LTO Features

The IBM LTO-8 Tape Drive is a high-performance, high-capacity data-storage device that is designed to backup and restore open systems applications. These files can include multimedia, imaging, transaction processing, large databases, and other storage-intensive applications. Each tape cartridge can store up to 12 TB of data (uncompressed), or up to 30 TB of data (compressed), assuming a 2.5 to 1 compression ratio. It is the eighth generation in the Ultrium series of products, and is available with a Serial Attached SCSI interface (SAS) or Fibre Channel interface. This model incorporates the Linear Tape-Open (LTO) IBM Ultrium 8 Half-High Tape Drive.

Note: The actual capacity varies depending on the application, the type of data, and the tape cartridge. 12 TB is typical and 30 TB is possible when the Data Compression setting is activated. The default setting of Data Compression is controlled by the host system. The user and the application software can control the activation or deactivation of the data compression setting. The drive can typically achieve a 2.5:1 compression ratio.

The LTO-8 tape drive also provides read-write compatibility with Ultrium 8 and Ultrium 7 media formats. It is not read or write compatible with earlier Ultrium media formats. The LTO-7 Type M media cartridge is also available for the LTO-8 tape drive. The LTO-7 Type M media has a capacity of 9 TB; when the Data Compression setting is activated, a capacity of 22.5 TB is possible.

The LTO half high tape drive features:

  • Single port 6 Gbps Serial Attached Small Computer Systems Interface (SAS); or single port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel Interface. (Auto-negotiation to lower speeds is assumed.)
  • Half height form factor
  • Native storage capacity:
    • Ultrium 8 media is 12 TB per cartridge (30 TB at 2.5:1 compression)
    • LTO-7 Type M media is 9 TB per cartridge (22.5 TB at 2.5:1 compression)
  • Maximum native data transfer rate of up to 300 MB per second
  • Burst data transfer rate:
    • SAS 600 MB per second
    • FC 800 MB per second
  • 1024 MB read-and-write cache
  • Support for encryption on Ultrium 7, 8, and LTO-7 Type M tape cartridges
  • Single Character Display (SCD) operator panel
  • Ready and Fault status LEDs
  • Maintenance Mode functions
  • Downward read and write compatibility with earlier LTO-type data cartridges
  • Can be used as a bootable device, depending on the host system configuration