Appendix B. Lto Media; Data Cartridges; Cartridge Data Capacity And Recording Formats - Dell EMC ML3 User Manual

Appendix B. LTO media

Figure 86 shows the LTO data cartridge and its components.
1
LTO cartridge memory
2
Cartridge door
3
Leader pin
Figure 86. The LTO data cartridge
Note: The same components are on all the LTO data cartridges.

Data cartridges

Use the LTO data and cleaning tape cartridges designed for your model of library.
When tape is processed in the cartridges, LTO Tape Drives use a linear, serpentine recording format. The
native data capacity and recording format of LTO data cartridges is as follows:
Table 45. Cartridge data capacity and recording formats
Type
Gen 8
Gen 7
Gen 6
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 cartridge is full, or until all data is written.
The cartridge door ( 2 in Figure 86) protects the tape from contamination when the cartridge is out of
the drive. The tape is attached to a leader pin ( 3 in Figure 86) behind the door. When the cartridge is
Native Data Capacity
12000 GB (30000 GB at 2.5:1
compression)
6000 GB (15000 GB at 2.5:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 3584 tracks,
2500 GB (6250 GB at 2.5:1 compression)
4
Write-protect Switch
5
Label area
6
Insertion guide
Recording Format
Reads and writes data on 6656 tracks,
32 tracks at a time
32 tracks at a time
Reads and writes data on 2176 tracks,
16 tracks at a time
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