Front cover The IBM LTO Ultrium Tape Libraries Guide Understand Linear Tape-Open technology and its unique architecture Learn about the IBM Ultrium drives and libraries Updated for Ultrium LTO 2 products Charlotte Brooks Carsten Krax Tony Rynan Josef Weingand ibm.com/redbooks International Technical Support Organization The IBM LTO Ultrium Tape Libraries Guide June 2003 SG24-5946-01 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page xvii. Second Edition (June 2003) This edition applies to the IBM TotalStorage Ultrium Tape Drive 3580, IBM TotalStorage Ultrium Tape Autoloader 3581, IBM TotalStorage Ultrium Tape Library 3582, IBM TotalStorage Ultrium Scalable Tape Library 3583, and IBM TotalStorage UltraScalable Tape Library 3584. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2000, 2003. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights: Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Figures . .xi Tables . xv Notices . xvii Trademarks . xviii Preface . xix The team that wrote this redbook. xix Become a published author . xxi Comments welcome. xxii Summary of changes . xxiii June 2003, Second Edition . xxiii Chapter 1. Introduction to Linear Tape-Open (LTO) . 1 1.1 The LTO organization . 2 1.1.1 Open licensing and manufacture . 3 1.1.2 License packages . 4 1.1.3 Compliance verification . 5 1.2 LTO standards. 5 1.2.1 Ultrium tape formats . 5 1.2.2 LTO core technology. 6 Chapter 2. LTO technology . 9 2.1 Interleaved recording. 10 2.1.1 Servo tracks . 10 2.1.2 Data tracks . 13 2.1.3 Linear density . 16 2.2 Data compression . 16 2.3 Tape cartridge . 18 2.3.1 Metal particle medium . 20 2.3.2 Cartridge memory (LTO-CM) . 20 2.3.3 Barcode label . 22 2.3.4 Volume label format . 23 2.3.5 Write protect switch. 24 2.3.6 Cleaning the cartridge . 24 2.3.7 Cartridge life . 24 2.3.8 Cleaning cartridge . 25 © Copyright IBM Corp. 2000, 2003. All rights reserved. iii 2.3.9 Cartridge handling. 25 2.4 IBM LTO Ultrium common subassembly. 28 2.4.1 Drive head. 29 2.4.2 Data compression . 30 2.4.3 Interfaces . 31 2.4.4 Performance . 35 2.4.5 Partial Response Maximum Likelihood (PRML) . 36 2.4.6 IBM Ultrium 2: additional improvements . 37 2.4.7 IBM Ultrium 1 and 2 compatibility . 39 2.4.8 Operating the Ultrium drive . 39 2.4.9 Reliability. 41 2.4.10 Cleaning the drive . 43 2.5 The IBM LTO Ultrium family of tapes and libraries . 44 2.6 Multi-path architecture. 46 Chapter 3. Tape storage market direction. 49 3.1 Current tape products and technologies . 50 3.1.1 Helical versus longitudinal. 50 3.1.2 Tape reels (1/2-inch) . 52 3.1.3 QIC . 52 3.1.4 Digital Data Standard (4 mm) . 54 3.1.5 The 8 mm format. 56 3.1.6 Digital Linear Tape (DLT) . 58 3.1.7 SuperDLT (SDLT) . 62 3.1.8 IBM 3480. 63 3.1.9 IBM 3490. 63 3.1.10 IBM Magstar 3590. 64 3.1.11 STK 9840 . 65 3.1.12 STK 9940 . 66 3.1.13 LTO Ultrium. 66 3.1.14 Libraries . 67 3.2 Current SAN technologies. 68 3.2.1 SAN definition . 70 3.2.2 Fibre Channel architecture . 70 3.2.3 Topologies. 71 3.2.4 Tape solutions in a SAN environment. 71 Chapter 4. IBM TotalStorage Ultrium Tape Drive 3580. 79 4.1 Model description . 80 4.2 Feature codes . 81 4.3 SCSI attachment . 82 4.4 SCSI cabling . 82 4.4.1 Cables . 82 iv The IBM LTO Ultrium Tape Libraries Guide 4.4.2 Interposers . 83 4.4.3 SCSI length limitations . 83 4.5 Upgrades. 84 4.6 Environmental specifications. 84 4.6.1 Physical dimensions . 84 4.6.2 Operating environment . ..