Data Compression; Data Buffer With Read Ahead Feature; Offboard Data String Searching - IBM TS3500 Manual

The TS1130 tape drive and TS1120 tape drive and their cartridges support multiple
automation libraries and can be easily transported between environments. The
TS1130 tape drive supports all automation systems that are supported by the
TS1120 tape drive and 3592 J1A tape drive at identical drive-packaging densities.

Data compression

The TS1130 tape drive and TS1120 tape drive use the data-compression method
known as streaming lossless data compression (SLDC) algorithm. The method is
identical to one used by the 3592 J1A tape drive, although the compression logic for
the TS1130 tape drive and TS1120 tape drive operates at more than twice the
overall transfer rates of the 3592 J1A tape drive.

Data buffer with read ahead feature

The TS1120 tape drive includes a data buffer of 536.87 MB (512 MiB). The TS1130
tape drive includes a data buffer of 1.07 GB (1 GiB). Along with enabling
performance characteristics in buffered Write and Read commands, the data buffer
also supports a Read Ahead feature. When the drive processes a command to locate
or read a block, the drive automatically continues to stream down the tape and read
ahead until the data buffer is full. This allows subsequent Locate or Read commands
to be fulfilled from the data buffer at faster speeds, rather than requiring access to
the tape.

Offboard data string searching

The TS1130 tape drive and TS1120 tape drive can search the data content of host
server records for string matches. The function is called offboard data string
searching because the data search workload can be performed offboard from the
host. The drive can perform a search at the maximum data rate (100 MB/s), which
greatly reduces the amount of data transfer and host search times.
Encryption
All TS1130 tape drives are encryption capable, which means they can convert data
into a cipher that ensures data security. With IBM feature code 9592 or 5592,
TS1120 tape drives are encryption capable as well. To perform encryption, the drive
must be encryption-enabled by your selection of one of three methods of encryption
management. A key is required to encrypt and decrypt the data. How a key is
generated, maintained, controlled, and transmitted depends on the operating
environment where the TS1130 tape drive or TS1120 tape drive is installed. Some
data management applications are capable of performing key management. For an
alternative solution, IBM provides a key manager that works in conjunction with the
keystore of your choice to perform all necessary key management tasks. There is no
recovery for lost encryption keys.