compression ratio.
Dynamic speed matching
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive performs dynamic speed matching at one of 14 speeds to adjust the native data rate of the drive as closely as possible to the net host data rate (after factoring out data compressibility). This approach helps to reduce the number of backhitch repositions and improves throughput performance. Backhitching is the condition that occurs when a data cartridge stops, reverses, and restarts motion. A backhitch is the result of a mismatch between the data rates of the connected server and the tape drive.
Table 2-12 on page 87 shows the speed matching data rates for the LTO Ultrium 5 Drives.
Table 2-12 LTO-5 Drive speed matching data rates
|
Performance parameters
|
Generation 5 media
|
Generation 4 media
|
Generation 3 media
|
|
Speed-matching data rates MBps
|
140.0
130.0
120.0
112.7
105.5
98.2
90.9
83.6
76.4
69.1
61.8
53.5
46.3
40.0
|
120.0
113.1
106.1
99.2
92.3
85.3
78.6
71.4
64.6
57.6
50.8
43.8
36.9
30.5
|
80.0
76.1
72.3
68.4
64.6
60.8
56.9
53.1
49.2
45.4
41.5
37.7
33.8
30.0
|
Encryption
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive family is encryption-capable and supports application-managed tape encryption at no charge on the SAS and Fibre Channel tape drives. In case of library use, system-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are supported with the Transparent LTO Encryption features (FC5901). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for encryption key management with LTO Ultrium 5 Drives.
Giant magneto-resistive head design
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive uses the giant magneto-resistive (GMR) head with beveled contouring for reducing friction (“stiction”), especially with smoother LTO Ultrium 5 media type. This head design is well-proven in Enterprise Tape products and helps minimize contact, edge damage, debris accumulation, and wear on the tape as it moves over the read/write heads.
Surface Control Guiding Mechanism
The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism guides the tape along the tape path in the LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive. This method uses the surface of the tape rather than the edges to control tape motion. LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High tape drives use flangeless rollers so that the media can float naturally. LTO Ultrium 5 Half-High tape drives do not have flangeless rollers. The tape path is similar to the path for the LTO Ultrium 4 Half-High tape drive. The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism helps to reduce tape damage (especially to the edges of the tape) and tape debris, which comes from the damaged edges and can accumulate in the head area.
Statistical Analysis and Reporting System
The Ultrium 5 tape drive uses the Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to help isolate failures between media and hardware. The SARS uses the data cartridge performance history saved in the cartridge memory module and the drive performance history kept in the drive flash Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) to help determine the likely cause of the failure. SARS can cause the drive to request a cleaning tape, to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware has degraded. When a drive memory dump is taken from the drive, the Support Center can determine if the failure is in the tape drive or on the data cartridge.
Media partitioning
Media partitioning is now available with the LTO Ultrium 5 drive. Media partitioning allows for faster data access by splitting the cartridge into two media partitions. WORM media is not partitionable.
IBM Linear Tape File System software application
The release of the IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) software application uses the LTO Ultrium Generation 5 media partitioning functionality. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost and can be used without more database applications. LTFS presents tape media as though it were a file system on a disk drive. It supports only IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drives or higher generation IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives
Tape as a storage medium has many benefits: it is reliable, portable, low-cost, low-power, and high-capacity. However, tape is not particularly easy to use, it has no standard format, and data often cannot be used without first copying it to disk.
With LTFS, accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge became as intuitive as the use of a USB flash drive. With LTFS file manager, reading data on a tape cartridge is as easy as dragging and dropping. You can run any application that is designed for disk files against tape data without concern that the data is physically stored on tape.
LTFS, which works on Ultrium 5, Ultrium 6, and 3592-E07 drives, implements a true file system for tape. LTFS also supports library automation, including the ability to find data on a tape in a library without mounting and searching tape volumes.
IBM LTFS provides support for IBM tape automation in addition to the single drive edition IBM Linear Tape File System. LTFS Library Edition provides the ability to create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of LTFS, which is running on a single computer system. In addition, it provides for caching of tape indexes, and for searching, querying, and displaying tapes' contents within an IBM tape library without the requirement to mount tape cartridges
For more information about LTFS, see Linear Tape File System: Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
2.5.1 The IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive range
The IBM LTO Ultrium 5 drive range is a mix of Half-High and Full-High stand-alone and library-installable drives. This offers a high-performance, high-capacity data storage devices that back up and restore open systems applications. The drive can be integrated into an enclosure, such as a desktop unit, tape autoloader, or tape library.
The IBM LTO Ultrium 5 drive range consists of the following components:
•TS2350 (3580 Model HS53) SAS Full-High stand-alone drive
•TS2250 (3580 Model H5S) two port SAS Half-High stand-alone drive
•TS2250 (3580 Model H5S FC 5760) single-port SAS and USB, Half-High stand-alone drive
•Ultrium 5 SAS Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS2900 tape autoloader
•Ultrium 5 SAS Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 5 FC Half-High or Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 5 SAS half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 5 FC Half-High or Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 5 FC tape drive sled inside a TS3310 tape library
•TS1050 (3588 F5A) FC tape drive sled within a TS3500 tape library
•TS1050 (3988 F5C) FC tape drive sled within a TS4500 tape library
IBM TS2350 (3580 HS53) tape drive HS53
IBM TS2350 tape drives model HS53 (3580 HS53) is an external Full-High (4 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2350 Model HS53 tape drive uses a 6 Gbps dual port SAS interface for connection to a wide spectrum of system servers. The TS2350 attaches to selected IBM Power Systems models and to IBM System x and PC servers. The TS2350 also supports Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Oracle Solaris, and UNIX. The two ports per drive are available to improve availability and ease of attachment. The Ultrium 5 SAS drive attempts to connect at 6 Gbps, but auto-negotiates down to 3 Gbps or even 1.5 Gbps if the system it is connected to cannot support 6 Gbps or has problems on the physical connection. Expander use is not supported.
The TS2350 can read and write to Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 4 cartridges and is read compatible with Ultrium 3 data cartridges. The Ultrium 5 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
IBM LTFS Standalone Drive Edition (LTFS SDE) software is included with each TS2350 tape drive. LTFS uses LTO-5 tape drive partitioning. It enables a self-describing tape file format and to deliver an easy tape storage and distribution solution without the use of more database applications. IBM LTFS software clients are those who require a standard tape cartridge format at a low cost and use stand-alone IBM LTO-6 tape drives.
The enclosure width allows two TS2350 storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit that requires four EIA units (4U) of rack space.
The TS2350 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2360 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 512 Megabytes.
Figure 2-26 shows a TS2350 Full-High LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive.
Figure 2-26 TS2350 LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive
IBM TS2250 (3580 H5S) tape drive H5S
IBM TS2250 tape drive model H5S (3580 H5S) is an external Half-High (2 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2250 Model H5S tape drive uses a dual-port 6 Gbps SAS (serial-attached SCSI) host interface or an optional single 6 Gbps SAS and single USB 3.0 port. The new TS2250 attaches to selected IBM Power Systems models and to IBM System x and PC servers. The TS2250 also supports Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Oracle Solaris, and UNIX.
There are two options for host connectivity:
SAS connectivity only The two ports per drive are available to improve availability and ease of attachment. The Ultrium 6 SAS drive attempts to connect at 6 Gbps, but automatically negotiates down to 3 Gbps or even 1.5 Gbps if the system it is connected to cannot support 6 Gbps or has problems on the physical connection. Expander use is not supported.
SAS and USB connectivity A single SAS and USB port is provided. The single-port SAS connector provides the same 6Gbps connectivity as the dual port, while the USB host interface supports USB 3.0 connectivity and can negotiate a Super Speed transfer rate. It also supports USB 2.0 connectivity at the slower transfer rates. The USB interface automatically negotiates speed. There are no configurable topologies, so no feature switches associated with USB. The tape drive with SAS or USB ports requires a device driver for USB 3.0 operation.
The TS2250 can read and write to Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 4 cartridges and is read compatible with Ultrium 4 data cartridges. The Ultrium 5 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
IBM LTFS Standalone Drive Edition (LTFS SDE) software is included with each TS2250 tape drive. LTFS uses LTO-5 tape drive partitioning. It enables a self-describing tape file format and to deliver an easy tape storage and distribution solution without the use of more database applications. Customers of IBM LTFS software are those who require a standard tape cartridge format at a low cost and use stand-alone IBM LTO-5 or LTO-6 tape drives.
The enclosure width allows two TS2250 storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit requiring two EIA units (2U) of rack space.
The TS2250 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2260 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 Megabytes.
Figure 2-27 shows a TS2250 tape drive.
Figure 2-27 IBM TS2250 Ultrium 5 Half-High tape drive
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 library drives
The library-installable Ultrium 5 tape drives can read and write to Ultrium 5 and Ultrium4 cartridges, and are read compatible with Ultrium 3 data cartridges.
The LTO Ultrium 5 tape drives support data encryption on the base drive with Ultrium 5 or Ultrium 4 media. System Managed and Library Managed Encryption and associated IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager access are all available as a chargeable licensed key, Transparent LTO Encryption (feature code 5901 for TS2900, feature code 5900 for TS3100 or 3200, and feature code 1604 for TS3500 libraries). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required with this feature.
The Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 drives support media partitioning and the use of the IBM Linear Tape File System Library Edition (LTFS LE) and LTFS EE if installed in a supported library.
For more information about LTFS, see Linear Tape File System: Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
For more information about LTFS EE, see IBM Linear Tape File System Enterprise Edition V1.1.1.2 Installation and Configuration Guide, SG24-8143.
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High (4 EIA units high) drives are available for use in the TS3100, TS3200, TS3310, and TS3500 libraries. These drives are specified and ordered with the following libraries:
•The TS3100 library can accommodate one Ultrium 5 SAS or FC Full-High tape drive.
•The TS3200 library can accommodate two Ultrium 5 SAS or FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 base L5B unit can accommodate two Ultrium 5 FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 optional E9U expansion unit can accommodate four Ultrium 5 FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3500 libraries can accommodate up to 192 TS1050 drives depending on their base and expansion frame configuration.
•The TS4500 libraries can accommodate up to 60 TS1050 drives depending on their base and expansion frame configuration
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 512 Megabytes.
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Half-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Half-High (2 EIA units high) drives are available for use in the TS2900, TS3100 and TS3200 libraries. These drives are specified and ordered with the following libraries:
•The TS2900 Autoloader can accommodate one Ultrium 5 SAS Half-High tape drive.
•The TS3100 library can accommodate two Ultrium 5 SAS or FC Half-High tape drive.
•The TS3200 library can accommodate four Ultrium 5 SAS or FC Half-High tape drives.
IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 Megabytes.
2.6 IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape drives
The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 drives were announced in 2007. The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive is a high-performance, high-capacity data storage device that backs up and restores open systems applications. The drive can be integrated into an enclosure, such as a desktop unit, tape autoloader, or tape library. It is the fourth generation in the Ultrium series of products and is available with a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI LVD), Fibre Channel interface (FC), or serial-attached SCSI interface (SAS).
The Version 1 (V1) Ultrium 4 drive is a Full-High drive that still supports the SCSI LVD connection and 3 Gbps SAS and 4 Gbps FC options. The later Half-High Version 2 (V2) drive is based on the improved Ultrium 5 technology and provides faster 6 Gbps SAS and 8 Gbps FC attachment. When this was written, the Version 1 Ultrium 4 drives were still available for ordering in the TS3100, TS3200, and TS3310 libraries.
Ultrium 4 tape drive features at a glance
The LTO Generation 4 tape drive range has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 120 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 240 MBps
•LTO Ultrium 4 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 800 GB
•Ultra 160 Low Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI option using HD68 connector (V1 drive)
•4 Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option (V1 drive)
•3 Gbps SAS dual port attachment option (V1 drive)
•8 Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option (V2 Half-High drive)
•6 Gbps SAS dual port attachment option (V2 Half-High drive)
•256 MB internal data buffer
•Application-managed encryption support
•System-managed and Library-Managed encryption support for non-stand-alone drives
•8 KB cartridge memory with Ultrium 4 media
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO Ultrium 4 tape cartridges, the Ultrium 4 tape drives can read and write to LTO Ultrium 3 cartridges and read LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges. It cannot read LTO Ultrium 1 cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO Ultrium 4 drives. In addition to the use of the IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge with up to 800 GB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO Ultrium 4 tape cartridges.
Table 2-13 shows the native data transfer rate when a data cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-13 Native data transfer rate with various media
|
|
Generation 4 media
|
Generation 3 media
|
Generation 2 media
|
|
Supported methods of operating
|
Read/write
|
Read/write
|
Read only
|
|
Native data rate SCSI (MBps)
|
120
|
80
|
35
|
|
Native date rate SAS (MBps)
|
120
|
80
|
35
|
|
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
|
120
|
80
|
35
|
Connectivity
The LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These drives offer the following connection types:
•Full-High V1 drives:
– Ultra 160 Low Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI using HD68 connector (not on TS1040)
– 4 Gbps Fibre Channel using LC connector (not in TS2340 stand-alone drive)
– 3 Gbps SAS attachment (not on TS1040)
•Half-High V2 drives:
– 6 Gbps SAS attachment
– 8 Gbps Fibre Channel - single port (only in TS3100 and TS3200 libraries)
IBM Ultrium drives can be connected to many different types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or Host-Bus-Adapters (HBAs) that are supported with the Ultrium drives, see this website:
Performance
The LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive uses 896 data tracks to read and write to Ultrium 4 tape. These tracks are grouped in five servo bands. Like the Ultrium 5 drives, the high-bandwidth servo system features a low-mass servo to help more effectively track servo bands and improve data throughput with damaged media in less-than-optimal shock and vibration environments.
The native data transfer rate for Ultrium 4 tape drives is 120 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach 240 MBps. IBM advises the use of the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 4 800 GB data cartridge, which provides up to 1600 GB of storage with a 2:1 compression ratio.
Speed matching
To improve the performance of the LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive, the tape drive uses a technique called speed matching to dynamically adjust its native (uncompressed) data rate to the slower rate of the HBA of the server. The LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive negotiates with the HBA of the server to set up a speed with the best performance.
If the server is between two of the native rates, the drive calculates the appropriate data rate at which to operate. Speed matching reduces backhitching. Backhitching is a condition that occurs when a data cartridge stops, reverses, and restarts motion. A backhitch is usually the result of a mismatch between the data rates of the connected server and the tape drive. The Ultrium 4 tape drive has a 256 MB internal data buffer compared to a 128 MB internal data buffer in the Ultrium 3 tape drive.
For LTO-4 Full-High (FH) and version 1 Half-High (HH), the speed matching data rate is shown in Table 2-14.
Table 2-14 LTO-4 FH and version 1 HH drives
|
Performance parameters
|
Generation 4 media
|
Generation 3 media
|
Generation 2 media
|
|
Speed matching data rates MBps
|
120
103
84
66
48
40
30
|
80
70
60
50
40
30
|
30
26
22
19
15
|
For LTO-4 version 2 Half-High (HH), the speed-matching data rate is shown in Table 2-15.
Table 2-15 LTO-4 version 2 HH tape drive
|
Performance parameters
|
Generation 4 media
|
Generation 3 media
|
Generation 2 media
|
|
Speed matching data rates MBps
|
120.0
113.1
106.1
99.2
92.3
85.3
78.6
71.4
64.6
57.6
50.8
43.8
36.9
30.5
|
80.0
76.1
72.3
68.4
64.6
60.8
56.9
53.1
49.2
45.4
41.5
37.7
33.8
30.0
|
35.0
33.7
32.3
31.0
29.6
28.3
26.9
25.6
24.2
22.9
21.5
20.2
18.8
17.5
|
Encryption
The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 drive (including the TS1040) were the first tape drives within the IBM LTO tape family to support tape encryption. The LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive family supports application-managed tape encryption at no charge on the SAS and Fibre Channel tape drives. In case of library use, system-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are supported with the Transparent LTO Encryption features (FC5901). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required for encryption key management with LTO Ultrium 6 Drives.
Servo and track layout technology
Ultrium 4 technology uses 896 data tracks compared to the 704 data tracks in Ultrium 3 that are used to read and write data to the data cartridge. These tracks are grouped into five servo bands, as described in “Servo tracks” on page 47. The high-bandwidth servo system features a low-mass servo to help more effectively track servo bands and to improve data throughput with damaged media in less-than-optimal shock and vibration environments.
Magneto-resistive head design
Magneto-resistive head design that uses flat lap head technology in magneto-resistive heads for Ultrium 4 helps minimize contact, debris accumulation, and wear on the tape as it moves over the read/write heads.
Surface Control Guiding Mechanism
The IBM patented Surface Control Guiding Mechanism guides the tape along the tape path in the LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive. This method uses the surface of the tape (rather than the edges) to control tape motion. This method helps to reduce tape damage (especially to the edges of the tape) and tape debris, which comes from the damaged edges and can accumulate in the head area.
The Statistical Analysis Reporting System
The customer-centric Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) provides information that reflects the current and overall health of the drive and any media that was recently used within the Ultrium 4 drives. The SARS can be used directly by the host or a subsystem to monitor the systemic operational characteristics of the drives and media.
2.6.1 The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape drive range
The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 drive range is a mix of Half-High and Full-High stand-alone and library-installable drives. This offers a high-performance, high-capacity data storage devices that back up and restore open systems applications. The drive can be integrated into an enclosure, such as a desktop unit, tape autoloader, or tape library. The IBM LTO Ultrium 4 drive range consists of the following components:
•TS2340 (3580 L43 for SCSI or 3580 S43 for 3 Gbps SAS) Full-High stand-alone drive
•TS2240 (3580 Model H4V) 6 Gbps SAS Half-High stand-alone drive
•Ultrium 4 SAS Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS2900 tape autoloader
•Ultrium 4 SCSI LVD Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 4 3 Gbps SAS Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 4 4 Gbps FC Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 4 6 Gbps SAS V2 Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 4 8 Gbps FC V2 Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3100 tape library
•Ultrium 4 SCSI LVD Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 4 3 Gbps SAS Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 4 4 Gbps FC Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 4 6 Gbps SAS V2 Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 4 8 Gbps FC V2 Half-High tape drive sled inside a TS3200 tape library
•Ultrium 4 SCSI LVD Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3310 tape library
•Ultrium 4 3 Gbps SAS Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3310 tape library
•Ultrium 4 4 Gbps FC Full-High tape drive sled inside a TS3310 tape library
•TS1040 (3588 F4A) FC Full-High tape drive sled within a TS3500 tape library
|
Important: Extra care should be taken when specifying Ultrium 4 drives in libraries, because many different drive and interface options are available.
|
IBM TS2340 (3580 L43/S43) tape drive
IBM TS2340 tape drive model L43/S43 (3580 L43/S43) is an external Full-High (4 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2340 Model L43/S43 tape drive uses an LVD SCSI or 3 Gbps SAS interface for connection to a wide spectrum of system servers.
The TS2340 can read and write to Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 3 cartridges and is read compatible with Ultrium 2 data cartridges. The Ultrium 4 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
The enclosure width allows two TS2340 storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit requiring four EIA units (4U) of rack space.
The TS2340 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2340 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 MBs.
Figure 2-28 shows a TS2340 tape drive.
Figure 2-28 LTO Ultrium 4 TS2340 tape drive
IBM TS2240 (3580 H4V) tape drive H4S
IBM TS2240 tape drive model H4V (3580 H4V) is an external Half-High (2 EIA units high) stand-alone or rack mountable unit that offers high capacity and performance for the midrange systems environment.
The TS2240 Model H4V tape drive uses a 6 Gbps dual port SAS interface for connection to a wide spectrum of system servers.
The TS2240 can read and write to Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 3 cartridges and is read compatible with Ultrium 2 data cartridges. The Ultrium 4 tape drive is encryption-capable and supports application managed encryption.
The enclosure width allows two TS2240 H4V storage units to be mounted side by side in a 19-inch IBM server rack mount shelf kit requiring two EIA units (2U) of rack space.
The TS2240 tape drive provides an excellent migration path from digital linear tape (DLT or SDLT), 1/4 inch (QIC), 4 mm (DAT), 8 mm, or older LTO generation tape drives.
There are no unique power supply requirements. The TS2260 tape drive can attach to 100V to 125V power supplies at 60Hz or 200V to 240V supplies at 50 Hz AC.
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 MBs.
Figure 2-29 on page 97 shows a TS2240 tape drive.
Figure 2-29 TS2240 tape drive
Figure 2-30 shows the difference in size of the previous 3580 H4S model compared to the newer 3580 H4V model.
Figure 2-30 3580 H4V and H4S comparison
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 library drives
The library-installable Ultrium 4 tape drives can read and write to Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 3 cartridges, and are read compatible with Ultrium 2 data cartridges.
The LTO Ultrium 4 tape drives support data encryption on the base drive with Ultrium 4 media. System Managed and Library Managed Encryption and associated IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager access are all available as a chargeable licensed key and Transparent LTO Encryption (feature code 5901 for TS2900, feature code 5900 for TS3100 or 3200, and feature code 1604 for TS3500 libraries). IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required with this feature.
Extra care should be taken when Ultrium 4 drives are specified in libraries because so many drive and interface options are available.
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High (4 EIA units high) drives are available for use in the TS3100, TS3200, TS3310, and TS3500 libraries. These drives are specified and ordered with the following libraries:
•The TS3100 library can accommodate one Ultrium 4 SCSI, SAS, or FC Full-High tape drive.
•The TS3200 library can accommodate two Ultrium 4 SCSI, SAS or FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 base L5B unit can accommodate two Ultrium 4 SCSI, SAS or FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3310 optional E9U expansion unit can accommodate four Ultrium 4 SCSI, SAS or FC Full-High tape drives.
•The TS3500 libraries can accommodate up to 192 TS1050 Full-High FC Drives depending on their base and expansion frame configuration.
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Full-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 MBs.
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Half-High library drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Half-High (2 EIA units high) V2 drives are available for use in the TS2900, TS3100 and TS3200 libraries. These drives are specified and ordered with the following libraries:
•The TS2900 Autoloader can accommodate one Ultrium 4 SAS Half-High tape drive
•The TS3100 library can accommodate two Ultrium 4 SAS or FC Half-High tape drive
•The TS3200 library can accommodate four Ultrium 4 SAS or FC Half-High tape drives
IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Half-High tape drives have an internal buffer of 256 megabytes.
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Important: Take extra care when Ultrium 4 drives are specified in libraries, because many different drive and interface options are available.
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2.6.2 The IBM LTO Ultrium family of tape drives and libraries
The IBM LTO Ultrium family of tape drives and libraries (as shown in Figure 2-31) consists of the product offerings that range from a stand-alone unit to a highly scalable, automated library.
Figure 2-31 IBM tape libraries, tape autoloader, and tape drives
The TS4500 tape library, the newest addition to the IBM family of tape products, shows the minimum and maximum configurations in Figure 2-32.
Figure 2-32 Minimum and maximum TS4500 tape library configurations
The product offerings are all based on a common tape drive subassembly that is packaged in various robotic and stand-alone environments. As shown on the right side of Figure 2-31 on page 99, the following tape drives and libraries are available:
•The IBM TS2260 tape drive is an external stand-alone or rack-mountable (optional) unit for the family of IBM LTO Ultrium Tape products. It features the LTO Ultrium 6 Half-High tape drive.
•The IBM TS2900 tape autoloader is an external stand-alone or rack-mountable unit in the family of IBM LTO Ultrium Tape products. When it is mounted in a rack, it occupies one unit of the rack. It features one LTO Ultrium Half-High tape drive.
•The IBM TS2360 tape drive is an external stand-alone or rack-mountable (optional) unit for the family of IBM LTO Ultrium Tape products. It features the LTO Ultrium 6 Full-High tape drive.
•The IBM TS3100 tape library is a desktop or rack-mountable single drive unit that can hold up to 24 cartridges. A robotic system moves the cartridges to and from the drive. When it is mounted in a rack, it occupies two units of the rack. It features up to two LTO Ultrium Half-High tape drives or one LTO Ultrium Full-High tape drive.
•The IBM TS3200 tape library is a desktop or rack-mountable single or dual drive unit that can hold up to 48 cartridges. It has a three slot I/O station that must be shared when logical libraries are configured. When it is mounted in a rack, it occupies four units of the rack. It features up to four LTO Ultrium Half-High tape drives or up to two LTO Ultrium Full-High tape drives.
•The IBM TS3310 tape library is highly modular and vertically expandable. The smallest configuration includes a base module with one to two LTO Ultrium Full-High tape drives, 52.5 TB of native tape storage (35 slots), and 6 I/O slots. This tape library can be upgraded to a fully configured rack-mounted library 41U high. It will have up to 18 LTO Ultrium Full-High tape drives, over 603 TB of native tape storage (409 slots), and up to 54 I/O slots.
•The IBM TS3500 tape library is shown on the left side of Figure 2-31 on page 99. This tape library is a larger modular enterprise class library with the potential to house a maximum of 192 IBM LTO or IBM 3592 tape drives in as many as 16 frames. The library also can be ordered with a dual accessor model option to help increase mount performance and overall system reliability and availability. The new LTO-6 technology can greatly increase library capacity compared to previous LTO technology (in the same foot print) at a typically lower storage cost. A TS3500 tape library with High Density (HD) frames can store over 50 petabytes (PB) of uncompressed data or 125 PB at a 2.5:1 compression ratio. With the release of the TS3500 tape library Shuttle Complex configuration that supports over 300,000 LTO cartridges, an astounding capacity value of over 450 PB can be reached.
•The IBM TS4500 is a highly scalable, stand-alone tape library that provides high-density tape storage and high-performance, automated tape handling for open systems environments. An individual library consists of one base frame and up to three expansion frames and can include up to 60 tape drives and more than 4,500 tape cartridges, as shown in Figure 2-32 on page 100.
The TS4500 tape library provides the following capabilities:
– All of the frames include high-density (HD) slot technology
– Additional frame models can be placed in any active position so that the library can grow from both the right side and the left side of the first L frame
– Integrated management console (IMC)
– New user interface for improved usability
– Updated control system
– Input/output (I/O) magazine to allow individual cartridge handling to be performed independently of the library
– Top-rack space to house extra tape solution components within the library footprint
– Support for HD2-compatible models of the TS1150 (3592 EH8), TS1140 (3592 EH7), LTO 5 (3588 F5C), and LTO 6 (3588 F6C) tape drives
The TS4500 tape library is available with several tape drives, frame models, and feature options, to meet your specific needs. Additional features of the TS4500 tape library are highlighted in the following list:
– Advanced Library Management System (ALMS)
– Ability to attach multiple simultaneous heterogeneous servers
– Remote management with the TS4500 management GUI or the TS4500 command line
– Command-line interface (CLI)
– Remote monitoring using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), email, or syslog
– Multipath architecture
– Drive and media exception reporting
– In-depth reporting using the Tape System Reporter (TSR)
– Host-based path failover
– Up to 144 I/O slots (36 I/O slots standard for LTO libraries and 32 I/O slots standard for 3592 libraries)
For more information about the TS4500 tape library, see the IBM Redbooks publication titled IBM TS4500 Tape Library Guide, SG24-8235.
2.6.3 Multipath architecture
The patented multipath architecture is an IBM unique feature. The TS3100, TS3200, TS3310, TS3500, and TS4500 tape libraries implemented the second generation of the architecture. It uses the SCSI-3 Move Media command set that is featured in midrange and open libraries. The multipath architecture removes the need for a dedicated server plus middleware to control the use of a library by multiple hosts that are using various operating systems because each drive has its own path to the control unit.
Conventional tape libraries use a dedicated host port to communicate with the library; for example, for sending mount request commands. IBM LTO tape libraries use the same path to communicate with the drives and the library controller, as shown in Figure 2-33. This path is not one dedicated path; it might be any path to any tape drive.
Figure 2-33 Conventional tape library compared to multipath architecture
For conventional tape libraries, the control path is a single point of failure. By contrast, the IBM LTO tape libraries offer as many control paths as there are drives installed in the library. Therefore, if an individual control path failure occurs, the library communication can be over different, redundant control paths.
As shown in Figure 2-34, if one path to a drive is broken because of a defective switch port, cable, or HBA, communication to the library controller can occur by using one of the other available paths. With automatic Control Path Failover, this design constitutes a unique high-availability option.
Figure 2-34 Redundant control paths to the library controller
In addition to the redundant control path, multipath architecture offers the benefit of built-in partitioning. With the partitioning feature of the IBM LTO libraries, the physical library can be divided into several smaller logical libraries, which are independent of each other. The maximum number of logical libraries varies by model type. A logical library must contain at least one tape drive and cartridge cell and can consist of more than one tape drive that shares the same cartridge cells.
Multiple heterogeneous hosts can share the library with this partitioning option. Each logical library has its own drives, cartridges, and control paths. Because of barriers between the logical libraries, cartridges cannot be moved from one logical library to another.
Figure 2-35 shows three logical libraries, with two drives each and several cartridge storage slots that are dedicated to each of the heterogeneous servers.
Figure 2-35 IBM LTO tape library partitioned into three logical libraries
2.6.4 Next-generation multipath architecture
The Advanced Library Management System is an optional extension to the IBM patented multipath architecture. The multipath architecture virtualized the library accessor. This architecture enabled a library to be partitioned into multiple logical libraries and allowed a single library accessor to be used by multiple host computers in a transparent manner. The ALMS virtualizes the SCSI element address for storage slots, I/O slots, and drives. ALMS provides enhanced automation functionality, such as dynamic partitioning, including storage slot pooling and flexible drive assignment. Tape drives can be assigned to any logical library and to multiple logical libraries by using a web browser-based user interface. Logical libraries can be added, deleted, or easily changed non-disruptively. Storage capacity can be changed without any impact to host applications.
ALMS is a feature with the TS3500 tape library. For more information, see 10.6, “Advanced Library Management System” on page 346.
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Note: Advanced Library Management System (ALMS), which comes standard on the TS4500, always shows as installed. For more information see the Redbooks publication titled IBM TS4500 Tape Library Guide, SG24-8235.
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1 For more information, see LTO Technology at this website: http://www.lto.org/technology/what-is-lto-technology/
2 Roadmap is published by SCSI Trade Association, which is available at this website: http://www.scsita.org/library/2011/06/serial-attached-scsi-master-roadmap.html
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