Drive performance

If you run applications that are highly dependent on tape-processing speed, take advantage of the significant performance improvements that are provided by this tape drive.

Table 1. Drive information and performance specification
Generation LTO 9 LTO 8 LTO 7 LTO 6 LTO 5
Inquiry
ULT3580-HH9
ULTRIUM-HH9
ULT3580-HH8
ULTRIUM-HH8
ULT3580-HH7
ULTRIUM-HH7
ULT3580-HH6
ULTRIUM-HH6
ULT3580-HH5
ULTRIUM-HH5
Interface (speed)
FC (8 Gbps)
SAS (12 Gbps)
FC (8 Gbps)
SAS (6 Gbps)
FC (8 Gbps)
SAS (6 Gbps)
FC (8 Gbps)
SAS (6 Gbps)
FC (8 Gbps)
SAS (6 Gbps)
Native data rate
300 MB/s (L9)
300 MB/s (L8)
300 MB/s (L8)
300 MB/s (M8)
300 MB/s (L7)
300 MB/s (L7)
160 MB/s (L6)
140 MB/s(L5)
160 MB/s (L6)
140 MB/s(L5)
120 MB/s (L4)
140 MB/s (L5)
120 MB/s (L4)
80 MB/s (L3)
Sustained data rate (L6, L7, L8 and L9 compressed at 2.5:1 compression; L5 and earlier compressed at 2:1compression)
FC
700 MB/s (L9)
700 MB/s (L8)

SAS
720 MB/s (L9)
720 MB/s (L8)
FC
700 MB/s (L8)
700 MB/s (M8)
700 MB/s (L7)

SAS
600 MB/s (L8)
540 MB/s (M8)
500 MB/s (L7)
FC
700 MB/s (L7)
400 MB/s (L6)
280 MB/s (L5)

SAS
500 MB/s (L7)
400 MB/s (L6)
280 MB/s (L5)
FC and SAS
400 MB/s (L6)
280 MB/s (L5)
240 MB/s (L4)
FC and SAS
280 MB/s (L5)
240 MB/s (L4)
160 MB/s (L3)
Burst data rate

800 MB/s FC
1200 MB/s SAS

800 MB/s FC
600 MB/s SAS

800 MB/s FC
600 MB/s SAS

800 MB/s FC
600 MB/s SAS

800 MB/s FC
600 MB/s SAS
Nominal load-to-ready time 16 seconds 15 seconds 15 seconds 12 seconds 12 seconds
-Initialized tape 16 seconds NA NA NA NA
-Uninitialized tape2 40-132 minutes NA NA NA NA
Nominal unload time 56 seconds 24 seconds 20 seconds 17 seconds 17 seconds
Average space record time from load point 65 seconds 59 seconds 56 seconds 62 seconds 60 seconds
Average rewind time (REWIND command) 62 seconds 59 seconds 60 seconds NA NA
Average rewind time (part of UNLOAD command, dependent on mount activity)
Less than 5 Gb of contiguous data transferred 62 seconds 59 seconds 60 seconds NA NA
5 Gb to 50 Gb of contiguous data transferred 124 seconds 59 seconds 60 seconds NA NA
All other types of mount activity 186 seconds 59 seconds 60 seconds NA NA

1 By using the built-in data-compression capability of the tape drive, greater data rates than the native data transfer rate are achieved. However, the actual throughput is a function of many components, such as the host system processor, disk data rate, block size, data compression ratio, SAS bus capabilities, and system or application software.

2 Cartridge initialization time can vary. See Media optimization for more information.

Remember:
  • All sustained data rates depend on the capabilities of the interconnect.
  • Drive performance varies with media generation and drive interface (SAS/FC).