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IBM Ultrium Generation 10 (LTO-10) drive configuration information for IBM Storage Protect Server

Preventive Service Planning


Abstract

Configuration Information for Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium Generation 10 tape drives and associated tape media.

Content

NOTE:
 
For Ultrium 10 (LTO-10) drive support information in a library, consult the technote pertaining to the perspective library.

Support information for the following Ultrium 10 (LTO-10) drives is detailed in the sections below.
IBM ULT3580-TDA LTO-10 Full-height Tape Drive
IBM ULTRIUM-TDA LTO-10 Full-height Tape Drive
 
 
Required Storage Protect Versions:
IBM Ultrium 10 (LTO-10) drive support requires IBM Storage Protect Server version 8.2.0 or a subsequent maintenance release.
 
Required IBM Tape Driver Versions:
AIX: Atape 14.1.1.0 or later
Linux: lin_tape 3.0.71 or later
Windows: IBMTape 7.0.1.6 or later
 
LTO-10 drive is supported with the following features and formats:
  • IBM Storage Protect application-managed encryption
  • Logical Block Protection (LBP)
  • Append-only mode
 
Defining a device class:
When defining a device class for an LTO-10 drive, use the following values.
DEVType=LTO
FORMAT=< DRIVE | ULTRIUMA | ULTRIUMAC >
DRIVE - The server selects the highest format that is supported by the drive on which a volume is mounted.
ULTRIUMA - Specifies that Storage Protect Server writes data that uses the ULTRIUMA recording format. Only Ultrium 10 media can be written to with the ULTRIUMA format.
ULTRIUMAC - Specifies that Storage Protect Server writes data that uses the ULTRIUMAC recording format with compression. Only Ultrium 10 media can be written to with the ULTRIUMAC format.

Examples:
DEFine DEVClass devclass_name LIBRary=library_name DEVType=LTO FORMAT=ULTRIUMA
DEFine DEVClass devclass_name LIBRary=library_name DEVType=LTO FORMAT=ULTRIUMAC

Capacity of Ultrium 10 tape cartridges
Madia
Format
Est. Capacity
LA or Standard LTO-10
ULTRIUMA
30 TB
 
ULTRIUMAC
Varied - depending on data compressibility

PA or Premium LTO-10

ULTRIUMA

40 TB

 

ULTRIUMAC

Varied - depending on data compressibility


Encryption support:
Application-managed encryption is supported by IBM Storage Protect if it is supported by the drive. Check with your hardware vendor to determine whether this method is supported by hardware.

Supported media:
Storage Protect Server supports the following media for LTO-10 drives:
Standard (LA) Ultrium 10 - 30 TB Read-Write data cartridge Premium (PA) Ultrium 10 - 40 TB Read-Write data cartridge

Restrictions on WORM media:
WORM media is currently not supported.

Read format supported:
ULTRIUMA
ULTRIUMAC

Write format supported:
ULTRIUMA
ULTRIUMAC

 

Compatibility and Mixed-Generation Considerations

image 7005 Important:

  • LTO-10 drives are not backward compatible. They can only read and write Ultrium 10 (LTO-10) media. They cannot read or write Ultrium 9 or Ultrium 8 media.

In libraries that do not support mixed-generation drives:

      All drives in the library must be able to read and write all scratch volumes and any volumes used in read/write mode.

  • All drives are LTO-10: Only Ultrium 10 media is supported for read/write operations.

  • If LTO-9 and LTO-8 drives are mixed: Only Ultrium 8 media can be used for read/write operations (because Ultrium 8 is the only format both LTO-9 and LTO-8 drives can read and write).

In libraries that support mixed-generation drives:

  • LTO-10 drives and their media must be placed in a dedicated, separate partition.
  • When LTO-9 and LTO-8 drives are mixed within the same partition, supported read/write media are:
    • Ultrium Generation 9
    • Ultrium Generation 8
    • Ultrium Generation 7
    • Ultrium M8 (LTO-M8) media is not supported in this mixed LTO-9/LTO-8 configuration.

Logical Block Protection:
Logical Block Protection is supported by LTO-10 drives. Consult the following document for more information on how to use Logical Block Protection, Enabling and disabling logical block protection.

Append-Only Mode:
Append-Only mode is supported by LTO-10 drives. Consult the following document for more information on how to use Append-Only mode, Enabling and disabling append-only mode.


Device Specific Notes:

Drive identifications and firmware levels used during validation process:

IBM TS4500 with IBM LTO-10 Full-Height Drive
Validated with IBM Storage Protect Server 8.2.0
Library ID: IBM 03584L32 --- Firmware: 1C00
Drive ID: IBM ULT3580-TDA --- Firmware: S8EF

Spectra Logic Spectra T380 with IBM LTO-10 Full-Height Drive
Validated with IBM Storage Protect Server 8.2.0
Library ID: SPECTRA PYTHON --- Firmware: 2000
Drive ID: IBM ULTRIUM-TDA --- Firmware: S8EF

The IBM Device Driver is required.
The IBM device driver is required for IBM Libraries and IBM LTO-10 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 OS platform for the device driver
 
SCSI Reference:
 
IBM® TotalStorage® LTO Ultrium Tape Drive SCSI Reference (LTO-5 through LTO-10).  This 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-10. 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:
13 January 2026

UID

ibm17253855

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