3592 Model E05 tape drive

The IBM System Storage Tape System 3592 Model E05 tape drive reduces data storage costs by increasing media capacity. The 3592 Model E05 reads and writes in the new recording format EFMT2 (enterprise format 2) as well as EFMT1 (enterprise format 1). EFMT2 provides almost double the capacity of EFMT1. The IBM System Storage Tape System 3592 uses these IBM System Storage Tape System family of tape media for a 3592 Model E05:

MEDIA5 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape Cartridge (MEDIA5) physical media. Provides an uncompressed capacity of 500 GB with EFMT2 (300 GB with EFMT1) and compressed capacity of 1500 GB with EFMT2 (900 GB with EFMT1) assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.
MEDIA6 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise WORM Tape Cartridge (MEDIA6) physical media. Provides an uncompressed capacity of 500 GB with EFMT2 (300 GB with EFMT1) and compressed capacity of 1500 GB with EFMT2 (900 GB with EFMT1) assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.
MEDIA7 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Economy Tape Cartridge (MEDIA7) physical media. Provides an uncompressed capacity of 100 GB with EFMT2 (60 GB with EFMT1) and compressed capacity of 300 GB with EFMT2 (180 GB with EFMT1) assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.
MEDIA8 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Economy WORM Tape Cartridge (MEDIA8) physical media. Provides an uncompressed capacity of 100 GB with EFMT2 (60 GB with EFMT1) and compressed capacity of 300 GB with EFMT2 (180 GB with EFMT1) assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.
MEDIA9 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Extended Tape Cartridge (MEDIA9) physical media. MEDIA9 requires the EFMT2 recording format, and provides an uncompressed capacity of 700 GB and compressed capacity of 2100 GB assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.
MEDIA10 - The IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Extended WORM Tape Cartridge (MEDIA10) physical media. MEDIA10 requires the EFMT2 recording format, and provides an uncompressed capacity of 700 GB and compressed capacity of 2100 GB assuming a 3:1 compression ratio, depending on the type of data written.

You can use the 3592 Model E05 tape drive in the stand-alone environment or the tape library environment (automated or manual). Currently, the 3592 Model E05 tape drive does not have a cartridge loader.

Support for the 3592 Model E05 is provided at z/OS V1R4 or later releases, however support for MEDIA9 and MEDIA10 requires z/OS V1R5 or later releases.

Software support of the new media, MEDIA9 and MEDIA10, is available with the support of the 3592 Model E05, however the media itself will be available at a later GA.

The 3592 Model E05 tape drive offers these features:

If no recording technology has been specified for MEDIA5, MEDIA6, MEDIA7, MEDIA8, MEDIA9, or MEDIA10, EFMT2 is the default recording technology.
When writing from load point, the default recording technology of the 3592 Model E05 is EFMT2. If EFMT1 is needed for interchange purposes, it can be specified through data class. This applies to both the stand-alone and to the system-managed tape library environments.
To enable the EFMT2 formatted cartridges to be relabelled/reused from load point on a 3592 Model J1A, a microcode update is required on the 3592 Model J1A.
The 3592 Model E05 optionally provides performance scaling by using only the first 20 percent full capacity on a MEDIA5 or MEDIA9 catridge. The default is to use the cartridge's full capacity. This performance scaling option is available on MEDIA5 and MEDIA9 tapes and is not available on MEDIA6, MEDIA7, MEDIA8, or MEDIA10 tape cartridge media.
The 3592 Model E05 optionally provides performance segmentation. Performance segmentation divides the cartridge into a fast access segment and a slower access segment. The fast access segment will be filled first, after which the slower segment will be filled. This option is available on MEDIA5 and MEDIA9 tapes and is not available on MEDIA6, MEDIA7, MEDIA8, or MEDIA10 tape cartridge media. The performance segmentation option is mutually exclusive with the performance scaling option.
The 3592 Model E05 emulates only 3590 Model B1x tape drives (all 3592 tape cartridge media supported in this emulation mode) in standalone and in a system-managed tape library environment (manual or automated).
The 3592 Model E05 supports only the 3592 Model J70 tape controller, with either ESCON or FICON attachment.
The 3592 Model E05 coexists with 3490E, 3590, and 3592 Model J1A devices in the 3494 automated tape library.
The 3592 Model E05 coexists with 3592 Model J1A in the 3584 automated tape library.
The 3592 Model E05 coexists with 3490, 3490E, 3590, and 3592 Model J1A devices in a manual tape library.

The 3592 Model E05 tape drive is always in emulation mode as a 3590 Model B1x device. The 3592 Model E05 cannot use the MEDIA3 or MEDIA4 cartridges used in 3590 tape drives.

The 3592 Model E05 also supports special modes that enable a 3592 Model E05 to behave as a 3592 Model J1A. When a 3592 Model E05 is attached to a J70 control unit that also has 3592 Model J1A devices, the 3592 Model E05 will appear to the host as a 3592 Model J1A, thus ensuring that all devices attached to the same control unit are homogeneous and have the same behaviors.

Related reading:

See IBM System Storage TS1120 Tape Drive and Controller Introduction and Planning Guide, GA32-0555, for additional information.