Storage Archive tape format compatibility with LTFS media versions

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IBM Storage® Archive tape format compatibility for Linear Tape File System™ (LTFS) versions 1 and 2.

IBM Storage Archive Enterprise Edition uses the LTFS technology for storing files on tape, and beginning with version 1.3.0, it complies with LTFS format specification version 2.4.0.

IBM Storage Archive can import tape cartridges that were formatted by earlier versions of LTFS-based software, and can work with media format versions 1 and 2 as described in Table 1.

Table 1 shows how the LTFS format version interacts with various media. The LTFS tape format version is continuously updated. For the most current version of the LTFS format specification go to: Linear Tape File System (LTFS) Format Specification.

Table 1. The LTFS format version's interaction with various media
LTFS format Version 2 Function of Storage Archive Enterprise Edition Notes®
Version 1.0 Read/Write 1
Version 2.0-2.4 Read/Write

Version 2.0 - Supports the sparse file.


Version 2.1 - Supports symbolic links.


Version 2.2 - Published by SNIA and standardized as ISO/IEC 20919:2016.

Version 2.4 - Enhanced to support extra characters (such as the colon) in the file name.
Notes:
  1. The cartridge is automatically converted to version 2 format on write.
Attention: A medium that is formatted to version 2 cannot be converted to a version 1 format.