Chapter 4. Using Ultrium Media; Types Of Cartridges; Data Cartridge; The Lto Ultrium Data Cartridge - IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Installation And User Manual

Chapter 4. Using Ultrium media

Figure 7. The LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge
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LTO cartridge memory
2
Cartridge door
3
Leader pin
4
Write-protect switch
5
Label area
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Insertion guide

Types of cartridges

Ultrium media is available in the following types:
v "Data cartridge"
v "WORM (Write Once, Read Many) cartridge" on page 39
v "Cleaning cartridge" on page 40

Data cartridge

All generations of Ultrium data cartridges contain a half-inch, dual-coat,
metal-particle tape. When processing tape in the cartridges, Ultrium Tape Drives
use a linear, serpentine recording format.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2011
A chip that contains information about the cartridge and the tape, as well
as statistical information about the cartridge use. (For more information,
see "Cartridge Memory chip (LTO-CM)" on page 38.)
Protects the tape from contamination when the cartridge is out of the
drive.
The tape is attached to a leader pin, behind the cartridge door. When the
cartridge is inserted into the drive, a threading mechanism pulls the pin
(and tape) out of the cartridge, across the drive head, and onto a
non-removable take-up reel. The head can then read or write data from or
to the tape.
Prevents data from being written to the tape cartridge. (For more
information, see "Write-protect switch" on page 38.)
Provides a location to place a label.
A large, notched area that prevents the cartridge from being inserted
incorrectly.
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