Ultrium Data Cartridge - IBM TS3500 Introduction And Planning Manual

Ultrium data cartridge

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This section describes the capacity, construction, operation, and components of the
IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge.
The IBM Ultrium 6 cartridge is is black with a silkscreen label on top that specifies
"Ultrium 6 - 2500 GB." The IBM Ultrium 5 cartridge is burgundy with a silkscreen
label on the top that specifies "Ultrium 5 - 1500 GB." The IBM Ultrium 4 cartridge
is green with a silkscreen label on the top that specifies "Ultrium 4 - 800 GB." The
IBM Ultrium 3 cartridge is blue-gray. The IBM Ultrium 2 cartridge is purple, and
the Ultrium 1 cartridge is black. WORM data cartridges are two tones in order to
distinguish them from other data cartridges. Each WORM cartridge is the color as
the same generation of data cartridge on the top, but it is gray on the bottom. All
generations of cartridges contain 1/2-inch, dual-coat, metal-particle tape. Capacity
for the four types of cartridges is as follows:
v Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 6 WORM cartridges have a native data capacity of 2 500
GB (2 328.31 GiB) (6.25 TB [5.68 TiB] at 2.5:1 compression)
v Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 5 WORM cartridges have a native data capacity of 1 500
GB (1396.98 GiB) (3 TB [2.73 TiB] at 2:1 compression)
v Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 4 WORM cartridges have a native data capacity of 800
GB (745.05 GiB) (1.6 TB [1.46 TiB] at 2:1 compression)
v Ultrium 3 and Ultrium 3 WORM cartridges have a native data capacity of 400
GB (372.53 GiB) (800 GB [745.05 GiB] at 2:1 compression)
v Ultrium 2 cartridge has a native data capacity of 200 GB (186.26 GiB) (400 GB
[372.53 GiB] at 2:1 compression)
v Ultrium 1 cartridge has a native data capacity of 100 GB (93.13 GiB) (200 GB
[186.26 GiB] at 2:1 compression)
When processing tape in the cartridges, the Ultrium tape drives use a linear,
serpentine recording format. The Ultrium 6 drives read and write data on 2176
tracks; the Ultrium 5 drives read and write data on 1 280 tracks; the Ultrium 4
drives read and write data on 896 tracks; the Ultrium 3 drives read and write data
on 704 tracks; the Ultrium 2 drives read and write on 512 tracks; and the Ultrium 1
drives read and write on 384 tracks. Ultrium 1 and Ultrium 2 drives read and
write eight tracks at a time. The Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 6 drives read and write 16
tracks at a time. The Ultrium 4 drives read and write 16 tracks at a time when
using Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 3 cartridges and read 8 tracks at a time when using
Ultrium 2 cartridges. The Ultrium 3 drives read and write 16 tracks at a time when
using an Ultrium 3 cartridge and 8 tracks at a time when using Ultrium 1 or 2
cartridges. The first set of 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 tracks for the
return pass. This process continues until all tracks are written and the tape is full,
or until all data is written. For additional information about Ultrium tape drive
and cartridge compatability, refer to "LTO Ultrium tape drives" on page 18.
Figure 35 on page 148 shows the IBM System Storage LTO Data Cartridge and its
components.
1
LTO cartridge memory
2
Cartridge door
3
Leader pin
4
Write-protect switch
5
Label area
6
Insertion guide
Chapter 4. Using Ultrium media
147