Drive Performance
If you run applications that are highly dependent on tape-processing speed, take
advantage of the significant performance improvements provided by this tape
drive.
Table 1-1. Performance characteristics
Performance Characteristics
Native data rate
Maximum sustained data rate (at maximum compression)
Burst data rate
Nominal load-to-ready time
Nominal unload time
Average rewind time
Note: All sustained data rates are dependent on the capabilities of the interconnect.
By using the built-in data-compression capability of the tape drive, greater data
rates than the native data transfer rate can be achieved. However, the actual
throughput is a function of many components, such as the host system processor,
disk data rate, block size, data compression ratio, SAS bus capabilities, and system
or application software.
Cartridge compatibility
The TS2230 uses the IBM LTO Ultrium 400 GB Data Cartridge and is compatible
with the cartridges of its predecessor, the IBM Ultrium 2 Tape Drive. The drive
performs the following functions:
v Reads and writes Generation 3 and Generation 2
v Only reads Generation 1 cartridges
v Does not write prior generation format to current generation cartridge.
The drive reads tapes that have been written by other licensed Ultrium 3 drives. It
also writes to tapes that can be read by other licensed Ultrium 3 drives.
In addition to using the IBM LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge with up to 400 GB
capacity, the drive also offers read/write capability for certified LTO Ultrium tape
cartridges.
Speed Matching
To improve system performance, the drive uses a technique called speed matching to
dynamically adjust its native (uncompressed) data rate to the slower data rate of a
server. With speed matching, the drive operates at different speeds when reading
or writing the Ultrium 2 or Ultrium 3 cartridge format. Native data rates are as
follows in the table below.
TS2230 Tape Drive
80 MB/s (with Ultrium 3 media)
550 MB/s
600MB/s
12 seconds
17 seconds
59 seconds
Chapter 1. Product description
1-3