Chapter 3. Using The Media; Data Cartridge - IBM 200 GB LTO-2 User Manual

Chapter 3. Using the media

The IBM LTO-2 Tape Drive uses the following cartridge types:
v IBM LTO-2 Ultrium 200 GB Data Cartridge (Generation 2)(08L9870)
v IBM LTO Ultrium Universal Cleaning Cartridge (35L2086)
The LTO-2 is compatible with the cartridges of its predecessor, the IBM Ultrium
Internal Tape Drive (Generation 1). Cartridge compatibility for the Ultrium 2 Tape
Drive is as follows:
v Reads and writes Generation 2 cartridges to Generation 2 format
v Reads and writes Generation 1 cartridges to Generation 1 format
v Does not write Generation 2 cartridges to Generation 1 format
v Does not write Generation 1 cartridges to Generation 2 format
Figure 4 shows the IBM LTO-2 Ultrium 200 GB Data Cartridge and its components.
Figure 4. The IBM LTO-2 Ultrium 200 GB Data Cartridge

Data cartridge

The IBM LTO-2 Ultrium 200 GB Data Cartridge contains 1/2-inch, dual-coat,
metal-particle tape that has a native data capacity of 200 GB (400 GB at 2:1
compression). When processing the tape, the IBM LTO-2 Ultrium Tape Drive uses a
linear, serpentine recording format, and reads and writes data on 512 tracks, eight
tracks at a time. The first set of eight tracks is written from near the beginning of
the tape to near the end of the tape. The head then repositions to the next set of
eight tracks for the return pass. This process continues until all tracks are written
and the tape is full, or until all data is written.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2003
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LTO cartridge memory
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Cartridge door
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Leader pin
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Write-protect switch
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Label area
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Insertion guide
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