IBM Support

HPE, IBM, and Quantum Ultrium Generation 8 (LTO-8) Drive Configuration Information for IBM Storage Protect Server

Preventive Service Planning


Abstract

Configuration Information for Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium Generation 8 tape drives and associated tape media.

Content

NOTE:
Beginning with version 8.1.20, IBM Spectrum Protect™ is now IBM Storage Protect™.  To learn more about the brand change, see IBM Spectrum Protect brand change to IBM Storage Protect.
 
For Ultrium 8 (LTO-8) drive support information in a library, consult the technote pertaining to the perspective library.

Support information for the following Ultrium 8 (LTO-8) drives is detailed in the sections below.
HPE StoreEver Ultrium 30750 LTO-8 Tape Drive
IBM TS1080 Tape Drive
IBM TS2280 Tape Drive
Quantum LTO-8 Tape Drive

Required Spectrum Protect versions:
IBM Ultrium 8 (LTO-8) drive support requires IBM Spectrum Protect version 8.1.3 or subsequent maintenance release
Non-IBM Ultrium 8 (LTO-8) drive support requires IBM Spectrum Protect version 8.1.4 or subsequent maintenance release

Defining a device class:
When defining a device class for a LTO-8 drive, use the following values.
DEVType=LTO
FORMAT=< DRIVE | ULTRIUM8 | ULTRIUM8C | ULTRIUM7 | ULTRIUM7C >
DRIVE - The server selects the highest format that is supported by the drive on which a volume is mounted.
ULTRIUM8 - Specifies that Spectrum Protect writes data that uses the ULTRIUM8 recording format. Only Ultrium 8 and M8 media can be written to with the ULTRIUM8 format.
ULTRIUM8C - Specifies that Spectrum Protect writes data that uses the ULTRIUM8C recording format with compression. Only Ultrium 8 and M8 media can be written to with the ULTRIUM8C format
ULTRIUM7 - Specifies that Spectrum Protect writes data that uses the ULTRIUM7 recording format. Only Ultrium 7 media can be written to with the ULTRIUM7 format.
ULTRIUM7C - Specifies that Spectrum Protect writes data that uses the ULTRIUM7C recording format with compression. Only Ultrium 7 media can be written to with the ULTRIUM7C format.
Examples:
DEFine DEVClass devclass_name LIBRary=library_name DEVType=LTO FORMAT=ULTRIUM8
DEFine DEVClass devclass_name LIBRary=library_name DEVType=LTO FORMAT=ULTRIUM8C

Capacity of Ultrium 8 and M8 tape cartridges
Format
Media
Est. Capacity
ULTRIUM8
ULTRIUM 8
12 TB
ULTRIUM M8
9 TB
ULTRIUM8C
ULTRIUM 8
Varied - depending on data compressibility
ULTRIUM M8
Varied - depending on data compressibility


Encryption support:
Application Managed Encryption is supported by Spectrum Protect if it is supported by the drive. Check with your hardware vendor to determine whether AME is supported by hardware.

Supported media:
Spectrum Protect Server supports the following media for LTO-8 drives:
Ultrium 7 - 6 TB Read-Write data cartridge
Ultrium 7 - 6 TB WORM data cartridge
Ultrium 8 - 12 TB Read-Write data cartridge
Ultrium 8 - 12 TB WORM data cartridge
Ultrium M8 - 9 TB Read-Write data cartridge (requires IBM LTO-8 drive & IBM Spectrum Protect version 8.1.4)

Restrictions on WORM media:
Pre-labeled WORM media are not allowed.
WORM media are not compatible with encryption.

Read format supported:
ULTRIUM7
ULTRIUM7C
ULTRIUM8
ULTRIUM8C

Write format supported:
ULTRIUM7
ULTRIUM7C
ULTRIUM8
ULTRIUM8C

Compatibility and mixed generation considerations:
LTO-8 drives can read and write to Ultrium 8 and 7 media, but can't read or write to Ultrium 6 media. If you are mixing LTO-6 with LTO-8 drives and media in a single library, you must partition the library into two libraries. One library must have only LTO-8 drives and media and the other must have LTO-6 drives and media.

In a library in which mixed generation LTO's is not supported, all scratch volumes and volumes with read-write access must be readable and writable by all drives. If all drives are LTO-8, read-write media can be Ultrium generation 8 and generation 7. If LTO-8 drives are mixed with LTO-7 drives, all read-write media must be Ultrium generation 7. This is because LTO-7 drives cannot read or write to Ultrium generation 8 media.

In a library in which mixed generation LTO's is supported, if LTO-8 drives are mixed with LTO-7 drives, the read-write media can be Ultrium generation 8, 7, and 6.

Logical Block Protection:
Logical Block Protection is supported by LTO-8 drives. Consult the following tech note for more information on how to use Logical Block Protection and supported drives and firmware versions:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21568108

Configuring devices
For information about configuring and managing devices, see Configuring storage or the IBM Spectrum Protect Tape Solution Guide .

Device Specific Notes:

Stand-alone drive identifications and firmware levels used during validation process:
HPE StoreEver LTO-8 External Tape Drive
Drive ID: HPE Ultrium 8-SCSI
Firmware: HB81 (validated with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.4)

Quantum Stand-alone LTO-8 External Tape Drive
Drive ID: QUANTUM ULTRIUM-HH8
Firmware: HB81 (validated with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.4)

Device Driver:
The IBM device driver is required for IBM Libraries and IBM LTO-8 drives. IBM device drivers are available at IBM Fix Central . Choose the following options from the drop-down menus.

  • Product Group -> System Storage
  • System Storage -> Tape systems
  • Tape systems -> Tape drivers and software
  • Tape drivers and software -> Tape device drivers
  • Platform -> Select the platform for the device driver

SCSI Reference:
IBM® TotalStorage® LTO Ultrium Tape Drive SCSI Reference (LTO-5 through LTO-9). his reference guide provides detailed information about the IBM® TotalStorage® LTO Ultrium Tape Drive's small computer interface (SCSI) command support. This covers LTO-5 through LTO-9. This highly technical document is of interest to device driver developers, application developers, systems administrators, and software installers.

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Document Information

Modified date:
20 September 2023

UID

swg22011273