TS4500 Ultrium Linear Tape-Open and 3592 tape drives
The IBM TS4500 tape library supports Ultrium Linear Tape-Open (LTO) and IBM TS1100 (3592) tape drives.
The high-density 2 (HD2) frames of the TS4500 tape library support HD2-compatible models of the IBM TS1155 (3592 55E and 3592 55F), IBM TS1150 (3592 EH8), IBM TS1140 (3592 EH7), LTO-7 (3588 F7C), LTO-6 (3588 F6C), and LTO-5 (3588 F5C) tape drives.
This chapter includes the following topics:
2.1 IBM TS1100 tape drives for the TS4500 tape library
The TS1100 family of drives for the TS4500 include the IBM TS1155 tape drives (machine types 3592-55E and 3592-55F), IBM TS1150 tape drives (machine type 3592-EH8), and TS1140 tape drives (machine type 3592-EH7). These drives offer a design that is focused on high capacity, performance, and high reliability for storing mission-critical data.
The 3592 family was enlarged and improved with the addition of the IBM TS1155, 3592 Model 55E, and Model 55F tape drives. The TS1155 is an enhancement of the fifth generation of the 3592 model EH8 and E08 tape drive family. It provides the unprecedented capacity of 15 TB of uncompressed data on a single tape and new physical host connection options.
 
Note: This chapter only describes the 3592 models the attach to the TS4500. For other 3592 models, see the IBM Tape Library Guide for Open Systems, SG24-5946.
The 3592 tape drive family has the following common characteristics, which are described in this section:
2.1.1 Technology enhancements
The 3592 tape drive family includes the following key features:
•Virtual backhitch, which is the optimum adaptive format and algorithm for improved start-and-stop write performance. For more information, see “Virtual backhitch (nonvolatile caching)” on page 69.
•High performance and robust dual microprocessor architecture. One microprocessor operates the host attachment interface (which is running proven 3590 host attach microcode). The other microprocessor focuses strictly on writing data and reading data from tape. Each microprocessor resets the other microprocessor to act as a fail-safe.
•Statistical Analysis Recording System (SARS) algorithm with extended mount count.
•Fast random access performance when the tape drive operates on any of the Short Length Cartridge (SLC) types.
•Support of an enhanced capacity scaling and segmentation format when the tape drive operates on the full-length, read/write cartridge types JA, JB, JC, and JD, which enable fast locate and read times.
•Streaming lossless data compression (SLDC) algorithm, which is an enhancement of the Lempel-Ziv class 1 (LZ-1) data compression algorithm.
•The JD, JZ, and JL media types contain 16 KB cartridge memory, increased from the 8 KB cartridge memory that is contained in JC and JB media types and 4 KB cartridge memory that is contained in JA, JW, JR, and JJ media types.
Recording format
The IBM 3592 tape drive uses an advanced interleaved bidirectional serpentine recording technique that writes 8, 16, or 32 (depending on the drive) data tracks at a time on a 3592 cartridge. The 3592 cartridge is a half-inch, advanced metal particle, dual-layer tape.
The tape layout consists of five servo bands (prerecorded on the tape) and four data bands where the data is written, as shown in Figure 2-1. The servo bands provide location information to control the positioning of the head as it writes and reads data within the data band. For more information about this design, see “Servo tracks” on page 65.
As shown in Figure 2-1, the area between adjacent servo bands is a data band. The 3592 media has four data bands, each with a number of data tracks (128 - 288, which is different for each model).
Figure 2-1 Layout of the servo and data bands on the 3592 media
Servo tracks
Servo tracks or bands help to ensure accurate positioning of the tape drive head over the data track so that the head does not stray onto an adjacent track. Servo tracks are necessary to support high-data densities on the tape where the tracks are extremely close together. The servo tracks are written at the time of cartridge manufacture before the cartridge is usable for data storage and retrieval. Each tape write head has two servo heads, one servo head for each of the two servo bands that it spans.
Two servo bands are used simultaneously to provide two sources of servo information for increased accuracy. Control positions within the servo band are used to reposition the head to write forward and reverse wraps, within each of the four data bands. This timing-based servo technology can be finely tuned. This technology supports extremely high track densities for future 3592 generations because more than eight positions can be defined within the same servo band, expanding the potential track densities.
In addition, significant advances occurred in the tape coating process, which uses high-quality metal particle media.
2.1.2 Reliability and availability
The 3592 tape drive incorporates and expands on the high reliability and function of previous IBM drives that were developed over many years of experience. It builds on proven technologies to enhance and apply new techniques to ensure high reliability and availability.
Improved availability
Improved availability includes the following characteristics:
•Single field-replaceable unit (FRU)
When a service call is placed, the IBM service support representative (SSR) does not replace any parts or subassemblies inside the canister. The new smaller drive unit means that for any failure within the drive, the IBM SSR exchanges the entire unit rather than performing lengthy diagnostics or component replacement in the field.
•Redundant, hot-pluggable power supplies
In all configurations, the drives are seated in cradles that contain two power supplies. Each pair of power supplies can be used by one or two drives. One power supply is sufficient to run both drives, and the second power supply is provided for redundancy.
•Retention of the Fibre Channel (FC) worldwide name ID during service action
When a failed drive is exchanged, you do not need to reconfigure the attached hosts or the storage area network (SAN) to recognize a replacement drive. This function also eliminates any issues with SAN hosts finding incorrect addresses during a system reboot.
•Retention of the IP configuration for the ethernet ports during service action
When a failed drive is exchanged, you do not need to reconfigure the attached ethernet hosts to recognize a replacement drive. Ethernet port configuration data is maintained during replacement.
Advanced technology
Advanced technology includes the following characteristics:
•Robust loader mechanism
The loader mechanism is suitable for the heavy-duty cycle usage in mainframe systems. The leader block on the tape cartridge is replaced by a metal pin, which is enhanced over previous drive implementations for increased robustness.
•Elimination of drive pneumatics and mechanical adjustments
The aerodynamic movement of the tape over the flat-lap head pulls the tape close to the head while the tape is moving, and provides maximum efficiency in reading and writing. Because of the shape of the head, particles do not accumulate on the tape, which eliminates the possibility of debris contamination of the tape surface. Air-bearing heads effectively cushion the tape that is moving across the head.
However, whenever the tape stops, it relaxes toward the head surface. The head has a two-stage actuator: one mechanism for moving to the required tape wrap, and another finer actuator for adjustments to the track-following servo.
•Straighter and shorter tape path for better tape tracking
Tape tracking is improved by using grooved rollers to provide surface-controlled guiding. This enhancement decreases potential wear or damage on the edges of the tape and decreases lateral movement with the shorter tape path.
Buffering, speed matching, and virtual backhitch algorithms all serve to eliminate physical backhitching. They improve performance and reduce the wear that is caused by continually braking and reversing direction on the drive mechanics.
•Channel calibration to optimize performance and data integrity
The drive uses individual read/write data channel calibration, which uses sophisticated techniques that were originally implemented in disk technology.
Enhanced service functions
The following service functions were enhanced:
•Enhanced SARS recording
The tape drive uses Statistical Analysis Recording System (SARS) to help to isolate the failures between media and hardware. SARS uses the cartridge performance history that is saved in the cartridge memory module and the drive performance history that is kept in the drive flash. The cartridge memory is a serial Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), with read-only and rewritable areas, to determine the more likely cause of failure.
SARS can cause the drive to request a cleaner cartridge (based on usage) to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware is degraded. SARS information is reported through the TapeAlert flags and through media information messages (MIMs) and service information messages (SIMs).
•Diagnostic information
The drive maintains logs to assist engineering or service personnel. The logs are included in drive memory dumps, and they are accessible to service personnel in several ways, including through the new hot-pluggable service panel. Memory dumps are maintained over Power On Reset (POR).
•More temperature and voltage sensors to improve error isolation
The drive contains sensors and circuits to detect errors. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the drive electronics. Voltage sensors detect when the power supply is out of tolerance. Other error checks, such as tape velocity checks, read/write data integrity checks, and servo checks are performed by using circuitry and sensors. The drive microcode checks for logic errors to handle hardware-detected errors and to detect and report microcode-related errors.
•Drive status indicators and reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) functions on the library drive interface
The drive provides indicators for FC status, whether the power is good, and faults. However, the drive hot-pluggable service panel is the key service tool to perform test procedures and interpret results.
•Concurrent microcode update, with options to switch the new or old copy of drive code
•Backup drive vital product data (VPD card) that is stored from the drive
When a drive is replaced, the VPD can be downloaded quickly to the drive by using the backup, which reduces the time that is taken for repair or configuration.
•Preventive maintenance
The 3592 tape drive requires no preventive maintenance beyond the use of the cleaning cartridge. The 3592 media cartridges require proper care and appropriate handling and shipping procedures.
2.1.3 Features that are designed for capacity and performance
The unique features and specifications of the 3592 make it a true enterprise tape drive in terms of performance and reliability. The following sections describe these industry-leading features in greater detail.
 
Important: These features are generic for all 3592 tape drives. The TS1155, TS1150 and TS1140 offer other advanced features that are described in 2.2, “IBM TS1155 and TS1150 tape drive (3592 Model EH8, 55E, 55F)” on page 81 and 2.3, “IBM TS1140 tape drive (Model 3592 EH7)” on page 99.
Data buffer
The drive has a large data buffer with read-ahead buffer management that addresses the lowest band of data rates. It effectively collects more blocks of data in the buffer before it writes to the drive at a higher speed. As a result of this data buffer, the drive stops and
starts less often, which generally improves the overall performance and reliability of the drive and tape.
Speed matching
For medium data rates, when the drive is operating from a host that cannot sustain the maximum 3592 data rate, the drive performs dynamic speed matching. The drive adjusts the native data rate of the drive as closely as possible to the net host data rate (after it factors out data compressibility). The 3592 drive operates at various speeds (between six and 13 speeds, depending on the drive that is used) when the 3592 format is read or written to in an attempt to match the effective host data rates.
If the net host data rate is between two of the speed matching native data rates, the drive calculates at which of the two data rates to operate. Speed matching reduces the number of required backhitches. In certain environments, the backhitch of the drive is masked by the data buffer of the drive. Therefore, the system throughput is not improved or reduced by speed matching.
Cartridge memory
The cartridge memory (CM), which is a passive, contactless silicon storage device that is physically a part of the cartridge, is contained within the cartridge. The CM is used to hold information about that specific cartridge, the media in the cartridge, and the data on the media.
The 3592 uses the same CM module as LTO media, with a capacity of 4 KiB, which is extended to 8 KiB on JB or JX media (and JC, JY, or JK media), and enhanced to 16 KiB for JD or JZ media. The CM was designed for 3592 to support the high-resolution tape directory feature. The CM differs from the LTO specification because it supports the high-resolution tape directory feature. See “High-resolution tape directory” on page 68.
Communication between the drive and the CM occurs through a noncontact, passive radio frequency interface (RFI), which eliminates the need for physical connections to the cartridge for power or signals.
High-resolution tape directory
The 3592 drive maintains a tape directory structure with a higher granularity of information about the physical position of data blocks and file marks on the media. This feature gives the 3592 drive improved nominal and average access times for locate operations. Locate times are uniform.
They are based on the position of the block or file mark on the tape, independently of the uniformity of the block size or file mark distribution along the length of the tape. Therefore, the 3592 locate and space performance is targeted to be completely and individually dependent on the longitudinal position on tape of the target block or file mark.
Virtual backhitch (nonvolatile caching)
The 3592 stages write-data through an intermediate dynamic random access memory (DRAM) buffer on its way to tape. This buffer is volatile because it does not retain what is stored if power is lost. For streamed writes (or reads), this buffer yields considerably improved performance.
When the streaming writes cease, a typical pre-3592 tape drive halts the tape and repositions it directly upstream of where the writing ended. From this action, data that is received later can be written immediately after the previously written data. This method eliminates the waste of the considerable length of tape. Substantial lengths of unwritten tape can significantly reduce capacity. Here, a backhitch (reverse) by typical tape drives is used to eliminate this loss of capacity loss after a write to tape.
Nonvolatile caching (NVC) is a 3592 feature that can help greatly improve write performance through backhitch reduction. This system temporarily reserves portions of physical tape for cache areas. Data that is received from the host is written to the volatile buffer as usual, and to nonvolatile tape cache areas, with the exception that no backhitch is necessary when temporary copies are written to cache areas of tape. This temporary capacity loss is easily recouped.
The data is written to temporary cache areas and it is not released in the volatile buffer, but instead it accumulates. This accumulation continues until the buffer is nearly full. At this time, the accumulated data in the buffer is rewritten through a streamed write to the standard area of tape.
When the rewrite is complete, the temporary cache areas of tape are released so that they can be overwritten. To significantly improve the average write throughput to tape, temporary copies can be written to the cache areas of tape without backhitching until the buffer is nearly full. Then, a rewrite of the data can be streamed to the standard area of tape.
Aside from the improved write throughput performance, the second effect of NVC writing is to recover the capacity that is lost by the standard writing technique. Data that is received between synchronization events fills containers of data to be written to tape that are called device blocks or data sets. The standard writing technique calls for padding the last partially filled data set. This padding on average amounts to half the size of the last data set. With the large data set sizes of modern tape drives, this loss can be substantial.
The streaming rewrite of the data that is accumulated in a buffer causes nearly all data sets that are written to a standard area of tape to be written in full, which is known as data set packing.
Writing in NVC mode is automatically started by the drive when host writing behaviors are detected that can perform better when in NVC writing mode. Similarly, NVC writing is discontinued when host commands are received that do not benefit from NVC writing, or when commands, such as Rewind, are received. When NVC writing is exited, the drive writes any packed data sets that are accumulated in its buffer before it runs the command that stops NVC mode.
Because NVC writing is automatically started and stopped, it is not apparent to host applications. The only indication that NVC writing occurs is the improved capacity and performance that can result from this new mode of writing.
The two components of NVC, backhitch reduction and data set packing, provide major performance and capacity improvements over standard tape drives, such as the 3590, or the Linear Tape-Open (LTO) writing of synchronized data. Data set packing improves overall tape capacity. Backhitch reduction decreases the frequency of mechanical repositions. NVC provides an innovative approach to increasing capacity and write performance in a way that is not apparent to host applications.
2.1.4 Performance or capacity scaling
The 3592 tape drives support scaling and segmentation modes on the read/write (JA, JB, JC, or JD) cartridges so that clients can trade off capacity for improved access times.
 
Note: The TS 1155 drive models supports capacity scaling only on the JD full length R/W media. Capacity scaling is not supported for economy (JJ, JK, and JL) or Write Once Read Many (WORM) tapes (JW, JX, JY, JR, and JZ).
Although 256 settings of capacity are supported on the 3592 drive, the following settings are often used:
•Full capacity default mode
•A 20% scaled fast access mode (capacity scaled, front of tape through an x'35' setting)
•Performance scaling for 87% capacity (segmented format, capacity scaling setting x'E0')
Performance scaling, which is also known as capacity scaling, is a function through which data can be contained in a specified fraction of the tape, which yields faster locate and read times. This function is possible through the action of modifying internal formatting indicators in the medium and in the cartridge memory chip.
The normal serpentine track format is altered in such a way as to limit the recorded portion of the tape to a specified fraction of the length of the tape, as shown in Figure 2-2. In the 3592, an application can issue a Mode Select command to scale an individual cartridge. It pertains only to the cartridge that is loaded and it is not persistent.
Figure 2-2 Examples for a 100% tape and scaled tape to 20%
The result of performance scaling a tape to a percentage value (for example, 20%) is that the maximum number of recordable gigabytes is reduced to 20% of the normal value. Also, the average time to locate a random record on a full tape that starts from load point is (roughly) 20% of the time to locate a random record from load point for a full, unscaled tape.
The cartridge can be rescaled from any current value to any supported new value. Tape is logically erased by this rescaling. (The end of the data mark is written at the beginning of the tape.) However, tape is not physically erased as with the long erase command.
Scaling or rescaling one cartridge does not cause rescaling of the next cartridge. An explicit command must be issued for each cartridge to be scaled or rescaled.
When a scaling operation is requested on a JD type cartridge using the TS1155 drive, the media will be up-formatted to the J5A logical format at the same time the scaling operation is performed unless the format is controlled through explicit means.
Performance segmentation
Performance segmentation provides fast access and capacity by allowing the tape to be divided into two segments. One segment is a fast access segment to be filled first, and the other segment is more capacity to be filled after the first segment. Therefore, it is high performance in two ways. It has segmentation and high-performance random access in the first segment, as though it was a scaled cartridge, while it provides other larger capacity, as shown in Figure 2-3.
Figure 2-3 Segmented tape on 3592
Performance capacity scaling and segmentation have the following implications:
•If host systems provide a means to limit the amount of data that a client places on the media, for example, with a percent usage construct, the user achieves a much faster average access time to the first data. Also, more locates on the same volume improve significantly.
•With segmentation, a less than 1% degradation occurs in the data rate because of the increased number of wrap changes. Segmentation also reduces the nominal cartridge capacity by approximately 10%.
2.1.5 Physical attachment
The 3592 (model EH7, EH8, 55F) tape drives are supported on the following environments:
•IBM System i
•IBM iSeries
•IBM OS/400
•IBM Power Systems™ (p6 and newer)
•IBM System p (p5 and older)
•IBM RS/6000®
•IBM pSeries
•IBM System x
•IBM xSeries
•Sun servers
•Hewlett-Packard servers
•All Intel technology-compatible servers that run Microsoft Windows and Linux
The 3592 (model 55E model) tape drives are supported on open systems servers running Microsoft Windows only. Approval of i-RPQ 8B3685 will be required for ordering a TS1155 Tape Drive Model 55E.
Fiber Channel (FC) drives
The TS4500 3592 FC tape drives come with dual-ported 8 Gbps, switched FC attachments, Providing attachment to multiple servers or a single server with redundancy. This feature offers attachment flexibility in an open systems environment. The drive can be attached to open systems servers directly with Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs).
The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives attempt to connect at 8 Gbps. However, they autonegotiate down to 4 Gbps, 2 Gbps, or 1 Gbps if the system or switch that they are connected to cannot support higher bandwidth.
The 3592 fiber channel (FC) attach tape drives can operate as a node loop port (NL_port) (Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop [FC-AL] support) or as a node (N_port) (supporting direct connection to a SAN switch, which is also known as point-to-point or fabric mode). The 3592 tape drives autonegotiate to the N_port or NL_port, depending on whether a loop or a point-to-point connection is detected when the drive boots.
The drives do not autonegotiate if the drive was set to force an explicit setting of these configurations. Regardless of whether the 3592 tape drives connect as an NL_port or an N_port, they autonegotiate to be a public device (attached to a switch) or a private device (attached to another N_port, that is, directly to a host).
If a library drive is replaced, an IBM SSR might select the replacement unit to automatically inherit the configuration attributes of the failed unit. This way, a user can avoid reconfiguring the zoning in the switches. Alternatively, the panels can be used to change these fields directly at any time.
For more information about FC attachment planning, see IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape System 3592 Introduction and Planning Guide, GA32-0555.
For the latest information about applications and their levels that support 3592 tape drives, see the ISV matrix, which is available to download as a PDF file from the “Independent Software Vendor Matrix (ISV) for IBM TotalStorage 3592 tape drives and LTO” from the TS4500 product web page from the Resources tab:
Multiple Fibre Channel ports
All FC 3592 models have two independent FC interfaces or ports. Both ports run the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) protocol with FC tape support. Through two ports, concurrent attachment of two independent FC configurations can be made to each drive. One or both ports can be attached to various open systems servers, SAN switches, and directors.
The 3592 tape drives support industry-standard shortwave LC-Duplex fibre optic cables, with cable lengths of up to 500 m (1,640 ft.) and 50 microns of core fibre, depending on the required attachment speed.
The following maximum distances are supported by the shortwave adapters with the LC-Duplex fibre optic cables:
•One Gbps shortwave adapters have a maximum distance of 500 meters (1,640 ft.).
•Two Gbps shortwave adapters have a maximum distance of 300 meters (984 ft.).
•Four Gbps shortwave adapters have a maximum distance of 150 meters (492 ft.).
•Eight Gbps shortwave adapters have a maximum distance of 50 meters (164 ft.).
Supported topologies
The 3592 tape drives support switched fabric and point-to-point loop topologies.
Switched fabric
Two or more FC endpoints connect through a switch. The FC architecture supports up to 256 ports through each switch. Switches include a function that is called zoning. By using this function, you can partition the switch ports into port groups and then assign group access to other groups. This function prevents group interference. With switched fabrics, all of their ports have simultaneous use of the full FC architecture bandwidth.
Point-to-point loop
A point-to-point loop is similar to a point-to-point topology. Both have two connected FC endpoints. The difference is in the protocol. Therefore, when only two FC endpoints are connected, either protocol is usable. However, both endpoints must use the same protocol. The 3592 model supports a point-to-point loop. Most FC adapters default to the loop protocol when they are not directly connected to a fabric.
 
Important: SAN switches normally default the switch port to loop mode. If the port is set to automatic mode, loop mode is the first mode that is attempted during the port login process. The 3592 accepts loop mode and logs in to the port. To get the 3592 to log in to the SAN switch port in fabric mode, the port on the switch must be set to fixed fabric mode by the switch administrator or at the drive by using the management interface.
Address assignments
The 3592 tape drives must have an FC address to communicate over the FC interface. The tape drives support hard and soft addressing. Most FC hosts (initiators) support hard addressing and do not support soft addressing. For more information, see the device driver documentation.
Fibre Channel worldwide name ID
Each Fibre Channel card on the 3592 tape drive has four names (Node 0, Node 1, Port 0, and Port 1) that are hardcoded into the electronics of the card by IBM manufacturing. These names are similar to a serial number and are unique throughout the world.
More details on SAN best practice and IBM SAN switches can be found in the IBM Tape Library Guide for Open Systems, SG24-5946.
Ethernet drives
IBM TS1155 Tape Drive, Model 55E, delivers 10 Gb Ethernet host attachment interface optimized for cloud-based and hyperscale environments.
This drive provides dual 10 Gb optical Ethernet host attachment ports using Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet for cloud-based and open-compute environments.
The dual 10 Gb ports uses short wave multi-mode optical SFP transceivers and the allowable cable lengths are shown in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1 Ethernet optical cable limits
Fiber cable type
Connector Type
Minimum modal bandwidth at 850 nm (MHz x km)
Operating range in meters
62.5 µm MMF
LC
160
2-26
62.5 µm MMF
LC
200
2-33
50 µm MMF
LC
400
2-66
50 µm MMF
LC
500
2-82
50 µm MMF
LC
2000
2-300
The TS1155 Ethernet drive currently will support iSCSI Extension for RDMA (iSER) on Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2). This specific protocol utilizes a UDP transport layer and required Data Center Bridging (DCB) switches and lossless networks.
Extensions for RDMA (iSER) is a standard that enables iSCSI hosts and targets to take advantage of RDMA capabilities. iSER runs on top of a RDMA capable Network Interface Card (rNIC) regardless of the protocol.
The TS1155 55E is supported through Microsoft Windows device driver and requires approval of i-RPQ 8B3685.
2.1.6 Media
Users must cost-effectively store more digital information than ever before, often to meet growing regulatory and legal requirements. The 3592 tape drives help meet these needs with the IBM Tape Cartridge 3592. The TS1155, TS1150, TS1140, TS1130, TS1120, and 3592-J1A all use the 3592 tape cartridge. This tape cartridge offers various capacity options, depending on the drive and the recording format that are used or the cartridge model that was ordered: Data, Write Once Read Many (WORM), or Economy.
These capabilities expand the range of client data workloads that can be addressed with the 3592 tape drives. The economy cartridge can help lower the cartridge cost for users with smaller capacity needs and provide faster access to data. The WORM cartridges provide nonerasable, nonrewritable storage media. Users with regulatory or legal requirements to store electronic records for long periods might be able to use the 3592 tape drives to provide cost-effective storage.
The 3592 cartridges have a form factor that is similar to the 3590 tape cartridge. They are supported in the following IBM cartridge library environments:
•IBM TS3500 tape library
•IBM TS4500 tape library
The IBM 3592 ½-inch tape cartridge contains an advanced fourth-generation metal particle formulation in a dual-layer coating on a half-inch-wide tape. The IBM tape uses an advanced magnetic coating and process that provides a high output and signal quality to support the current 3592 tape drives.
The tape features an ultra-smooth and uniform magnetic layer that is less than 0.2 microns thick and a specially refined coating formulation that is designed to help improve media reliability and performance and minimize the wear of the tape heads and components. A precision timing-based servo with enhanced features helps enable high track densities, high data rates, data access performance, high reliability, and stop-start performance.
The following media are used for the different media types:
•Dual-coat, MP nanocubic particle, and Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrate 8.9 µm nominal thickness (JA types)
•Dual-coat, MP nanocubic particle, and PEN substrate 6.6 µm nominal thickness (JB types)
•Dual-coat, Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle, PEN substrate, and 6.1 µm nominal thickness
(JC types)
•Dual-coat, BaFe particle, Aramid substrate, and 5.0 µm nominal thickness (JD types)
Modifications to the cartridge design and construction help improve pin retention, hub and clutch engagement, spool alignment, and tape stacking within the cartridge. These enhancements help improve reliability and durability of the media and the tape drive. Enhanced assembly strengthens the cartridge at critical locations and helps make the 3592 cartridge less susceptible to damage, such as damage from being dropped.
The tape is pulled from the cartridge with a leader pin rather than a leader block as in the 3590 cartridge. A sliding door covers the area that was formerly occupied by the leader block in a 3590 cartridge. A locking mechanism prevents the media from unwinding when the cartridge is not in a drive. A special mechanical design provision prevents the 3592 cartridge types from being loaded into 3590 or 3490 drives. If a 3592 cartridge is inadvertently loaded into a 3590, the cartridge present sensor does not change state and the drive does not attempt to load.
2.1.7 3592 media cartridge
This section provides more detail about the 3592 cartridge media that are supported by the TS4500 tape library.
Media types and compatibility
Multiple media types are in the 3592 range. The capacity of the 3592 tape cartridge depends on the format that is used when the tape is written from the beginning-of-tape (BOT). Two basic formats are used: Enterprise Format (EFMT) and Enterprise Encrypted Format (EEFMT). Each tape drive model has different formatting capabilities for the TS4500 compatible drives, as shown in Table 2-2. The TS1155 is not supported for z/OS attachment.
Table 2-2 Read and write SMS z/OS media types that are supported
Drive type
EFMT1
EFMT2
EEFMT2
EFMT3
EEFMT3
EFMT4
EEFMT4
EFMT5
EEFMT5
TS1150
No
No
No
Read/write
Read/write
TS1140
Read only
Read only
Read/write
Read/write
No
All 3592 tape drives support cartridge reuse. The 3592 tape cartridges can be reformatted to any tape format that is supported by the tape drive when the tape is written from BOT. When the tape is reformatted, all existing data on the cartridge is erased.
 
Note: Cartridge reuse depends on the compatibility of the media on the drive that is used.
By using their supported densities, 3592 tape drives can use different media. Table 2-3 shows the capability of each drive to use media inside a TS4500.
Table 2-3 Drive and cartridge compatibility
Tape unit
JD, JL, or JZ cartridge
JC, JK, or JY cartridge
JB or JX cartridge
TS1150, TS1155
Read/write
Read/write
No
TS1140
No
Read/write
Read/write
Table 2-4 shows the media types, native capacity options, and compatibility options that are available with 3592 tape drives that are supported by the TS4500 tape library.
Table 2-4 IBM Enterprise 3592 media types
Media description
Media type
3592 55E, 55F
format J5A
native capacity
3592 EH8
format J5
native capacity
3592 EH7
format J4
native capacity
Case color
Label, door, and
write-protect
switch color
Extended data
JB
Not supported
 
 
Not supported
 
 
1,600 GB
Black
Dark green
1,000 GB
E06 format
Advanced data
JC
7,000 GB
(7 TB)
7,000 GB
(7 TB)
4,000 GB
(4 TB)
Black
Dark purple
Advanced data
JD
15,000 GB
(15 TB)
10,000 GB
(10 TB)
Not supported
Black
Burnt orange
Advanced economy
JK
900 GB
900 GB
500 GB
Black
Light purple
Advanced economy
JL
3,000 GB
(3 TB)
2,000 GB
(2 TB)
Not supported
 
Black
Apricot
Extended WORM
JX
Not supported
 
 
Not supported
 
 
1,600 GB
Platinum
(silver-gray)
Dark green
1,000 GB
E06 format
Advanced WORM
JY
7,000 GB
(7 TB)
7,000 GB
(7 TB)
4,000 GB
(4 TB)
Platinum
(silver-gray)
Dark purple
 
Advanced WORM
JZ
15,000 GB
(15 TB)
10,000 GB
(10 TB)
Not supported
 
Platinum
(silver-gray)
Burnt orange
 
Important: The TS1155 and TS1150 cannot read or write to JA, JW, JJ, JR, JB, or JX media.
Media types JA, JW, JR, and JJ are not supported by the TS4500 tape library.
 
Figure 2-4 shows an example of the media types: a full length read/write tape on the left, WORM cartridges in the middle, and economy read/write cartridges on the right. The WORM cartridges have a platinum-colored shell, and the read/write cartridges have a black shell.
Figure 2-4 IBM Enterprise 3592 WORM and read/write cartridges
Labels
The 3592 cartridges use a media label to describe the cartridge type. Figure 2-5 shows a 3592 JD cartridge label. In tape libraries, the library vision system identifies the types of cartridges during an inventory operation. The vision system reads a volume serial number (VOLSER), which is on the label on the edge of the cartridge. The VOLSER contains 1 - 6 characters, which are left-aligned on the label. If fewer than 6 characters are used, spaces are added. The media type is indicated by the seventh and eighth characters.
Figure 2-5 View of the 3592 cartridge label
Note: Client-printed bar code labels are not currently supported on the TS4500. Certain bar code labels that were previously scanned by the TS3500 successfully are not readable by the TS4500 at general availability (GA). Issues with reading media labels are most often issues with those labels that were printed by the client.
Cleaning cartridges
One cleaning cartridge is designed specifically for the 3592 tape drives. As with the data cartridges, the 3592 cleaning cartridges are not interchangeable with any other model cleaning cartridges (for example, LTO cleaning cartridges). Therefore, both types of cleaning cartridges must be inserted into the library if both types of drives are in the environment.
The cleaning cartridge also contains a cartridge memory device, which automatically tracks the number of times that it was used. Cleaning cartridges must be replaced after 50 cleaning cycles.
The physical characteristics of the 3592 cleaning cartridge can be used to distinguish it from the 3592 data cartridges. The product label on the top of the cartridge is white with the word “cleaning” printed on it. Instead of the write-protect switch, a non-moveable light gray block exists, which is shown as number 1 in Figure 2-6. The cartridge door is also light gray. If you order cleaning cartridges with pre-attached labels, the first three characters of the VOLSER are CLN, as identified by number 2 in Figure 2-6.
Figure 2-6 Cleaning cartridge
Note: The IBM Enterprise Tape Cartridge is universal. It can be used on any model 3592 tape drive.
2.1.8 WORM functions
All 3592 tape drives with the appropriate installed microcode version can read and write WORM cartridges. The WORM data cartridges for the IBM 3592 tape drive provide nonalterable, nonrewritable tape media for long-term records retention. The WORM cartridges include the following characteristics:
•WORM cartridges are available in the following formats for the TS4500:
 – JX (extended), which is supported by 3592 EH7, with 1,600 GB in EH7 format, and no support on the 3592 EH8, 3592 55E, and 3592 55F
 – JY (advanced), which is supported by the 3592 EH7 and E0H tape drives only, 4,000 GB (4 TB) in EH7 format, and 7,000 GB (7 TB) in E08, 55E, and 55F formats
 – JZ (advanced), which is supported by the 3592 EH8, E55, and F55, at 15,000 GB (15 TB) in 55E and 55F format, and 10,000 GB (10 TB) in E08 format.
•Nonreversible screws are used to secure the media housing.
•WORM and read/write cartridges can be intermixed in the same IBM TS4500 tape library.
•When the drive senses that a cartridge is a WORM cartridge, the microcode prohibits changing or altering user data that is already written on the tape. The microcode tracks the last point on the tape to which data can be appended with an overwrite-protection pointer that is stored in the cartridge memory.
•Each WORM cartridge is identified by using a Worldwide Cartridge Identifier (WWCID), which is permanent and locked. The WWCID provides another level of security for data that must be maintained.
•A WORM cartridge can never be changed to non-WORM, and a non-WORM cartridge cannot be changed to WORM.
•User data that is written on WORM never can be modified or erased.
WORM basics
The 3592 tape drives support 3592 read/write cartridges and 3592 WORM cartridges. The WORM cartridge is geometrically identical to a read/write cartridge. It uses the same rewritable media formulation. However, the servo format, which is mastered onto the tape at manufacturing, is different for WORM cartridge types.
The WORM function does not come from any inherent non-reversible media characteristic (such as permanent WORM on optical CD-R media or optical WORM). Instead, the WORM function is enabled by the method by which the microcode of the 3592 drive handles a WORM cartridge.
The microcode of the drive does not support the overwrite or erasure of previously written user data, such as records or file marks. However, the microcode of the drive supports appending new data after the existing data.
Unique cartridge identifier
Each IBM 3592 tape WORM cartridge is identifiable through a unique cartridge identifier (UCID). The intent of the UCID is that it is constructed to ensure that it is unique worldwide. This identifier is derived from the 4-byte unique cartridge memory serial number of the cartridge memory chip in the 3592 WORM cartridge.
This serial number is concatenated with the 8-byte unique tape serial number that was created from information that was mastered into the timing-based servo at the time that the cartridge was manufactured.
The parts of UCID that come from this combined serial number are written to a locked part of the cartridge memory. This other level of security supports legal audit requirements. Furthermore, the UCID supports unique cartridge tracking, and it can be the differentiator to using other WORM tape providers.
Drive operation to prevent overwriting
A WORM drive handles a WORM cartridge differently than a read/write cartridge. In general, a WORM drive responds to a subset of the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) commands that work on a read/write cartridge. For example, an Erase command is rejected with the correct error posted.
Additionally, a WORM drive rejects certain command sequences of otherwise valid commands. For example, if a cartridge is not empty, a Rewind command that is followed by a Write command is rejected with the correct error posted.
The microcode tracks the last point that can be appended on the tape by using an overwrite-protection pointer that is stored in the CM. The SARS data can be written and updated on WORM tapes because the SARS data is not in the user area of the tape.
The 3592 tape drives allow append operations to data that is already on WORM cartridges, and allow overwriting of file marks and other non-data attributes to provide application transparency. However, they do not allow overwriting data under any circumstances. After they are full of data, WORM cartridges cannot be reused or erased by the drive, and they must be physically destroyed or bulk-degaussed to delete data. For full tape application use, certain trailer and label record overwrites are allowed.
 
Important: WORM cartridges cannot be reused after they are written to, so WORM cartridges must be physically destroyed when they are no longer of use. If the WORM cartridge has sensitive data, it must be bulk-erased before it is discarded. This erases everything on the tape, including the mastered servo pattern, rendering the tape useless.
2.1.9 Tape encryption for TS1155, TS1150 and TS1140
The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives use an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption key, which is a random string of bits that are generated specifically to scramble and unscramble data. Encryption keys are created by using algorithms that ensure that each key is unique and unpredictable. The longer the key string is, the harder it is to break the encryption code. These drives use 256-bit AES algorithm keys to encrypt data.
The following types of encryption algorithms are used for encryption:
•Symmetric algorithms
Symmetric (or secret key) encryption uses a single key for encryption and decryption. Symmetric key encryption generally is used for encrypting large amounts of data efficiently.
•Asymmetric algorithms
Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys. Data that is encrypted by using one key can be decrypted only by using the other key in the asymmetric key pair.
When an asymmetric or public/private key pair is generated, the public key is used for encryption, and the private key is used for decryption.
TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives use both types of encryption algorithm. Symmetric encryption is used for high-speed encryption of user or host data. Asymmetric encryption (which is slower) is used for protecting the symmetric key that is used to encrypt the data (key wrapping).
The TS1155 and TS1150 support the capability to record both encrypted and plain data on a given volume, under certain circumstances. as follows:
•The drive must be in Application Managed Encryption (AME) (T10 method).
• In the T10 mode, encryption is controlled on a block-by-block basis by the application. New key associated data will be stored within J5A and J5 format datasets as required to support this feature. Labels are not recorded using the zero-key method in this mode.
•The reported Format Identifiers in Medium Sense will report non-encrypted J5A and J5 format identifier, unless all blocks on the medium are encrypted. Encryption format for a volume will be determined at first write from BOT, and will be enforced for all subsequent appended blocks. Labels will be encrypted with zero key in this mode.
The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives support a number of encryption management techniques for open systems:
•Application-managed encryption (AME)
•Library-managed encryption (LME)
•System-managed encryption (SME) (for z/OS only)
 
Note: System-managed encryption (SME) is supported on the TS4500 for TS1140 and TS1150 drives only. This is provided for TS7700 IBM z Systems® attachment only.
For more information about encryption, see Chapter 3, “Encryption” on page 141.
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) is the IBM strategic platform for the storage and delivery of encryption keys to encrypt storage endpoint devices. IBM SKLM can be used with the TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives. Similar to the previous product, IBM Encryption Key Manager (EKM), SKLM serves data keys to the tape drive.
It focuses on ease of use and provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to help with the installation and configuration of the key manager. It also allows for the creation and management of the key encrypting keys (certificates).
For more information about IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager, see the IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager V2.5 documentation in IBM Knowledge Center:
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSWPVP_2.5.0/com.ibm.sklm.doc_2.5/welcome.htm
2.2 IBM TS1155 and TS1150 tape drive (3592 Model EH8, 55E, 55F)
The IBM TS1155 tape drive (which is also referred to as the 3592 Model 55E or 55F) is an enhanced fifth-generation tape drive of the IBM 3592 tape family. The TS1155 tape drive provides higher levels of cartridge capacity than the TS1150 Model E08 (EH8). It is designed to provide an increased capacity of 50% on JD media types compared with its predecessors.
The primary difference of the TS1155 (55E, 55F) from the base TS1150 drive (E08,EH8) is that the capacity is increased 50% on JD media types, and for the TS1155 model 55E the replacement of FC host attachment by 10 GB Ethernet (RoCE v2) ports.
The TS1155 model 55F tape drive has a dual-port, 8-Gbps Fibre Channel interface for Fibre Channel attachment to host systems, or a switched fabric environment.
The TS155 model 55E tape drive has a dual-ported 10 Gb Ethernet port for host attachment, which is optimized for cloud-based and large, open-compute environments.
The TS1155 Tape drive is capable of reading and writing 15 TB capacity on existing JD media types (JD/JZ/JL) compared to 10 TB for TS1150. The TS1155 tape drive supports JC 4 TB format (read-only) and JC 7 TB format (R/W). Media written in TS1155 format is not readable by TS1150, but is back-portable for reformatting to TS1150 format of 10 TB.
The TS1155 Tape drive is not compatible with IBM TS7700 or Enterprise Tape Control Unit environments.
The IBM TS1150 tape drive (which is also referred to as the 3592 Model EH8) is the fifth tape drive generation of the IBM 3592 tape family. The TS1150 tape drive provides higher levels of performance, reliability, and cartridge capacity than the TS1140 Model EH7 tape drive.
The TS1155 and TS1150 utilize new Tunnel Magneto Resistive TMR head technology, and initial generations of the TS1150 utilize a Giant Magneto Resistive (GMR) head design. Both are high-technology, 3-module, 32-channel head technology for higher native data rate performance.
The TS1155 and TS1150 provide a native data rate performance of up to 360 MBps versus the 250 MBps data rate of the TS1140 tape drive Model EH7.
The TS1150 EH8 and TS1155 55F tape drives have dual-port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel interface for Fibre Channel attachment to host systems, or a switched fabric environment.
The TS1155 and TS 1150 record in two native recording formats, supporting encryption and nonencryption:
•J5A logical format is used to represent the non-encrypted recording format for TS1155, and J5A-E is used to denote the encrypted recording format for TS1155.
•J5 logical format is used to represent the non-encrypted recording format for TS1150, and J5-E is used to denote the encrypted recording format for TS1150.
The TS1155 is downward read-only compatible to TS1140 format (J4 and J4-E) on supported cartridges, and the TS1150 is downward read/write compatible to the TS1140 formats.
 
Note: The TS1150 and TS1155 cannot read or write any format from J3, J3-E (TS1130), or earlier.
The host interfaces to open systems platforms are maintained as with previous 3592 models.
The TS1155 and TS1150 support integration with the TS4500 tape library. Figure 2-7 shows the IBM TS1150 (3592 EH8) tape drive and the TS 1155 (3592 55E and 55F) will be physically the same format as the TS1150.
Figure 2-7 TS1150 tape drive
The TS1155 and TS1150 drive maintains the same features and technology enhancements that were introduced with the TS1120 and extended by the TS1130 and the TS1140. In addition.The TS1155 and TS 1150 offers several enhancements over the predecessor models, which are described next.
When replacing a TS1155 55E drive, the TS4500 will maintain all iSCSI configuration for the new drive by copying the iSCSI configuration to the new dive, such as the IP address information and iSCSI names.
The port MAC address may change depending on which level of LCC card is installed. On the original version of LCC card the MAC address may have to be changed manually via CLI if you wish to maintain the same MAC address of each port.
With the latest level of LCC card, the MAC address to be maintained as the same as the replaced drive, so no setting of MAC address is needed. This card will overwrite the MAC address with a TS4500-assigned address. This card is identified by the label on the LCC card, show in a Version 4.4 or higher, as shown in Figure 2-8.
Figure 2-8 New model LCC card
The TS1155 and TS1150 have the following key features, including those features that were introduced with the 3592-J1A, 3592-E05, 3592-E06, and 3592-E07 (EH7):
•Digital speed matching
•Channel calibration
•High-resolution tape directory
•Recursive accumulating backhitch-less flush or nonvolatile caching (NVC)
•Backhitch-less backspace
•Virtual backhitch
•Read ahead
•Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) compression
•Capacity scaling
•Single FRU
•Error detection and reporting
•SARS
•Revised encryption support
•Dual-stage 32-head actuator
•Offboard data string searching
•Enhanced logic to report logical end of tape
•Added partitioning support
•Data Safe mode
•Enhanced Ethernet support
•New enhanced Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle media types
•Dual-port, 8 Gb FC attachment with failover support for FC drives
•Dual port, 10 Gb Ethernet ports for TS1155 55E
•Max Capacity mode logical end-of-tape (LEOT) support for up to 4% more capacity
•Partitioning that is supported by Spectrum Archive and IBM Linear Tape File System™ (LTFS)
2.2.1 Physical attachment
The TS1155 and TS1150 are supported for attachment in the IBM TS4500 and communicates with the TS4500 tape library through an internal Ethernet interface, and uses Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to isolate failures between the media and the hardware.
The TS1155 Model 55F and TS1150 Model EH8 offers a dual-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel host attachment interface. This feature provides flexibility in open systems environments, because the drives can attach to open systems servers directly with Fibre Channel attachments.
The TS155 model 55E tape drive has a dual-ported 10 Gb optical Ethernet ports for host attachment. This drive has been optimized for cloud-based and large, open-compute environments
These drives have similar back panels, which is shown in Figure 2-9 for the TS1155 model 55F and TS1150 model EH8, and Figure 2-10 for the TS 1155 model 55E.
Figure 2-9 TS1155 model 55F and TS1150 rear panel
Figure 2-10 shows the rear panel for the TS1150 and TS1155 model 55E.
Figure 2-10 TS1155 model 55E rear panel
Table 2-5 describes all of the components on the rear panel and shows the normal status of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The numbers in Table 2-5 relate to the numbers in Figure 2-9 on page 84 and Figure 2-10 on page 84.
Table 2-5 Rear panel
Number
Description
LED color or description
1
Power status
Green
2
Drive status
Yellow or green
3
Library connection
Green
4
Information
Blue
5
Host port 0 activity
Green or yellow
6
Host port 1 activity
Green or yellow
7
TS4500 interface connector
TS4500 communication and power
8
Port 0, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
9
Port 1, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
10
Port 0, 10 Gbps Ethernet connection
RoCE v2 protocol. Short wave multimode
optical SFP transceiver
11
Port 1, 10 Gbps Ethernet connection
RoCE v2 protocol. Short wave multimode
optical SFP transceiver
The TS1155 and TS1150 have the same front bezel with a chevron fiducial as the TS1140. The buttons and display are the same buttons and display on all of the previous models of 3592 drives.
Figure 2-11 shows the front of the 3592 EH8 tape drive.
Figure 2-11 TS1155 and TS1150 front panel
2.2.2 TS1155 and TS1150 physical characteristics
The TS1155 and TS1150 drives have an identical form factor, and it is plug-compatible with existing 3592 models. It maintains low power and improves power management. The maximum continuous operating power was decreased by 5 watts from the TS1140. The drive power usage is 46 watts maximum operating power, as compared to 51 watts for the TS1140. Standby power is fewer than 23 watts.
They have a standby cooling management feature, which reduces the fan speed when the drive is idle to further reduce power and reduce airborne debris contaminants. The fan operating mode is controlled by a single input signal that is called full-speed mode or variable-speed mode. In full-speed mode, the fan or blower runs at full speed. In variable-speed mode, the blower adjusts its speed based on the ambient temperature down to a minimum of about 50% of its full speed.
The speed of the fan is based on the following conditions:
•The drive code enables variable-speed mode under the following conditions:
 – The drive is unloaded and idle for 5 minutes.
 – The internal temperature is at least 3 degrees below the full speed required temperature limit.
•The drive code reverts to full-speed mode as soon as the following conditions are met:
 – A cartridge is placed in the loader or loaded.
 – The internal temperature of the drive rises above the full speed required temperature limit.
The internal temperature sensor is sampled at 5-minute intervals.
Internal hardware enhancements
These drives feature the following significant hardware enhancements over the previous models:
•Thirty-two channel-enhanced error correction code (ECC) recording format.
•Enhanced JD-type media servo pattern.
•Flangeless rollers, which are designed to minimize tape edge damage and debris buildup by the elimination of the roller flanges.
•Tunnel Magnetoresistive (TMR head) on the TS1155 and on new version of the TS1150 while older generation of TS1150 use a Giant Magneto Resistive Heads (GMR head). These advanced heads are designed to reduce friction with advanced head coating to prevent corrosion and to extend head and tape cartridge life.
•Skew Actuator, which allows dynamic skew adjustment of the head to keep the head perpendicular to the tape.
The data-dependent, noise-predictive, maximum-likelihood (DD-NPML) detection scheme was developed at IBM Research, Zurich, to enable the accurate detection of data errors.
2.2.3 Media
They uses the following enhanced Barium Ferrite (BaFe) second-generation particle media types. The new media can be read/written up to 360 MBps native sustained data rate (up to 700 MBps at 3:1 compression ratio) in the new 32-channel Jag 5, 5E, 5A, and 5AE logical format:
Table 2-6 Media type and read/write format compatibility
Media type
TS1155
TS1150
 
Logical Format read/write
Logical Format read/write
z/OS Media Type
JD
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
 
 
Media 14
JZ
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
 
 
Media 15
JL
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
 
 
Media 16
JC
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
J4
J4-E
Media 11
JY
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
J4
J4-E
Media 12
JK
J5A
J5A-E
J5
J5-E
J5
J5-E
J4
J4-E
Media 13
 
Important: The TS1155 and TS1150 are not compatible with several older 3592 cartridge media types: JA, JB, JW, JJ, JR, and JX media types J3, J2, and J1. (MEDIA5, MEDIA6, MEDIA7, MEDIA8, MEDIA9, and MEDIA10).
•These drives improve capacity and performance by writing and reading J5 and J5A logical format, by using a new 32-channel enhanced ECC recording format with a higher track density and higher linear density on the same media types.
•The appropriate microcode levels that are available for TS1150 and TS1140 and must be installed that enable the recognition of the J5A and J5 format and allow reuse of the media in the older formats. Therefore, a model J5A drive can reformat media that was written in the older format, and write on it in the appropriate format.
 
Important: This design supports a common scratch pool by media type regardless of the last written format or allocation target drive.
2.2.4 Capacity and performance
Capacity and performance were improved from the TS1155 and TS1150 tape drive for all media types, and for all formats that the drives reads or writes.
Capacity improvement
The use of the 3592-55E and 55F logical format offers the following capacity improvements on existing and new cartridges:
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Data media (JZ and JD), which is a capacity of 15 TB
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Data media (JC and JY), which is a capacity of 7 TB
•IBM Enterprise Economy Data media (JZ), which is a capacity of 3 TB
•IBM Enterprise Economy Data media (JK), which is a capacity of 900 GB
The use of the 3592-EH8 logical format offers the following capacity on existing and new cartridges:
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Data media (JZ and JD), which is a capacity of 10 TB
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Data media (JC and JY), which is a capacity of 7 TB
•IBM Enterprise Economy Data media (JZ), which is a capacity of 2 TB
•IBM Enterprise Economy Data media (JK), which is a capacity of 900 GB
Performance improvement
The overall performance is increased over the previous model by various improvements:
•Improved data rate and capacity
•Improved latency by reducing access time to data
•Improved data compression
•Beginning of partition (BOP) caching
•Humidity sensor support
•Increased cartridge memory size and related functions
•Improved high-resolution tape directory (HRTD)
•Larger main data buffer
•Extended copy support
Higher data rates and capacity
The following format data rates are available (at 256K and greater block size):
•The 55E format data rates go up to 360 MBps maximum native, and to 600 MBps maximum compressed.
•The EH8 and 55F format data rates go up to 360 MBps maximum native, and to 700 MBps maximum compressed.
•The EH7 format data rates go up to 250 MBps maximum native, and to 700 MBps maximum compressed.
Table 2-7 summarizes the capacity and performance characteristics for uncompressed data.
Table 2-7 Capacity and performance summary
Media
55E or 55F format capacity native data rate (minimum - maximum)
EH8 format capacity data native rate (minimum - maximum)
EH7 format capacity native data rate (minimum - maximum)
JC or JY
7 TB
99 MBps - 303 MBps
7 TB
99 MBps - 303 MBps
4 TB
90 MBps - 251 MBps
JD or JZ
15 TB
112 MBps - 365 MBps
10 TB
112 MBps - 365 MBps
N/A
JK
900 GB
99 MBps - 303 MBps
900 GB
99 MBps - 303 MBps
500 GB
90 MBps - 251 MBps
JL
3 TB
112 MBps - 365 MBps
2 TB
112 MBps - 365 MBps
N/A
Improved latency
These tape drives adds features to improve latency by reducing access time to data:
•Improved locate and rewind speed profile for the new media types by using 12.4 meters (13.5 yards) per second (m/s) end-to-end versus 12.4 m/s profiled (JD, JZ, and JL media only):
 – JD, JZ, and JL media feature a redesigned brake button for higher reliability, longer life, and higher locate speeds.
 – The improved profile represents a 9% speed improvement for a rewind/locate operation from EOT to BOT versus the previous profile, which partially compensates for the longer tape length of the new media types.
•Load and thread times are reduced by approximately 33% from 15 seconds load/ready to 10 seconds load/ready. This reduction applies to both JC and JD media types.
This improvement is possible by operating the motors at a higher operating speed for repeatable read (RR), loader, and threader motors.
Improved data compression
The TS1155 and TS1150 drives feature a larger history buffer usage in the compression core. This change increases the history buffer from 1 KiB to 16 KiB, which enables more efficient compression by increasing the history over which string matches can be applied. The new method can increase the nominal compression ratio for the Calgary Corpus data standard from approximately 2.0 to 3.1.
 
Note: For the TS1150, the improved compression method is only available when you process the EH8 logical formats on the new JD, JZ, and JL media or on unformatted JC, JY, or JK media. When you process the EH7 format, the historical compression method is used for compatibility. TS1155 cannot write in EH7 format.
As in previous models, the 3592 tape drive uses the data compression that is known as Streaming Lossless Data Compression Algorithm (SLDC). This compression method is identical to the method that was used in previous models, except for the larger history buffer. SLDC is an implementation of a Lempel-Ziv class 1 (LZ-1) data compression algorithm. SLDC is an extension to the Adaptive Lossless Data Compression (ALDC) algorithm, which is used in leading industry tape products. Users of SLDC can expect to achieve the same, or better, data compression as users of ALDC.
A key difference between SLDC and previous lossless compression algorithms is that record boundaries and file marks are encoded as control symbols. The encoding of record boundaries and file marks as control symbols allows the compressed data stream to be separated into a serial stream of records and file marks by the decompression logic without requiring additional information, such as information from an attached header.
Beginning of partition caching
These drives implement beginning of partition (BOP) caching. In this implementation, after the initial set of tape blocks in a partition is read, either by the read-ahead function or an explicit command, the initial set of tape blocks remains in a special place in the cache data buffer (until an unmount or a partition change). Subsequent locate operations to BOP or read operations of these blocks complete quickly, without requiring completion of physical motion. BOP caching is supported in all partition modes.
This feature is automatic, cannot be disabled, and uses approximately 6 MB space (one data set) in the main data buffer.
Humidity sensor
The drives contains a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. The humidity sensor provides the following functions:
•Humidity tracing in drive logs.
The drive logs humidity data in the tape map during read and write.
•Maximum humidity logging in cartridge memory.
The maximum humidity that is sensed during a cartridge mount is loaded in the cartridge memory.
•Humidity data is externalized in log pages and, like temperature data, humidity data may now be read through standardized SCSI Log pages by an initiator. However, there is no capability to set environmental thresholds.
Increased cartridge memory size and related functions
The new JD, JZ, and JL media types contain 16 KB cartridge memory (CM), which increased from the 8 KB that was contained in JC and JB media types. The CM contains a larger medium auxiliary memory (MAM) area, which is available to the application.
Improved high-resolution tape directory
The TS1155 and TS1150 drive provides a higher-granularity directory to improve the accuracy of tape locate operations for the new JD, JZ, and JL media types. The granularity of wrap entries is increased from 64/wrap to 128/wrap for the new media types. High-resolution tape directory (HRTD) resolution for JC media types is unchanged. HRTD directories are maintained separately for partitions.
They maintain a tape directory structure with a high granularity of information about the physical position of data blocks and file marks on the media. The longitudinal position (LPOS) longitudinal location information that is contained in the servo pattern is associated with and recorded with the host block information in the HRTD. This feature allows the 3592 to have fast and consistent nominal and average access times for locate operations.
Therefore, locate times are uniform and based on the position of the block or file mark on the tape independently of the uniformity of the block size or file mark distribution along the length of the tape.
The HRTD feature maintains an overall granularity of 64 directory entries per logical wrap.
•JA media 570 m (623.36 yards) logical wrap results in a granularity of 8.9 meters (29.1 ft.).
•JB media 775 m (847.55 yards) logical wrap results in a granularity of 12.1 meters (39.6 ft.).
•JC media 842 m (920.8 yards) logical wrap results in a granularity of 13.2 meters (43.3 ft.).
•JD media 1032m (1128.6 yards) logical wrap results in a granularity of 8.06 meters (26.4 ft.). For the segmented or scaled formats with shorter logical wraps, granularity is improved.
The 3592 drive has many redundancy and recovery features that prevent the possibility of data loss in the loss of a directory and allow a rebuild of the directory under all circumstances:
•The HRTD table consists of information for each logical wrap. Each wrap area contains up to 64 entries. Each entry contains the LPOS, logical block, and file mark count information with access point and other internal information of interest.
•The entire HRTD table is stored in the housekeeping data set on tape. The entire HRTD structure is also written in the end-of-data (EOD) data set for the tape if the tape has a valid EOD. The HRTD entries are also distributed in accumulating sequential fashion into the Data Set Information Table of all user data sets as they are written on tape. Control structures, which define the validity of the HRTD and EOD information on the tape, are in the cartridge memory.
•If a valid HRTD cannot be recovered from the housekeeping data set, the HRTD might be rebuilt by using the EOD or distributed copies of HRTD information. The HRTD can also be rebuilt by reading the tape. Depending on the mechanism that must be used to rebuild the HRTD, this rebuild can occur quickly (seconds if the EOD copy can be used) or take longer (minutes if a full rebuild is required).
•The drive can read all data from a cartridge without any HRTD information, although locate times might be affected. However, the drive does not allow a write operation without a valid HRTD to guarantee the integrity and validity of the information on tape.
Larger main data buffer
These drives feature a 2 GB main data buffer, which is twice the size of the 1 GB main buffer in the TS1140 drive. The additional buffer is used to improve overall performance, reduce backhitches, improve speed matching performance, and support BOP caching and other improvements.
External copy support
These drives support the external copy function, which offers these advantages:
•The capability is similar to serverless copy in that it allows data to be copied from one drive to another drive with no transfer through the host at high data rates.
•Data can be an entire volume or a group of logical blocks.
•The hosting drive (TS1155 or any drive that supports the feature) can pull or push data to a second drive of any type (vendor-neutral and does not require feature support).
•The function works in a SAN environment, and it is supported on true switches (non-hubs).
SkipSync or Same Wrap Backhitchless Flush mode feature
These drives, like previous models, implement a feature that is known as same wrap backhitchless flush mode (SWBF mode), which is also called the SkipSync feature. This feature is similar to previous models, plus the following enhancements:
•In default mode, SkipSync is enabled to use up to 1.5% capacity loss and uses spare capacity, so no impact occurs to client capacity in the nominal Constant Capacity LEOT mode.
•SkipSync can be programmed through Mode page 0x30 to allow up to 33% capacity loss, which essentially enables SkipSync for all transactions.
•The performance (throughput) improves for operations or transaction sizes that use SkipSync because of the increased nominal data rates of the TS1150.
How SkipSync operates
When a sync command (WFM 0) or a Write File Mark (WFM) non-immediate command is received after a block or series of data blocks (referred to here as a transaction), the TS1150 drive does not perform a backhitch immediately after the synchronization or WFM completes. Instead, it continues to stream on the same wrap and write a Data Set Separator (DSS) pattern until enough data is received to record additional data sets. SkipSync results in a significant performance improvement due to backhitch avoidance but a reduction in the overall available capacity on the volume.
In default mode, SWBF mode (SkipSync) is entered after a flush is received under these conditions:
• The received transaction size is greater than 204 MB compressed.
• The drive is not already in Recursive Accumulating Backhitchless Flush (RABF) mode.
• Enough excess capacity remains based on the current LPOS so that the drive predicts that it will still achieve the minimum capacity threshold that is selected. The minimum capacity threshold is 1.5% for the TS1150 default mode.
Dynamic speed matching support
The TS1155 and TS1150 drives continues to perform dynamic speed matching to minimize backhitches when it operates from a host that cannot sustain the maximum data rate. The drive performs dynamic speed matching automatically to adjust the native data rate of the drive as closely as possible to the net host data rate (after data compressibility is factored out).
The following data rate ranges depend on the logical format and the media type that are used:
•Twelve speeds from 112 MBps to 365 MBps for 3592 JD, JZ, and JL cartridges that are initialized in J5 and J5A format
•Twelve speeds from 99 MBps to 303 MBps for 3592 JC, JY, or JK cartridges that are initialized in J5 format
•Twelve speeds from 62 MBps to 252 MBps for 3592 JC or JY cartridges that are initialized in J4 format
Throughput is increased through speed matching as the drive performs the following functions:
•Adjusts tape speed based on host data rate
•Calculates effective host data rate (EHDR)
•Optimizes data rate by selecting optimal EHDR
•Forces speed changes mid-wrap if it is advantageous
•Minimizes time to record data
Virtual backhitch
These drives include the following key feature improvements:
•Virtual backhitch (transaction write with sync)
•Single wrap backhitchless flush (large transaction writes with sync)
•Backhitchless backspacing (American National Standards Institute (ANSI) file writes)
The TS1150 and TS1155 function is improved with Recursive Accumulating Backhitchless Flush (RABF) and the addition of a new same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) function that extends virtual backhitch effectiveness for large files.
Fast sync and skip performance for these tape drive are enhanced because of the better data rate performance over the TS1140.
For more information about these features, see “Virtual backhitch (nonvolatile caching)” on page 69.
Read ahead feature
On sequential reads, the tape drive automatically runs read ahead and fills the buffer with data sequentially beyond the target block.
These drives support advanced automatic read-ahead and read-space virtualization at improved access performance and 2x data buffer size. When the drive processes a command to locate or read a block, the drive automatically continues to stream down the tape and to read ahead until the data buffer is full. This feature allows subsequent Locate or Read commands to be fulfilled from the data buffer at faster speeds, rather than requiring access to the tape.
With this unique function, the drive outperforms competitive drives, which stop and wait for the next command.
Performance scaling and segmentation
These drives support for capacity scaling is summarized next. They support capacity scaling only on full-length R/W media type (JD or JC).
 
Format support
The TS1155 drive models support capacity scaling only on the JD full length R/W media type.
The TS1150 drive writes the EH7 scaled format (JC media only) and the scaled EH8 format (on JC and JD media). Segmented formats are supported.
EH7 scaled format behavior on JC media is unchanged from the TS1140, and full cartridge accumulating backhitchless flush (ABF) capability is supported on any scaled cartridge.
When a scaled cartridge is up-formatted, the scaling value is retained, and the scaled capacity is uplifted to the capacity ratio of the new format.
Partitioning support
The following partitioning is supported:
•Scaling is supported only on single partition cartridges.
• Issuing a Format Medium command to attempt to partition a scaled cartridge results in the rejection of the command.
•Scaling a partitioned cartridge results in resetting the cartridge to a scaled, single partition format.
The effect of capacity scaling is to contain data in a specified fraction of the tape, which yields faster locate and read times. Alternatively, economy tapes (the JK or JL media type) can be purchased.
Performance scaling limits the data that is written to the first 20% of the cartridge. When the performance segmentation option is used, the overall capacity of the cartridge is limited to 86.6% of the total capacity.
The fast access segment occupies the first 20% of the cartridge, followed by the slower access segment. Medium capacity is calculated as a fraction of nominal maximum capacity. Scaled medium capacity is approximately equal to the nominal unscaled medium capacity times this value divided by 256.
Segmentation is available only within a specified range of capacity scaling settings that achieve this faster performance.
Cartridges that are performance-scaled or performance-segmented can be reused (reformatted) to their full capacity, to the performance-scaled capacity, or to the performance segmentation format as indicated through the assigned data class.
Note: On a TS1155 when a scaling operation is requested on a JD type cartridge, the media will be up-formatted to the J5A logical format at the same time the scaling operation is performed unless the format is controlled through explicit means.
On a TS1150 when a scaling operation is requested on a JC type cartridge, the media is reformatted to the J5 logical format at the same time that the scaling operation is performed unless the format is controlled through explicit means.
Important: Capacity scaling is not supported for economy (JK and JL) or Write Once Read Many (WORM) tapes (JY and JZ).
Tip: Check the IBM Tape Device Drivers Installation and User’s Guide, GC27-2130, for the capacity scaling limitations and instructions for setup.
 
2.2.5 Access performance specifications and drive characteristics
Table 2-8 summarizes the access performance and drive characteristics of the 3592-55E, 3592-55F, 3592-EH8 and 3592-EH7. For better performance, the block size of the data should be 256K or greater.
Table 2-8 Access performance specifications and drive characteristics
Parameter
3592-EH8, 55E and 55F
3592-EH7
Tape speed, locate/rewind
12.4 mps
12.4 mps
Drive load/ready time
12 seconds (s)
15 s
Block locate time from load point average
40 s for JC and JY
45 s for JD and JZ
11 s for JK
13 s for JL
12 s 20% scaled JC
13 s 20% scaled JD
37 s for JB and JX
40 s for JC and JY
11 s for JK
15 s 20% scaled JB
12 s 20% scaled JC
Time to first data average (load/ready + locate)
50 s for JC and JY
55 s for JD and JZ
22 s for JK
23 s for JL
23 s 20% scaled JC
23 s 20% scaled JD
42 s for JB and JX
55 s for JC and JY
26 s for JK
30 s for 20% scaled JB
27 s for 20% scaled JC
Unload time
36 s for JD, JZ, JL, JC, JY, and JK
24 s for JB and JX
36 s for JC, JY, and JK
Maximum rewind time
76 s 100% scaled JC and JY
26 s 20% scaled JC
18 s JK
94 s 100% scaled JD and JZ
34 s 20% scaled JD and JZ
34 s JL
72 s 100% scaled JB and JX
24 s 20% scaled JB
76 s 100% scaled JC and JY
26 s 20% scaled JC
18 s JK
Native data rate
360 MBps
250 MBps
Device data rate: Maximum that is sustained with maximally compressible data
700 MBps
600 Mbps for 3592-55E
650 MBps
Interface burst transfer rate: Maximum
800 MBps (FC-8)
800 MBps (FC-8)
Number of tracks
J5A format, 7680 JD
J5 format, 5120 JD, JZ, and JL
J5 format, 4608 JC, JK, and JY
J4 format, 1792 JB and JX
J4 format, 2560 JC, JK, and JY
Number of passes (from BOT to EOT)
J5A format 249 JD
J5 format 160 JD, JZ, and JL
J5 format 144 JC, JK, and JY
J4 format 56 JB and JX
J4 format 80 JC, JK, and JY
Linear density
510 kilobits per inch (Kbpi)
500 Kbpi
Servo regions
5
5
Data tracks recorded simultaneously
32
32
Buffer size
2 GB
1 GB
2.2.6 Emulation
The TS1150 supports drive emulation, but not emulation mode.
Emulation mode
The TS1150 does not support any emulation modes. Because the drive cannot write the TS1130, TS1120, or J1A logical format, it cannot fully emulate all format behaviors of a previous model 3592 drive.
Drive emulation
The TS1155 and the TS1150 tape drive do not support emulation, The TS1155 can read and write in J5A and J5 format with compatible IBM 3592 tape cartridges. The TS1150 can read and write in J5 and J4 format with compatible IBM 3592 tape cartridges.
The TS1155 tape drive can reformat any compatible J5 tape when it is writing from BOT and the TS1150 can reformat any J4 format tape. Table 2-9 shows the available modes for TS1150 and TS155.
Table 2-9 Drive emulation for TS1150
Drive mode setting
Formats read
Format that is used when the writing cartridge is at BOT
Format that is used when the writing cartridge is not at BOT
Model type that is reported to host in response to the Inquiry command
EH8
J5 format
J4
J5
J5
 
J5 if format at J5
J4 if format at J4
E08
55E and 55F
J5A format
J5A
J5
J5A
 
J5A if format at J5A
J5 if format at J5
55E or 55F
The TS1150 can reformat a tape written in J5A format, but cannot read in this format.
2.2.7 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS support
TS1155 and TS1155 tape drives are compatible with the IBM Spectrum Archive software application and the underlying IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS). LTFS uses media partitioning functionality. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost, which can be used without other database applications. LTFS presents tape media as though it were a disk file system. IBM Spectrum Archive supports the IBM LTO Ultrium 7, 6, and 5, and IBM 3592-E08, 55F and 3592-E07 tape drives.
Tape as a storage medium offers many benefits. Tape 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 unless the data is copied to disk first.
With IBM Spectrum Archive and Linear Tape File System (LTFS), accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge became as intuitive as the use of a USB flash drive. With IBM Spectrum Archive, reading data on a tape cartridge is as easy as dragging and dropping a file. Users can run any application that is designed for disk files against tape data without concern that the data is physically stored on tape.
LTFS implements a true file system for tape. IBM Spectrum Archive also supports library automation, including the ability to find data on a tape in a library without mounting and searching tape volumes.
IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition (LE) supports IBM tape automation and the single drive edition IBM Linear Tape File System. With IBM Spectrum Archive LE, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of the software, which is running on a single server. 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.
The TS1150 and TS1155 provides the same LTFS support as the TS1140, but with increased capacity and performance. LTFS is provided with the following features:
•Ability to configure up to four partitions
•Wrap-wise and longitudinal-wise partitioning
•Support on all non-WORM TS1140 formats (JC, JK, and JB formats)
•Format command support
For more information about IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS, see 2.8, “IBM Spectrum Archive” on page 130.
2.2.8 Data safe mode
The TS1155 and TS1150 supports data safe mode. This mode is controlled by the application and prevents inadvertent overwrite. Data safe mode treats the tape volume that is mounted
as a WORM drive and prevents inadvertent overwrite. This mode is set by the application or host system.
2.2.9 Upgrade considerations
A drive-field Miscellaneous Equipment Specification (MES) conversion feature is available for a 3592-EH7 model to 3592-EH8 model conversion to a TS1150.
 
Important: If you choose this MES to replace the TS1140 drive, only the drive changes. The canister remains the same. The serial number of the original drive is written by the library to the vital product data (VPD) of the replacement drive. The MES is valid for both the TS4500 tape library and a rack-mounted drive.
TS1150 Field MES support
The following drive MES conversions are supported:
•3592 EH8 drive > 3592 55F model upgrade
•3592 E07 drive > 3592 E08 model upgrade
•3592 E07 drive > 3592 EH7 model upgrade
•3592 EH7 drive > 3592 EH8 model upgrade
• 3592 E08 drive > 3592 EH8 model conversion
 
Important: You must load the IBM Assembly and Deploy Tools (IADT)-capable microcode for a TS1140 drive before the conversion to the EH8 model. Without it, communication to the library is not possible. The IADT-capable microcode can be obtained from IBM Fix Central. Only one MES model upgrade is supported in the life of the drive.
2.2.10 Firmware updates
No changes were made to the firmware update mechanisms for the TS1155 and TS1150 as compared to TS1140 tape drives:
•The TS1155 and TS1150 continues to support concurrent Licensed Internal Code (LIC) load with deferred activation.
•The TS1155 and TS1150 has a single LIC image that is unique from previous models.
Unique LIC is required for the model EH7 drives because the LOAD ID differs from the LOAD ID that is required for previous versions of 3592. The firmware for the 3592 55E, 55F, and EH8 drives can be updated by using one of the following methods, depending on where the drive is installed:
•Through the TS4500 management GUI
•Through the host attachment by using the write buffer command or IBM TotalStorage Tape Diagnostic Tool (ITDT)
2.2.11 RAS
The RAS features are improved or maintained relative to the TS1140. Similar to their predecessor models, the TS1155 and TS1150 are single FRU, which are hot-pluggable without a maintenance window and support nondisruptive code loading. As with the TS1140, fan speed management and unique device microcode file management are available through a LOAD ID.
The end of life usage alert for media activates on full-file pass usage. The Nearing Media Life alert occurs at 19,900 mounts or 295 full-file passes. The Media Life alert for JD or JL media use within a TS1150 drive is now rated for 20 M motion meters as opposed to 300 Full-File Passes (FFPs).
2.2.12 Improved media Statistical Analysis and Reporting System
The TS1155 and TS1150 supports Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) in a similar manner to previous drive models.
The tape drive uses SARS to help isolate failures between media and hardware. SARS uses the cartridge performance history (which is saved in the cartridge memory (CM) module) and the drive performance history (which is kept in the drive flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)) to determine the likely cause of failure. SARS can cause the drive to request a cleaning tape to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware is degraded.
SARS information is reported through the TapeAlert flags and through media information messages (MIMs) or service information messages (SIMs).
The 3592 drive maintains a history of the last 100 mounts for both Volume Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (VSARS) and Hardware Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (HSARS).
 
Note: Media SARS information is preserved when media is reformatted.
The TS1150 implements an enhanced SARS function that is known as client-centric SARS (ccSARS). This function improves the overall amount of information that is maintained, and the presentation means to the client in concert with the automation system.
The media SARS function for the drives includes the following actions:
•Tape alerts are generated when media passes usage life, as determined by full-file passes, meters of tape that were processed, or the write pass count, and the total number of mounts (which was already supported).
•A media SARS summary is maintained in the cartridge memory in a manner where it can be rebuilt on tape if the SARS records on tape cannot be read and must be reinitialized. This cartridge memory copy is also readable on an earlier level TS1140 drive to preserve SARS information between logical format conversions.
2.2.13 Encryption
The TS1155 and TS1150 tape drives are encryption-capable. Like the TS1140, you do not need to enable the drive explicitly.
Encryption support includes the following enhancements:
•LME, AME, and SME (for TS7700)
•T10 default method support
•Continued encrypted data key (EEDK) wrapped key support in LME and SME
•Enhanced protocol support for Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), which can be configured for security, and Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 2 historical mode (as used by IBM Spectrum Protect™), T10 default method, Security Protocol IN (SPIN), and Security Protocol OUT (SPOUT)
•Enhanced drive cryptographic upgrades to change the default authentication means from Secure Hash Algorithm-1 (SHA-1) to SHA-2 when you use IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager
•T10 standards-based encryption control on a logical block basis (not tied to format identifier) and writes encrypted data and clear data to the same tape cartridge
2.3 IBM TS1140 tape drive (Model 3592 EH7)
The TS4500 tape library supports the TS1140 tape drive 3592 Model EH7.
The TS1140 tape drive offers a dual-port Fibre Channel (FC) host attachment interface. This feature provides flexibility in open systems environments because the drives can directly attach to open systems servers with FC attachments. All TS1140 tape drives are encryption-capable.
Currently, the IBM TS1140 tape drive (Model 3592 EH7) is the only HD2-compatible 3592 tape drive that is supported by the TS4500 HD2 frames.
 
Note: Drive Model 3592 E08 and E07 or earlier drives’ models are not supported by the HD2 frames of the TS4500 tape library.
The 3592 tape drive communicates with the TS4500 tape library through an internal Ethernet interface and uses Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to isolate failures between media and hardware.
The IBM TS1140 tape drive is the fourth tape drive generation of the IBM 3592 tape family, and it is designed to provide higher levels of performance, reliability, and cartridge capacity than the previous models of 3592 tape drives.
The TS1140 has a high-technology, 32-channel giant magneto-resistive (GMR) head design, and it provides a native data rate performance of up to 250 MBps versus the 160 MBps data rate of the TS1130 tape drive Model E06.
The TS1140 Model EH7 tape drive has a dual-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interface for Fibre Channel attachment to host systems, or a switched fabric environment.
The TS1140 records in two recording formats, supporting both encryption and non-encryption. Enterprise Format 4 (EFMT4) is used to represent the non-encrypted recording format. Enterprise Encrypted Format 4 (EEFMT4) is used to denote the encrypted recording format. With these recording formats, the noncompressed capacity of the extended length MEDIA11 and MEDIA12 cartridges is increased from 1 TB to 4 TB.
 
Note: The 3592 JA, JW, and JJ (EMFMT1 and EMFMT2) media are not supported by the TS4500 tape library.
The TS1140 supports integration into the IBM TS4500 library by using a new compact drive sled. Figure 2-12 shows the IBM TS1140 tape drive sled.
Figure 2-12 TS1140 (3592 EH7)
The TS1140 has a new front bezel with a chevron fiducial. The buttons and display remain the same as for all previous models of the 3592 drives.
Figure 2-13 shows the front of the 3592 EH7 drive.
Figure 2-13 TS1140 EH7 front panel
The TS1140 tape drive maintains the same features and technology enhancements that were introduced with the TS1120 and extended by the TS1130. In addition, the TS1140 offers several enhancements, which are explained in more detail on the following pages, over the predecessor models.
The TS1140 offers the following key features, including those features that were introduced with the 3592-J1A, 3592-E05, and 3592 E07:
•Digital speed matching
•Channel calibration
•High-resolution tape directory
•Recursive accumulating backhitchless flush or nonvolatile caching (NVC)
•Backhitchless backspace
•Streaming lossless data compression (SLDC) algorithm
•Capacity scaling
•Single field-replaceable unit (FRU)
•Error detection and reporting
•Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS)
•Revised encryption support
•Dual-stage 32-head actuator
•Offboard data string searching
•Enhanced logic to report logical end of tape
•Added partitioning support
•End-to-end logical block protection support
•Data safe mode
•Enhanced Ethernet support
•New enhanced Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle media types
•Eight Gbps Fibre Channel dual port interface
2.3.1 Drive attachment
The TS1140 Model EH7 is supported for attachment in the IBM TS4500 only. The 3592 tape drive communicates with the TS4500 tape library through an internal Ethernet interface and uses SARS to isolate failures between the media and the hardware.
The TS1140 tape drive offers a dual-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel host attachment interface. This feature provides flexibility in open systems environments because the drives can directly attach to open systems servers with Fibre Channel attachments.
The TS1140 Model EH7 has a new back panel, which is shown in Figure 2-14.
Figure 2-14 TS1140 rear panel
Table 2-10 describes all components on the rear panel and shows the normal status of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The numbers relate to the numbers in Figure 2-14.
Table 2-10 Rear panel
Number
Description
LED color or description
1
Power status
Green
2
Drive status
Yellow or green
3
Library connection
Green
4
Information
Blue
5
Port 0 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
6
Port 1 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
7
TS4500 interface connector
TS4500 communication and power
8
Port 0, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
9
Port 1, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
2.3.2 3592 media
The following information relates to TS1140 media.
Data cartridge
The TS1140 uses enhanced Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle media types. The media can be read/written up to 250 MBps native sustained data rate (up to 650 MBps at 3:1 compression) in the 32-channel Generation-4 logical format. The following types of tape cartridges are available:
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Tape Cartridge (JC) - MEDIA11
•IBM Enterprise Advanced WORM Tape Cartridge (JY) - MEDIA12
•IBM Enterprise Advanced Economy Tape Cartridge (JK) - MEDIA13
The following TS1140 tape drive capacity and performance improvements are provided on the existing 3592 media:
•The TS1140 tape drive reuses certain TS1130 and TS1120 supported media types:
 – IBM 3592 Extended Tape Cartridge (JB) - MEDIA9
 – IBM 3592 Extended WORM Tape Cartridge (JX) - MEDIA10
 
Note: Media types JA, JW, and JJ are not supported by the TS4500 tape library.
•The TS1140 improves capacity and performance by writing and reading the EH7 logical format by using a new 32-channel enhanced error correction code (ECC) recording format with a higher track density and higher linear density on the same media types.
 
Design feature: This design supports a common scratch pool by media type regardless of the last written format or allocation target drive.
The 3592 tape drives can reuse different types of tape and multiple densities (logical formats) across various drive generations. Enterprise format 4 (EFMT4) records 2,560 tracks on 32 channels. These logical formats can be divided into multiple subformat options, such as segmentation and capacity scaling.
2.3.3 Capacity and performance
Capacity and performance are improved compared to the IBM TS1130 tape drive for all media types and for all formats that the TS1140 reads or writes.
Capacity improvement
The use of the 3592 EH7 logical format offers native capacity improvement on existing cartridges and new cartridges:
•IBM Enterprise Extended data (JB) or WORM (JX) media, a 60% capacity uplift from 1 TB to 1.6 TB (by using a 3:1 compression ratio 4.8 TB)
•IBM Enterprise Advanced data (JC) or WORM (JY) media, a capacity of 4.0 TB (by using a 3:1 compression ratio 12 TB)
•IBM Enterprise Economy Data media, JK media, a capacity of 500 GB (by using a 3:1 compression ratio 1.5 TB)
 
Performance improvement
The overall performance is increased by various improvements:
•Improved data rate
•Larger 1 GB main data buffer
•Better backhitching
•Improved speed with digital speed matching
•Enhanced read-ahead buffer management
•High access performance for locate or search
•Improved communication links with dual 8 Gbps Fibre Channel ports
•SkipSync and FastSync write performance accelerators
•New 32-channel enhanced ECC recording format
•IBM Spectrum Archive and IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) Single Drive Edition, Library Edition, and Enterprise Edition support
 
Note: 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.
Higher data rates
Performance is improved from the TS1130 up to 64% in TS1140 mode, 50% in TS1130 mode for read and writes, and 50% in TS1120 mode for reads only:
•The EH7 format data rates go up to 250 MBps maximum native and to 650 MBps maximum compressed.
•The E06 format data rates go up to 200 MBps maximum native and to 650 MBps maximum compressed.
Table 2-11 summarizes the capacity and performance characteristics for native data.
Table 2-11 Capacity and performance summary
Media
EH7 format capacity data rate (minimum - maximum)
E06 format capacity data rate (minimum - maximum)
JB and JX
1.6 TB
80 MBps - 200 MBps
1 TB
50 MBps - 160 MBps
JC and JY
4 TB
90 MBps - 250 MBps
N/A
JK
500 GB
60 MBps - 250 MBps
N/A
Buffer
The TS1140 EH7 tape drive has a 1 GB internal data buffer. In addition to enabling higher performance characteristics, the data buffer is designed to support the “read-ahead” capability of compressed data from tape. The data buffer provides high-performance random skip forward sequential (short hop) locates, which are common in database search and tape software recycle operations.
This buffer improves the drive agility, file access, and small file handling. Furthermore, the buffer reduces backhitches for all workloads and improves overall read/write performance.
Offboard data string searching
The TS1140 EH7 tape drive can search the data content of host records for string matches offboard from the host server. The tape drive can perform this search at the maximum data rate (250 MBps native). It takes much longer for a host server to read the data, buffer the data to disk, and then parse the actual data stream with host software routines.
Enhanced logic to report logical end-of-tape (LEOT)
LEOT is now reported, based on a combination of capacity-based and position-based LEOT indicators. The TS1140 EH7 monitors the total accumulated number of physical tape data sets that is written to the volume and reports LEOT based on this capacity-based LEOT value. LOET allows tape copies to complete without overflow more often.
High-resolution tape directory
The TS1140 EH7 tape drive maintains a tape directory structure with a high granularity of information about the physical position of data blocks on the media. This high-resolution tape directory (HRTD), plus the increased search speed, improves the TS1140 EH7 nominal and average access times for locate operations.
Channel calibration and dynamic adaptive equalization
To gain optimum performance, channel calibration allows the drive to automatically customize each read and write data channel. The customization compensates for variations in the recording channel transfer function, for media characteristics, and for read and write head characteristics. Initial calibration settings are calculated and stored at the time of manufacture. For optimum error rate performance, the TS1140 tape drives also use dynamic adaptive equalization hardware on an ongoing basis to adjust the read equalization response.
Speed matching
The speed matching function is improved on the TS1140 tape drive because both the number of speeds and the range of supported data rates are improved. The data rate range depends on the logical format and the media type:
•Thirteen speeds, 76 MBps - 251 MBps for 3592 JC, JK, and JY cartridges that are initialized in Generation 4 format
•Thirteen speeds, 74 MBps - 203 MBps for 3592 JB or JX cartridges that are initialized in Generation 4 format
•Thirteen speeds, 41 MBps - 163 MBps for 3592 JB or JX cartridges that are initialized in Generation 3 format
•Thirteen speeds, 39 MBps - 151 MBps for 3592 JB or JX cartridges that are initialized in Generation 2 format
The TS1140 tape drive increases throughput through speed matching while the drive performs the following functions:
•Adjusts tape speed based on host data rate
•Calculates effective host data rate (EHDR)
•Optimizes data rate by selecting optimal EHDR
•Forces speed changes mid-wrap if advantageous
•Minimizes time to record data
Virtual backhitch
The TS1140 key feature improvements are listed:
•Virtual backhitch (transaction write with sync)
•Single wrap backhitchless flush (large transaction writes with sync)
•Backhitchless backspacing (ANSI file writes)
The TS1140 function is improved with Recursive Accumulating Backhitchless Flush (RABF) and the addition of a new same wrap backhitchless flush (SWBF) function that extends virtual backhitch effectiveness for large files.
Read-ahead feature
On sequential reads, the tape drive automatically runs the read-ahead feature and fills the buffer with data sequentially beyond the target block (N). If one of these blocks is a target of the next command (such as N+200), it is already in the buffer. Therefore, transfer is fast. The drive then automatically fills the buffer sequentially with data past N+200.
The 3592-EH7 supports read ahead of approximately 1,000 MB of compressed data from tape. When the drive processes a command to locate or read a block, the drive automatically continues to stream down the tape and to read ahead until the data buffer is full, which allows subsequent Locate or Read commands to be fulfilled from the data buffer at faster speeds, rather than requiring access to the tape. The drive outperforms competitive drives, which simply stop and wait for the next command, with this unique functionality.
Performance scaling and segmentation
The 3592 EH7 tape drives support capacity scaling for tape cartridges of media types JB and JC over a broad range of capacities. The effect of capacity scaling is to contain data in a specified fraction of the tape, yielding faster locate and read times. Alternatively, you can purchase economy tapes (JK media type).
Performance scaling limits the data that is written to the first 20% of the cartridge. When you use the performance segmentation option, the overall capacity of the cartridge is limited to 86.6% of the total capacity.
The fast access segment occupies the first 20% of the cartridge, which is followed by the slower access segment. For example, with the Model EH7 tape drive operating in EFMT4 format, the 3592 Advanced Data Tape Cartridge (type JC) can be scaled to 800 GB. And, by using performance segmentation, the 4,000 GB Extended Data cartridge can be segmented into an 800 GB fast access segment and a 3,200 GB slower access segment. Segmentation is only available within a specified range of capacity scaling settings to achieve this faster performance.
Cartridges that are performance-scaled or performance-segmented can be reused (reformatted) to their full capacity, to the performance-scaled capacity, or to the performance segmentation format as indicated through the assigned data class.
 
Note: Capacity scaling is supported for economy (JK) or Write Once Read Many (WORM) tapes (JX, JY, and JR) in read-only mode.
Tip: Check with the device driver user guide for capacity scaling limitations and instructions for setup.
 
 
Data safe mode
The 3592 EH7 supports data safe mode. Data safe mode is controlled by the application and prevents inadvertent overwrite. Data safe mode treats the tape volume that is mounted as a WORM drive and prevents inadvertent overwrite. Data safe mode is set by the application or host system.
Drive mechanical and electrical reliability
The mechanism of the TS1140 tape drive is specified at a mean-cycles-between-failure rate of 300,000 cycles. The mechanism contains special mechanical and electrical features to prevent damage to the media on power-down or reset. These features also prevent the dropping of the leader pin or other thread failures during similar interruptions. It also tolerates high vibration and shock environments without data loss or degraded operation.
Access performance specifications and drive characteristics
Table 2-12 summarizes the improvements in the access performance, that is, time to first data, block locate time from load point, or random locate times, and the drive characteristics.
Table 2-12 Access performance specifications and drive characteristics
Parameter
3592-EH7 EFMT4 or EEFMT4
Tape speed, locate, and rewind
12.4 mps
Drive load and ready time
15 seconds (s)
Block locate time from load point average
37 s for JB or JX
40 s for JC or JY
11 s for JK
15 s 20% scaled JB
12 s 20% scaled JC
Time to first data average (load and ready + locate)
42 s for JB or JX
55 s for JC or JY
26 s for JK
30 s for 20% scaled JB
27 s for 20% scaled JC
Unload time
24 s for JB or JX
36 s for JC, JY, or JK
Maximum rewind time
72 s 100% scaled JB or JX
24 s 20% scaled JB
76 s 100% scaled JC or JY
26 s 20% scaled JC
18 s JK
Native data rate
250 MBps
Device data rate: Maximum that is sustained with maximally compressible data
650 MBps
Interface burst transfer rate: Maximum
800 MBps (FC-8)
Number of tracks
1,792 JB or JX
2,560 JC, JK, or JY
Number of passes (from BOT to EOT)
56 JB or JX
80 JC, JK, or JY
Linear density
500 Kbpi
Servo regions
5
Data tracks that are recorded simultaneously
32
Buffer size
1 GB
End-to-end logical block protection
The TS1140 supports end-to-end logical block protection, which allows the host application to append a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) to logical blocks. Data is validated in the following manner:
•Validated by the drive as data is received, and written to the media
•Validated by the drive and application on the data read-back
•Validated at full line speed with the VERIFY command
The write path is independent from the read path:
•Can read without a CRC and can write with a CRC
•Can write without a CRC and can read with a CRC
•Can write without a CRC and can read without a CRC
•Can write with a CRC and can read with a CRC
The CRC is generated and checked at the tape drive end and the application end. The CRC might be checked at any point along the path, at the host bus adapter (HBA), or at any system or software that is in the middle.
On write, the CRC is appended to each logical block at the source and the CRC is checked at any point that you want in the transfer. If corruption occurs, the exact location of the problem is known. The logical block with the CRC is validated before it is committed to media. Data is known to be on tape in uncorrupted form before the source data is released. The CRC is stored with each logical block.
On read, the logical block with the CRC is read and validated. The CRC is transferred with each logical block. The CRC is checked at any point that you want in the transfer, then the CRC is validated and removed at the destination. Logical block protection uses the VERIFY command as defined in the SCSI Stream Commands - 4 (SSC-4) standard, which adds new options to perform the following functions:
•Check that the protection information (that is, CRC) is the same protection information that is configured.
•Check the protection information (that is, CRC) and validate each logical block from the current position for the number (n) of files (that is, file marks (FMKS)):
 – No blocks are transferred over the SCSI interface.
 – Happens at the native data rate.
•Check that protection information (that is, CRC) validates on each logical block from the current position to EOD:
 – No blocks are transferred over the SCSI interface.
 – Happens at the native data rate.
2.3.4 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS support
The TS1140 provided LTFS support with the following features:
•Ability to configure up to four partitions.
•Wrap-wise and longitudinal-wise partitioning.
•Supported on all non-WORM TS1140 formats (JC, JK, and JB formats).
•Format command support.
•Each partition can use a separate encryption method, or none.
Tape as a storage medium offers many benefits. Tape 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 the data to disk.
With IBM Spectrum Archive and the Linear Tape File System (LTFS), accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge became as intuitive as the use of a USB flash drive. With LTFS, 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 that the data is physically stored on tape.
LTFS, which works on LTO-7, LTO-6, LTO-5, TS1150, and TS1140 tape, implements a true file system for tape. IBM Spectrum Archive also supports library automation, including the ability to find data on a tape in a library without mounting and searching tape volumes.
IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition (LE) supports IBM tape automation, and the Single Drive Edition is packaged with stand-alone drives. With IBM Spectrum Archive LE, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of the software, which is running on a single server. 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 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS, see 2.8, “IBM Spectrum Archive” on page 130.
2.4 IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives for the TS4500 tape library
Two LTO formats (Ultrium and Accelis) were introduced in 1997, and licenses for the technology were made available. Since then, the Accelis format was not actively pursued by manufacturers because it is apparent that the Ultrium format meets market needs. The three LTO sponsoring companies also took steps to protect the client’s investment by providing a roadmap up to LTO generation 10, which illustrates native capacity (Figure 2-15). The three LTO sponsoring companies also established an infrastructure to enable compatibility between products. At the time of this writing, five generations were available.
 
Important: IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Quantum reserve the right to change the information in this migration path without notice.
Figure 2-15 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.
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 clients’ 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.
2.4.1 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 7 format records data on 3584 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 7 format, the 3584 tracks are split into four bands of 896 tracks each. Table 2-13 shows the values for the Ultrium 7 and previous LTO generations.
Table 2-13 Data tracks, density, and channels
LTO generation
Data tracks
Tracks/band
Linear density
Read/write channels
Ultrium 1
0,384
096
124 Kbpi
08
Ultrium 2
0,512
128
188 Kbpi
08
Ultrium 3
0,704
176
250 Kbpi
16
Ultrium 4
0,896
224
328 Kbpi
16
Ultrium 5
1,280
320
368 Kbpi
16
Ultrium 6
2,176
544
385 Kbpi
16
Ultrium 7
3,584
896
485 Kbpi
32
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, 32 tracks at LTO Ultrium 7 format are concurrently read or written. (See the Read/write channels column in Table 2-13.) At the end of the tape, the second pass of the round trip starts.
The read/write heads are indexed and positioned over 32 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 32 tracks.
Because track densities (as shown in Table 2-13) 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 allows data with media imperfections to be read.
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 TS1100 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 usage and error information. A noncontacting radio frequency module, with nonvolatile memory capacity of 16,320 bytes for Ultrium 7 and 6, and 8192 bytes for Ultrium 5 and 4, provides storage and retrieval.
 
Note: The TS4500 supports three LTO tape drives, the HD2-compatible models of the LTO-7, LTO-6, and LTO-5.
Interleaved recording
The LTO drive uses an interleaved, serpentine, longitudinal recording format that is similar to the method that is used in 3592 drives. The first set of 16 or 32 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 the 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.
2.4.2 Data compression
The LTO Consortium created a superior data compression technique that is 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). ALDC might be preferable, and at other times, a simple pass-through is better, because of the variations in data. 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 2-16 shows the LTO-DC data compression technique that uses the two schemes.
Figure 2-16 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 data is compressed was specified by LTO-DC. LTO-DC was approved by Ecma International as the Streaming Lossless Data Compression (SLDC) standard. For more information, see the Standard ECMA-321 Streaming Lossless Data Compression Algorithm - (SLDC) page on the Ecma International website:
 
Compression technique: LTO uses the SLDC technique for compression. The IBM 3592 tape drive also uses the SLDC compression technique.
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.
2.4.3 Ultrium tape media
Figure 2-17 shows the IBM Ultrium cartridges, which are distinguished by color. The first-generation IBM Ultrium 1 LTO cartridge is black. The second generation is purple. The third generation is slate-blue. The fourth generation is green. The fifth generation is burgundy. The Ultrium 6 cartridge is colored black. The Ultrium 7 cartridge is colored purple. 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. For the fifth generation, the top is burgundy. The Ultrium 6 WORM cartridge is colored black with a platinum bottom. The Ultrium 7 WORM cartridge is purple with a platinum bottom.
Figure 2-17 Generations of IBM LTO Ultrium tape cartridges
Data cartridge
The IBM LTO-7 tape cartridge is purple with a silkscreen label on top that specifies LTO-7 and 6 TB. The IBM LTO-6 tape cartridge is black with a silkscreen label on top that specifies LTO-6 and 2.5 TB. The IBM LTO-5 tape cartridge is burgundy with a silkscreen label on the top that specifies LTO-5 and 1.5 TB.
An LTO-7 data cartridge and a WORM tape cartridge are shown in Figure 2-18.
Figure 2-18 LTO-7 media
In addition to standard read/write data cartridges, WORM cartridges are available. IBM WORM data cartridges are two tones to distinguish them from other data cartridges. Each WORM cartridge is the same color as the same generation of data cartridge on the top, but it is gray on the bottom. All generations of cartridges contain ½-inch, dual-coat, metal-particle tape. The capacities for the three types of cartridges are listed:
•LTO-7 and LTO-7 WORM tape cartridges have a native data capacity of 6,000 GB
(5,587 GiB) (15 TB [13.64 TiB] at 2.5:1 compression).
•LTO-6 and LTO-6 WORM tape cartridges have a native data capacity of 2,500 GB
(2,328.31 GiB) (6.25 TB [5.68 TiB] at 2.5:1 compression).
•LTO-5 and LTO-5 WORM tape cartridges have a native data capacity of 1,500 GB (1,396.98 GiB) (3 TB [2.73 TiB] at 2:1 compression).
The IBM WORM cartridges are two-tone cartridges with a platinum bottom. The top is like the normal LTO Ultrium cartridges.
WORM tape format
Beginning with LTO Ultrium format generation 3, WORM functionality provides nonerasable, nonrewritable operation with tape media. WORM is for long-term, tamper-resistant record retention. LTO Ultrium 7, Ultrium 6, Ultrium 5, and Ultrium 4 drives provide the same WORM capability.
The format specification for WORM for LTO Ultrium generations includes low-level encoding in the cartridge memory, and the encoding 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.
Bar code labels
Each LTO data, cleaning, and diagnostic cartridge that is processed by the TS4500 tape library must bear a bar code label. The label contains the following information:
•A volume serial (VOLSER) number that you can read
•A bar code that the library can read
 
Note: Client-printed bar code labels are not currently supported on the TS4500. Certain bar code labels that were previously successfully scanned by the TS3500 are not readable by the TS4500 at general availability (GA). Issues with reading media labels are most often issues with those labels that were printed by the client.
When read by the library’s bar code reader, the bar code identifies the cartridge’s VOLSER to the tape library. The bar code also tells the library whether the cartridge is a data, cleaning, or diagnostic cartridge.
In addition, the bar code includes the two-character media-type identifier Lx, where x equals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, T, U, V, W, or X. L identifies the cartridge as an LTO cartridge: The possible values for the second character are described in the following list:
•1 indicates that the cartridge is the first generation of its type.
•2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 indicates that the cartridge is the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh generation of its type.
•T indicates that the cartridge is a generation 3 WORM cartridge.
•U indicates that the cartridge is a generation 4 WORM cartridge.
•V indicates that the cartridge is a generation 5 WORM cartridge.
•W indicates that the cartridge is a generation 6 WORM cartridge.
•X indicates that the cartridge is a generation 7 WORM cartridge.
Figure 2-19 shows a sample bar code label for the LTO-7 tape cartridge.
Figure 2-19 View of the LTO-7 tape cartridge label
Apply the following guidelines whenever you use LTO bar code labels:
•Use only bar code labels that are approved by IBM.
•Do not reuse a label or reapply a used label over an existing label.
•Before you apply a new label, remove the old label by slowly pulling it at a right angle to the cartridge case.
•Use peel-clean bar code labels that do not leave a residue after they are removed. If glue residue is on the cartridge, remove it by gently rubbing it with your finger. Do not use a sharp object, water, or a chemical to clean the label area.
•Examine the label before you apply it to the cartridge. Do not use the label if voids or smears are in the printed characters or bar code. (An application’s inventory operation takes much longer if the bar code label is not readable.)
•Remove the label from the label sheet carefully. Do not stretch the label or cause the edges to curl.
•Position the label within the recessed bar code label area.
•With light finger pressure, smooth the label so that no wrinkles or bubbles exist on its surface.
•Verify that the label is smooth and parallel, and it has no roll-up or roll-over. The label must be flat to within 0.5 mm (0.02 in.) over the length of the label and have no folds, missing pieces, or smudges.
•Do not place other machine-readable labels on other surfaces of the cartridge. They might interfere with the ability of the bar code reader to read the bar code.
Bar code label specifications are listed on the IBM LTO Ultrium Cartridge Label Specification web page:
Cleaning cartridges
The IBM LTO Ultrium Cleaning Cartridge (which is known as the universal cleaning cartridge) and the LTO Ultrium Cleaning Cartridge are compatible with all LTO tape drives.
The cleaning cartridge also contains a cartridge memory device, which automatically tracks the number of times that it was used. Cleaning cartridges must be replaced after 50 cleaning cycles. The firmware in the drive detects whether a cleaning tape is expired.
The volume serial (VOLSER) number on the cleaning cartridge’s bar code label must begin with CLNI or CLNU, or the library treats the cleaning cartridge as a data cartridge during an inventory.
 
Note: The average number of mounts that a cleaning cartridge is mounted before it is marked for replacement is 50. Because the count for cleaning is based on the tape length that is used during the cleaning, this number can be more or fewer than 50 mounts.
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 is also known as medium auxiliary memory (MAM). For more information, see the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Tape Drive SCSI Reference (LTO-5 through LTO-7), 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 client 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.
The LTO-CM is used to hold usage and error information about the cartridge, the media inside that cartridge, and the data on the media. The storage capacity of the Generation 6 and 7 LTO-CM is 16,320 bytes, double the 8,160-byte capacity of the Generation 5 and 4 LTO-CM. The Generation 1, 2, and 3 cartridges use a 4,096-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 it 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 that is 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 that it was loaded, and the number of errors that it accumulated helps determine 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 (that users were not allowed to access) before the beginning-of-tape marker, such as in the IBM 3590 tape drive.
2.5 IBM LTO Ultrium 7 tape drive (Model 3588 F7C)
Ultrium 7 is the latest LTO generation, which was released in late 2015. The IBM LTO Ultrium 7 offerings represent significant improvements in capacity, performance, and reliability over the previous generation, Ultrium 6, while they still protect the client’s investment in the previous technology.
The Ultrium 7 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.
The Ultrium 7 tape drive provides the following improvements over the older Ultrium 6 models:
•The Ultrium 7 tape drive increases the native transfer speed to 300 MBps compared with 160 MBps for the Ultrium 6 tape drive.
•The Ultrium 7 tape drive increases the compressed speed to 750 MBps for Fibre Channel (600 MBps for the serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface) compared with 400 MBps for the Ultrium 6 tape drive.
•The Ultrium 7 tape drive more than doubles the potential capacity of a cartridge in Ultrium 6 format.
3588 F7C tape drive features at a glance
The LTO-7 (3588 F7C) tape drive has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 300 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 750 MBps
•LTO Ultrium 7 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 6 TB
•Eight Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option
•1,024 MB internal data buffer
•Application-managed encryption support
•Library-managed encryption support
•Sixteen KB cartridge memory with Ultrium 7 media
•IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition, Library Edition, and Enterprise Edition support
•Linear Tape File System (LTFS) partitioning support
The LTO Ultrium 7 supports integration in the IBM TS4500 library by using a new compact drive sled.
The TS4500 LTO drive sled is shown in Figure 2-20.
Figure 2-20 LTO Ultrium 7 (3588 F7C)
The LTO Ultrium 7 Model F7C drive has a new front bezel with a chevron fiducial. The buttons and display remain the same as for all previous models of LTO tape drives. Figure 2-21 shows the front of the LTO-7 (3588 F7C) tape drive.
Figure 2-21 LTO Ultrium 7 (3588 F7C) front panel
The LTO Ultrium 7 Model F7C back panel is the same back panel that is used in LTO-6 and LTO-5, as shown in Figure 2-22.
Figure 2-22 LTO Ultrium 7 Model F7C rear panel
Table 2-14 describes all of the components on the rear panel and shows the normal status of the LEDs. The numbers in Table 2-14 refer to Figure 2-22.
Table 2-14 LTO Ultrium 7 rear panel
Number
Description
LED color or description
1
Power status
Green
2
Drive status
Yellow or green
3
Library connection
Green
4
Information
Blue
5
Port 0 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
6
Port 1 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
7
TS4500 interface connector
TS4500 communication and power
8
Port 0, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
9
Port 1, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO Ultrium 7 tape cartridges, the Ultrium 7 tape drives can read and write to LTO Ultrium 6 cartridges and read LTO Ultrium 5 cartridges. They cannot read Ultrium 4, Ultrium 3, Ultrium 2, or Ultrium 1 cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO Ultrium 7 drives. In addition to using the IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge with up to 6,000 GB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO Ultrium 7 tape cartridges.
 
Note: The LTO-7 tape drive cannot read or write LTO-1, LTO-2, LTO-3, or LTO-4 tape cartridges.
Table 2-15 shows the native data transfer rate when a data cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-15 Native data transfer rate with various media
 
Generation 7 media
Generation 6 media
Generation 5 media
Supported methods of operating
Read/write
Read/write
Read only
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
300
160
140
Connectivity
The LTO-7 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These tape drives are dual-ported tape drives that facilitate 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity. These drives are differentiated from other LTO drives by their machine type and model numbers. You can identify the LTO tape drives by the logo at the front of the drive or by the label at the rear of the drive’s canister.
IBM LTO-7 tape drives can connect to many types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or host bus adapters (HBAs) that are supported by the LTO tape drives, see the IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) web page:
Performance
The LTO Ultrium 7 tape drive uses 3584 data tracks to read and write to Ultrium 7 tape. These tracks are grouped in four servo bands. 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 7 tape drives is 300 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach up to 750 MBps on the FC interface and 600 MBps on the serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface. IBM suggests the use of the IBM LTO Ultrium 7 6,000 GB data cartridge, which provides up to 10,000 GB of storage with a 2.5:1 compression ratio.
Dynamic speed matching
The LTO Ultrium 7 tape drive performs dynamic speed matching at one of 12 speeds to adjust the native data rate of the drive as closely as possible to the net host data rate (after it factors 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 2-16 shows the data rates for the LTO Ultrium 7 drives.
Table 2-16 LTO-7 drive speed matching data rates
Performance parameters
Generation 7 media
Generation 6 media
Generation 5 media
Speed matching data rates in MBps
306.00
287.52
268.56
250.66
231.86
213.06
194.26
175.46
157.67
138.52
120.11
101.46
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
Encryption
The LTO Ultrium 7 tape drive family is encryption-capable and supports application-managed tape encryption at no charge on the SAS and Fibre Channel tape drives. In library use, system-managed tape encryption and library-managed tape encryption are supported by the Transparent LTO Encryption features (FC 5901 for TS2900, FC 1604 for TS3500, and FC 5900 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 7 tape drives use Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to help isolate failures between media and hardware. 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 is degraded.
IBM Spectrum Archive software application
IBM Ultrium 7 tape drives are compatible with the IBM Spectrum Archive software application, and the underlying Linear Tape File System (LTFS). LTFS uses the LTO media partitioning functionality, which is present on Ultrium 7, 6, and 5 cartridges. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost that can be used without other database applications. LTFS presents tape media as though it were a disk file system. IBM Spectrum Archive supports IBM LTO Ultrium 7, 6, and 5, and IBM 3592-E08 and 3592-E07 tape drives.
Tape as a storage medium offers many benefits. It is reliable, portable, low-cost, low-power, and high-capacity. However, tape is not particularly easy to use. Tape has no standard format, and data often cannot be used without first copying the data 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 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 Spectrum Archive supports IBM tape automation in addition to the single drive edition. By using IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of the software, which runs on a single server. 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 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS, see 2.8, “IBM Spectrum Archive” on page 130.
2.6 IBM LTO Ultrium 6 tape drive (Model 3588 F6C)
The IBM LTO-6 tape drive was released in 2012. At the time, IBM LTO-6 tape drive offerings represented significant improvements in capacity and performance over the previous generation, LTO-5, while they protected the client’s investment in the previous technology.
The 3588 F6C 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.
The 3588 F6C tape drive provides the following improvements over the older LTO models:
•The 3588 F6C tape drive increases the native transfer speed to 160 MBps compared with 140 MBps for the LTO-5 tape drive.
•The 3588 F6C tape drive increases the compressed speed to 400 MBps compared with 280 MBps for the LTO-5 tape drive.
•The 3588 F6C tape drive more than doubles the potential capacity of a cartridge in LTO-5 format.
3588 F6C tape drive features at a glance
The LTO-6 (3588 F6C) tape drive has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 160 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 400 MBps
•LTO-6 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 2.5 TB
•Dual-ported 8 Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option
•1,024 MB internal data buffer for full-high drives
•Application-managed encryption (AME) and Library-managed encryption (LME) support
•Sixteen KB cartridge memory with LTO-6 media
•IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition, Library Edition, and Enterprise Edition support
•IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) partitioning support
The LTO Ultrium 6 supports integration in the IBM TS4500 library by using a compact drive sled.
The TS4500 LTO drive sled is shown in Figure 2-23.
Figure 2-23 LTO Ultrium 6 (3588 F6C)
The LTO Ultrium 6 Model F6C drive has a front bezel with a chevron fiducial. The buttons and display remain the same as for all previous models of LTO drives, and the buttons and display are the same as the LTO Ultrium 7 that is shown in Figure 2-21 on page 118.
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO-6 tape cartridges, the LTO 6 tape drives can read and write to LTO-5 tape cartridges and read LTO-4 tape cartridges.
 
Note: The LTO-6 tape drive cannot read or write to LTO-3, LTO-2, or LTO-1 tape cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO-6 drives. In addition to using the IBM LTO Tape Cartridge with up to 2.5 TB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO-6 tape cartridges.
Table 2-17 shows the native data transfer rate when a data cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-17 Native data transfer rate with various media
 
LTO-6 media
LTO-5 media
LTO-4 media
Supported methods of operating
Read/write
Read/write
Read only
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
160
140
120
Connectivity
The LTO-6 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These tape drives are dual-ported tape drives that facilitate 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity. These drives are differentiated from other LTO drives by their machine type and model numbers. You can identify the LTO tape drives by the logo at the front of the drive or by the label at the rear of the drive’s canister.
IBM LTO-6 tape drives can connect to many types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or host bus adapters (HBAs) that are supported by the LTO tape drives, see the IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) web page:
The LTO Ultrium 6 Model F6C has a new back panel, which is shown in Figure 2-24.
Figure 2-24 LTO Ultrium 6 Model F6C rear panel
Table 2-18 describes all of the components on the rear panel and shows the normal status of the LEDs. The numbers in Table 2-18 refer to Figure 2-24.
Table 2-18 LTO Ultrium 6 rear panel
Number
Description
LED color or description
1
Power status
Green
2
Drive status
Yellow or green
3
Library connection
Green
4
Information
Blue
5
Port 0 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
6
Port 1 Fibre Channel activity
Green or yellow
7
TS4500 interface connector
TS4500 communication and power
8
Port 0, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
9
Port 1, 8 Gbps fiber connection
Supports N_ports and NL_ports, which can autoconfigure between using the FC-AL protocol and the Direct Fabric attach protocol
Performance
The LTO-6 tape drive uses 2,176 data tracks to read and write to an LTO-6 tape cartridge. These tracks are grouped in five servo bands. Like the LTO-5 tape 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 LTO-6 tape drives is 160 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach 400 MBps. IBM suggests the use of the IBM LTO-6 2.5 TB tape cartridge, which provides up to 6.25 TB of storage with a 2.5:1 compression ratio.
Dynamic speed matching
The LTO-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 it factors out data compressibility). This approach helps to reduce the number of backhitch repositions and improves throughput performance.
Table 2-19 shows the data rates for the LTO-6 tape drives.
Table 2-19 LTO-6 tape drive speed matching data rates
Performance parameters
LTO-6 tape cartridge
LTO-5 tape cartridge
LTO-4 tape cartridge read only
Speed matching data rates in MBps
160.00
150.77
141.54
132.31
123.08
113.85
104.62
095.38
086.15
076.92
067.69
058.46
049.23
040.00
140.0
130.0
120.0
112.7
105.5
098.2
090.9
083.6
076.4
069.1
061.8
053.5
046.3
040.0
120.0
113.1
106.1
099.2
092.3
085.3
078.6
071.4
064.6
057.6
050.8
043.8
036.9
030.5
The LTO-6 tape drives are encryption capable, which means that they can convert data into a cipher that ensures data security. System-managed encryption and library-managed encryption and associated IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) access are all available as a chargeable licensed key (FC 1604, Transparent LTO Encryption). A key is required to encrypt and decrypt the data. How a key is generated, maintained, controlled, and transmitted depends on the operating environment where the tape drive is installed.
Certain data management applications can manage keys. For an alternative solution, IBM provides a key manager that works with the keystore of your choice to perform all necessary key management tasks. No recovery exists for lost encryption keys.
Surface Control Guiding Mechanism
The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism is designed to guide the tape along the tape path in the LTO-6 tape drive. This method uses the surface of the tape rather than the edges to control tape motion.
LTO-6 tape drives use flangeless rollers so that the media can float naturally. The Surface Control Guiding Mechanism helps to reduce tape damage (especially to the edges of the tape) and tape debris that comes from the damaged edges and can accumulate in the head area.
Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS)
The LTO-6 tape drives communicate with the TS4500 tape library through an internal Ethernet interface and use Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to isolate failures between media and hardware. 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 is degraded.
Media partitioning
Media partitioning is now available with the LTO-6 tape drive. Media partitioning allows for faster data access by splitting the cartridge into two media partitions. WORM media is not partitionable.
IBM Spectrum Archive software application
IBM Ultrium 6 tape drives are compatible with the IBM Spectrum Archive software application. IBM Spectrum Archive and the underlying Linear Tape File System (LTFS) use the LTO Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5 media partitioning functionality. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost, and it 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 7, Ultrium 6, Ultrium 5, IBM 3593-E08, and 3592-E07 tape drives.
Tape as a storage medium has many benefits. Tape 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 the data 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 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 Spectrum Archive supports IBM tape automation in addition to the single drive edition. By using IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of the software, which runs on a single server. 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 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS, see 2.8, “IBM Spectrum Archive” on page 130.
2.7 IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape drive (Model 3588 F5C)
The IBM LTO-5 tape drive was released in 2010. At the time, IBM LTO-5 tape drive offerings represented significant improvements in capacity and performance over the previous generation, LTO-4, while they protected the client’s investment in the previous technology.
The LTO-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.
LTO-5 tape drive features at a glance
The LTO-5 tape drive has the following characteristics:
•Native data transfer rate of up to 140 MBps
•Compressed data transfer rate of up to 280 MBps
•LTO-5 data and WORM tape cartridge native physical capacity of up to 1.5 TB
•Eight Gbps Fibre Channel attachment option
•512 MB internal data buffer for full-high drives
•Application-managed encryption (AME) support
•Library-managed encryption (LME) support
•IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition, Library Edition, and Enterprise Edition support
•IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) partitioning support
•Eight KB cartridge memory with LTO-5 media
The LTO-5 tape drive is physically the same as the LTO-6 tape drive, as shown in Figure 2-23 on page 123, except the only physical difference is that the rear panel shows as an LTO-5 tape drive, as shown in Figure 2-25.
Figure 2-25 LTO-5 tape drive rear view
Connectivity
The LTO-5 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. These tape drives are dual-ported tape drives that facilitate 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity. These tape drives are differentiated from other LTO tape drives by their machine type and model numbers. You can identify the LTO tape drives by the logo at the front of the drive or by the label at the rear of the drive’s canister.
IBM LTO tape drives can connect to many types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or host bus adapters (HBAs) that are supported by the LTO tape drives, see the IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) web page:
The LTO Ultrium 5 Model F5C back panel is the same as the one for the LTO Ultrium 6, which is shown in Figure 2-24 on page 124. All indicators and LEDs are the same as described in Table 2-18 on page 124.
Compatibility
In addition to reading and writing to LTO-5 tape cartridges, the LTO-5 tape drives can read and write to LTO-4 tape cartridges and read LTO-3 tape cartridges. However, the LTO-5 tape drive cannot read LTO-2 or LTO-1 tape cartridges.
The drive also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed LTO-5 tape drives. In addition to the use of the IBM LTO Tape Cartridge with up to 1.5 TB capacity, the drive offers read/write capability for certified LTO-5 tape cartridges.
Table 2-20 shows the native data transfer rate when a tape cartridge of another generation is processed.
Table 2-20 Native data transfer rate with various media
 
LTO-5 tape cartridge
LTO-4 tape cartridge
LTO-3 tape cartridge
Supported methods of operating
Read/write
Read/write
Read only
Native data rate Fibre Channel (MBps)
140
120
80
The LTO-5 tape drive family offers high capacity, performance, and technology for the midrange open systems environment. The LTO-6 tape drive (Model 3588 F6C) provides dual-ported 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity for point-to-point or Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) attachment.
IBM LTO tape drives can connect to many types of servers. For a list of server interface cards or HBAs that are supported by the LTO tape drives, see the IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) web page:
Performance
The LTO-5 tape drive uses 1,280 data tracks to read and write to the LTO-5 tape cartridge. These tracks are grouped in five servo bands. Like the LTO-4 tape 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 LTO-5 tape drives is 140 MBps. Compressed data rates can reach 280 MBps. IBM advises the use of the IBM LTO-5 1.5 TB tape cartridge, which provides up to 3.0 TB of storage with a 2:1 compression ratio.
Dynamic speed matching
The LTO-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 it factors out data compressibility). This approach helps to reduce the number of backhitch repositions and improves throughput performance.
Table 2-21 shows the speed matching data rates for the LTO-5 tape drives.
Table 2-21 LTO-5 tape drive speed matching data rates
Performance parameters
LTO-5 tape cartridge
LTO-4 tape cartridge
LTO-3 tape cartridge
Speed matching data rates in MBps
140.0
130.0
120.0
112.7
105.5
098.2
090.9
083.6
076.4
069.1
061.8
053.5
046.3
040.0
120.0
113.1
106.1
099.2
092.3
085.3
078.6
071.4
064.6
057.6
050.8
043.8
036.9
030.5
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
Giant magneto-resistive head design
The LTO-5 tape drive uses the giant magneto-resistive (GMR) head with beveled contouring for reducing friction (“stiction”), especially with the smoother LTO-5 media type. This head design is well-proven in enterprise tape products, and it 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 is designed to guide the tape along the tape path in the LTO-5 tape drive. This method uses the surface of the tape rather than the edges to control tape motion. LTO-5 tape drives use flangeless rollers so that the media can float naturally. 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 LTO-5 tape drive uses Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) to help isolate failures between media and hardware. 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 is degraded. When a drive memory dump is taken from the drive, the IBM Support Center can determine whether the failure is in the tape drive or on the data cartridge.
Media partitioning
Media partitioning is now available with the LTO-5 drive. Media partitioning allows for faster data access by splitting the cartridge into two media partitions. WORM media is not partitionable.
IBM Spectrum Archive software application
The IBM Spectrum Archive software application and the underlying Linear Tape File System (LTFS) use the LTO Ultrium Generation 5 media partitioning functionality. LTFS provides a standard tape cartridge format at low cost, and it 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. Tape 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 the data 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 7, 6, 5, 3592-55F, 3592-E08, 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 Spectrum Archive supports IBM tape automation in addition to the single drive edition. With IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition, you can create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of the software, 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 IBM Spectrum Archive and LTFS, see 2.8, “IBM Spectrum Archive”.
2.8 IBM Spectrum Archive
IBM Spectrum Archive, a member of the IBM Spectrum Storage™ family, enables direct, intuitive, and graphical access to data that is stored in IBM tape drives and libraries by incorporating the Linear Tape File System (LTFS) format standard for reading, writing, and exchanging descriptive metadata on formatted tape cartridges.
IBM Spectrum Archive eliminates the need for additional tape management and software to access data.
IBM Spectrum Archive offers three software solutions for managing your digital files with the LTFS format: Single Drive Edition (SDE), Library Edition (LE), and Enterprise Edition (EE). With IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition and IBM Spectrum Scale™, a tape tier can now add savings as a low-cost storage tier. Network-attached unstructured data storage with native tape support by using LTFS delivers the best mix of performance and low-cost storage.
Key capabilities
IBM Spectrum Archive options can support small, medium, and enterprise businesses:
•Seamless virtualization of storage tiers
•Policy-based placement of data
•Single universal namespace for all file data
•Security and protection of assets
•Open, non-proprietary, and cross-platform interchange
•Integrated functionality with IBM Spectrum Scale
Benefits
IBM Spectrum Archive enables direct, intuitive, and graphical access to data that is stored in IBM tape drives and libraries by incorporating the LTFS format standard for reading, writing, and exchanging descriptive metadata on formatted tape cartridges.IBM Spectrum Archive eliminates the need for additional tape management and software to access data.
IBM Spectrum Archive takes advantage of the low cost of tape storage and makes it as easy to use as drag-and-drop. Several IBM Spectrum Archive benefits are listed:
•Enable easy-as-disk access to single or multiple cartridges in a tape library
•Improve efficiency and reduce costs for long-term, tiered storage
•Optimize data placement for cost and performance
•Enable data file sharing without proprietary software
•Scale at a low cost
•Access and manage all data in stand-alone tape environments as simply as though the data was on disk
2.8.1 Linear Tape File System (LTFS)
IBM addressed the growing storage needs of marketplace segments, such as media and entertainment, by introducing the first release of the Linear Tape File System (LTFS) in 2010. IBM developed IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition (SDE) to enable a self-describing cartridge that is based on dual partition in the LTO-5 technology. LTFS is a true file system that makes tape look and work like any removable media. IBM Spectrum Archive SDE is available as a no-charge download for single TS1155, TS1150, TS1140, LTO-7, LTO-6, or LTO-5 tape drives from the IBM Fix Central web page:
LTFS is the first file system that works with LTO generation 7, LTO Generation 6, LTO generation 5, TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape technology to set a new standard for ease of use and portability for open systems tape storage. With this application, accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge is as easy and intuitive as using a USB flash drive. Tapes are self-describing, and you can quickly recall any file from a tape without reading the whole tape from beginning to end.
Furthermore, any LTFS-capable system can read a tape that is created by any other LTFS-capable system (regardless of the operating system platform). Any LTFS-capable system can identify and retrieve the files that are stored on it. LTFS-capable systems have the following characteristics:
•Files and directories are displayed to you as a directory tree listing.
•More intuitive searches of cartridges and library content are now possible due to the addition of file tagging.
•Files can be moved to and from LTFS tape by using the familiar drag-and-drop technique that is common to many operating systems.
•Many applications that were written to use files on disk can now use files on tape without any modification.
•All standard File Open, Write, Read, Append, Delete, and Close functions are supported.
 
Archival data storage requirements are growing at over 60% annually. The LTFS format is an ideal option for long-term archiving of large files that need to be easily shared with other individuals. This option is important because the LTO tape media that LTFS uses are designed for a 15-year to 30-year lifespan (depending on the number of read/write passes).
Industries that benefit from this tape file system are the banking, digital media, medical, geophysical, and entertainment industries. Many users in these industries use Linux or iOS (Apple) systems, which are fully compatible with LTFS.
 
Important: LTO Ultrium cartridges from earlier LTO generations (that is, LTO-1 through LTO-4) are not partitionable. Therefore, they cannot be used by LTFS. If LTO Ultrium 4 cartridges are used in an LTO Ultrium 5 drive to write data, the LTO-4 cartridge is treated like an unpartitioned LTO-5 cartridge. Even if an application can work with partitions, it is not possible to partition the LTO-4 media that is mounted at an LTO Ultrium 5 drive. Similarly, WORM cartridges of any generation cannot be used by LTFS because they cannot be partitioned.
The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives are also supported by IBM Spectrum Archive SDE, IBM Spectrum Archive LE, and IBM Spectrum Archive EE.
Although LTFS presents the tape cartridge as a disk drive, the underlying hardware is still a tape cartridge and sequential in nature. Tape does not allow random access. Data is always appended to the tape, and no overwriting of files occurs. File deletions do not erase the data from tape but simply erase the pointers to the data.
So, although with LTFS, you can simultaneously copy two (or more) files to an LTFS tape, you get better performance if you copy files sequentially.
To operate the tape file system, the following components are necessary:
•Software in the form of an open source LTFS package
•Data structures that are created by LTFS on tape
•Hardware that consists of IBM LTO-7, LTO-6, LTO-5, TS1155, TS1150, or TS1140 tape drives and tape media
Together, these components can handle a file system on LTO media as though it is a disk file system for accessing tape files, including the tape directory tree structures. The metadata of each cartridge, after it is mounted, is cached in server memory. Therefore, metadata operations, such as browsing the directory or searching for a file name, do not require any tape movement and they are quick.
LTFS partitioning support
Tape as a storage medium has many benefits:
•Reliable
•Portable
•Low cost
•Low power use
•High capacity
However, tape is not particularly easy to use because it has no standard format, and data often cannot be used without first copying the data to a disk.
With LTFS, accessing data that is stored on an IBM tape cartridge became as easy and 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 a file. Users can run any application that is designed for disk files against tape data without concern that the data is physically stored on tape.
With IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition, you can 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 IBM Spectrum Archive SDE, see IBM Linear Tape File System Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 provide LTFS support with the following features:
•They provide the capability to configure up to four partitions.
•They support wrap-wise and longitudinal-wise partitioning.
•They support all non-WORM media formats.
•They provide format command support.
•Each partition can use a separate encryption method, or none.
The TS1155 and TS1150 drives support partitioning in an identical manner to the TS1140, except the capacity of a specific partition scales up with the newly supported J5 and J5A format and improved performance:
•These drives support both the wrap-wise and longitudinal partitioning models and the same number of partitions.
•These drives support the partitioning of WORM media types to enable LTFS support on WORM media.
•These drives support a default wrap-wise partitioning model with minimal capacity loss at the expense of Accumulating Backhitchless Flush (ABF) capability within all partitions at all times.
Partitioning allows a volume to be split into multiple logical partitions, each of which can be read, navigated, written, erased, appended, updated, and managed as separate logical entities, with unique logical block sequences.
The primary user of this partitioning capability is LTFS, which partitions a volume into two logical partitions: an index partition and a data partition. The TS1155 and TS1150 drives support both TS1140 style partitions.
The TS1155 and TS1150 support additional partitioning enhancements over the TS1140, specifically, both wrap-wise partitioning and longitudinal partitioning methods.
The following characteristics apply in general to partitioning support on the TS1155 (3592 55E and 55F) and TS1150 (3592 EH8):
•Partitioning is supported on media in the TS1155, TS1150 and TS1140 logical formats.
In JC media reuse, if you issue a Format Medium command, the system performs an implicit reformat to the TS1150 format if the media is in the TS1140 format.
In JD media reuse, if you issue a Format Medium command, the system performs an implicit reformat to the TS1155 format if the media is in the TS1150 format.
•Partitioning is only supported on unscaled R/W data and WORM media types that support writing in the TS1155, TS1150, or TS1140 format.
In scaled media, the Format Medium command is rejected.
Attempts to scale partitioned media are accepted. As part of scaling, the volume is set to a single data partition cartridge.
For more information about partitioning behavior, see IBM 3592 SCSI Reference, GA32-0562:
Two types of partitioning are available:
•Wrap-wise partitioning (which is used on LTO-7, 6, and 5, TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140).
•Longitudinal partitioning (maximum of two partitions) can be used on TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 only.
Wrap-wise partitioning
LTO-7, 6, and 5 support two wrap-wise partitions. The TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 support four wrap-wise partitions.
Figure 2-26 depicts wrap-wise partitioning. The following information applies to wrap-wise partitioning:
•A maximum of four partitions are supported. Two or three partitions can be assigned, if preferred.
•A minimum of two wraps are allocated to a partition, regardless of the minimum selected capacity.
•The full length of the tape (LP3 to LP5) is always assigned to each partition.
•In general, two physical wraps between partitions are reserved as guard wraps. Therefore, a percentage of usable capacity might be lost, up to 3% for each partition boundary.
•RABF operations are performed in any partition if spare usable ABF wraps exist within a partition. In general, the last four wraps of a partition, or any partition that is smaller than four wraps, do not support RABF operations.
Figure 2-26 Wrap-wise partitioning
Longitudinal partitioning
The following conditions apply to longitudinal partitioning, which is supported on the TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140:
• A maximum of two partitions are supported.
• A minimum of 50 meters (164 ft.) are allocated to a longitudinal partition.
•The physical data wraps on the portion of tape that is assigned to the partition belong exclusively to each logical partition that is configured. Each partition starts from wrap 0 and ends on the last wrap.
• A guard gap between partitions is reserved to protect user data against systematic debris accumulation. The guardband is approximately 7 meters (22.9 ft.) and results in a capacity loss of less than 1%.
• RABF is performed within the boundaries of each partition, with the same wrap sequence as the base J5 RABF operation.
• Performance is slightly poorer due to less total ABF wrap length.
• As in non-partitioned media, the last four wraps’ RABF cannot be used.
• Better performance is provided for random access because of shortened tape length for the partition.
Figure 2-27 depicts longitudinal partitioning.
Figure 2-27 Longitudinal partitioning
2.8.2 IBM Spectrum Archive Editions
As shown in Figure 2-28, IBM Spectrum Archive is available in three editions that support small, medium, and enterprise businesses.
Figure 2-28 IBM Spectrum Archive SDE, LE, and EE
IBM Spectrum Scale Single Drive Edition
IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition (SDE) implements the LTFS format and allows tapes to be formatted as an LTFS volume. These LTFS volumes can then be mounted by using LTFS to allow users and applications direct access to files and directories that are stored on the tape. No integration with tape libraries exists in this edition. Access and manage all data in stand-alone tape environments as simply as though the data was on disk.
IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition file system works with LTO generation 7, LTO generation 6, LTO generation 5, TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape technology to set a new standard for ease-of-use and portability for open systems tape storage. These tape drives support media partitioning, which allows their media to be divided in segments. Accessibility is improved because you can quickly locate data to retrieve or update.
LTFS can write files directly to tape media without any specific application. The tape drive shows up on the operating system as though it were a USB-attached 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 that the data is physically stored on tape.
For more information about IBM Spectrum Archive SDE, see IBM Linear Tape File System Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition
IBM Spectrum Archive Library Edition (LE) extends the file manager capability of the IBM Spectrum Archive SDE. IBM Spectrum Archive LE is introduced with Version 2.0 of LTFS. Enable easy-as-disk access to single or multiple cartridges in a tape library.
LTFS is the first file system that works with IBM System Storage tape technology to optimize ease of use and portability for open systems tape storage. It manages the automation and provides operating system-level access to the contents of the library. IBM Spectrum Archive LE is based on the LTFS format specification, enabling tape library cartridges to be interchangeable with cartridges that are written with the open source SDE version of IBM Spectrum Archive. IBM Spectrum Archive LE supports most IBM tape libraries:
•TS2900 tape autoloader
•TS3100 tape library
•TS3200 tape library
•TS3310 tape library
•TS3500 tape library
•TS4500 tape library
IBM TS1155, TS1150, and IBM TS1140 tape drives are supported on IBM TS4500, and TS1150 and TS1140 are supported on the IBM TS3500 tape libraries only.
IBM Spectrum Archive LE enables the reading, writing, searching, and indexing of user data on tape and access to user metadata. Metadata is the descriptive information about user data that is stored on a cartridge. Metadata enables searching and accessing of files through the GUI of the operating system. IBM Spectrum Archive LE supports both Linux and Windows.
IBM Spectrum Archive LE provides the following product features:
•Direct access and management of data on tape libraries with LTO Ultrium 7 (LTO-7) tape drives, LTO Ultrium 6 (LTO-6) tape drives, LTO Ultrium 5 (LTO-5) tape drives, and TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives
•Tagging of files with any text, allowing more intuitive searches of cartridge and library content
•Exploitation of the partitioning of the media in the LTO-5 tape format standard
•One-to-one mapping of tape cartridges in tape libraries to file folders
•Capability to create a single file system mount point for a logical library that is managed by a single instance of LTFS and runs on a single computer system
•Capability to cache tape indexes and to search, query, and display tape content within an IBM tape library without needing to mount tape cartridges
The IBM Spectrum Archive LE offers the same basic capabilities as the SDE with additional support of tape libraries. Each LTFS tape cartridge in the library appears as an individual folder within the file space. The user or application can navigate into each of these folders to access the files that are stored on each tape. The IBM Spectrum Archive LE software automatically controls the tape library robotics to load and unload the necessary LTFS volumes to provide access to the stored files.
Figure 2-29 shows how IBM Spectrum Archive LE presents the tapes in the library as folders.
Figure 2-29 Spectrum Archive LE view of tape folders
The following IBM tape libraries and tape autoloader support IBM Spectrum Archive LE:
•TS2900 tape autoloader
•TS3100 tape library
•TS3200 tape library
•TS3310 tape library
•TS3500 tape library
•TS4500 tape library
For more information about IBM Spectrum Archive LE, see IBM Linear Tape File System Installation and Configuration, SG24-8090.
IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition
IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition (EE) offers organizations an easy way to use cost-effective IBM tape drives and libraries within a tiered storage infrastructure. By using tape libraries instead of disks for tier 2 and tier 3 data storage (data that is stored for long-term retention), organizations can improve efficiency and reduce costs. In addition, IBM Spectrum Archive EE seamlessly integrates with the scalability, manageability, and performance of IBM Spectrum Scale, an IBM enterprise file management platform that enables organizations to move beyond simply adding storage to optimizing data management.
IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition offers the following benefits:
•Simplify tape storage with the IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) format in combination with the scalability, manageability, and performance of IBM Spectrum Scale
•Help reduce IT expenses by replacing tiered disk storage (tier 2 and tier 3) with IBM tape libraries
•Expand archive capacity simply by adding and provisioning media without affecting the availability of data that is already in the pool
•Add extensive capacity to IBM Spectrum Scale installations with lower media, less floor space, and lower power costs
IBM Spectrum Archive EE for the IBM TS4500, IBM TS3500, and IBM TS3310 tape libraries provides seamless integration of IBM Spectrum Archive with IBM Spectrum Scale by creating an LTFS tape tier. You can run any application that is designed for disk files on tape by using IBM Spectrum Archive EE. IBM Spectrum Archive EE can play a major role in reducing the cost of storage for data that does not need the access performance of primary disk. Improve efficiency and reduce costs for long-term, tiered storage.
With IBM Spectrum Archive EE, you can enable the use of LTFS for the policy management of tape as a storage tier in an IBM Spectrum Scale environment and use tape as a critical tier in the storage environment. IBM Spectrum Archive EE supports IBM Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium 7, 6, and 5 tape drives, and IBM System Storage TS1155, TS1150, and TS1140 tape drives that are installed in TS4500 and TS3500 tape libraries or LTO Ultrium 7, 6, and 5 tape drives that are installed in the TS3310 Tape Libraries.
The use of IBM Spectrum Archive EE to replace disks with tape in tier 2 and tier 3 storage can improve data access over other storage solutions because it improves efficiency and streamlines the management for files on tape. IBM Spectrum Archive EE simplifies the use
of tape by making it transparent to the user and manageable by the administrator under a single infrastructure.
Figure 2-30 shows the integration of the IBM Spectrum Archive EE archive solution with IBM Spectrum Scale.
Figure 2-30 Integration of IBM Spectrum Scale and IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition
The seamless integration offers transparent file access in a continuous namespace. It provides the following capabilities:
•File-level write and read caching with a disk staging area
•Policy-based movement from disk to tape
•Creation of multiple data copies on different tapes
•Load balancing and high availability in multiple node clusters
•Data exchange on LTFS tape by using the import and export function
•Fast import of file namespace from LTFS tapes without reading data
•Built-in tape reclamation and reconciliation
•Simple administration and management
 
Note: For more information, see this website:
 
1 For more information, see “What is LTO Technology?” at http://www.lto.org/technology/what-is-lto-technology/.
 
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