LTO-6 Tape Libraries Available at IBM …

System Storage TS3100 Tape Library Model L2U and System Storage TS3200 Tape Library Model L4U from IBM Corp. incorporate the LTO-6 full-high 8Gb FC, half-high 6Gb SAS, and half-high 8Gb FC tape drives, enhancing tape performance over the previous generation of IBM LTO-5 tape drives with a native data transfer rate of up to 160MB/sec.

   
TS3200 Tape Library Model L4U

Mixed LTO generations and attachment tape drive types are supported where drive space is available. LTO-6 SAS and FC tape drives are encryption capable.

The TS3100 and TS3200 incorporate IBM Multi-Path Architecture with logical libraries equal to the number of drives installed. LTO-6 tape drives for the TS3100 and TS3200 are only available as feature numbers in AAS.

LTO-6 tape drives support the LTO-6 media specification of more than double the compressed capacity of up to 6.25TB with 2.5 to 1 compression (up to 2.5TB native capacity) compared to previous LTO-5 compressed capacity of up to 3.0TB with 2:1 compression (up to 1.5TB native capacity) per cartridge. LTO-6 tape drives can read and write LTO-5 and -6 cartridges, and can read LTO-4 cartridges.

The TS3100 can accommodate up to two LTO Ultrium half-high tape drives or one LTO Ultrium full-high tape drive, and comes standard with two removable cartridge magazines, one on the left side (12 slots) and one on the right (12 slots). The left magazine includes a single cartridge I/O station designed to allow for continuous library operation while importing or exporting media. A remote management unit and a barcode reader are standard in the library, allowing the library to run in sequential or random access mode. Optional features available include a rack mount kit, additional attachment cables, transparent LTO encryption, path failover, additional drives, interposers, and power cords.

The TS3200 can accommodate up to four LTO half-high drives or two LTO full-high drives. The It comes standard with four removable cartridge magazines, providing 48 slots, including a three-slot I/O station. A remote management unit and a barcode reader are standard in the library, allowing the library to run in sequential or random access mode.

Optional features available include a rack mount kit, an additional power supply, additional removable cartridge magazines, transparent LTO encryption, path failover, additional drives, attachment cables, interposers, and power cords.

The TS3100 and TS3200 also support IBM System Storage LTFS Library Edition and Storage manager software for IBM LTO-6 and -5 drives.

IBM System Storage 7226 Multi-Media Enclosure Model 1U3 now offers a RDX 3.0 removable disk drive docking station. This feature accommodates a 320GB, 500GB, or 1TB removable disk drive or data cartridge.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host software are required to attach and support the TS3100 or TS3200 with IBM LTO LTO-6 tape drives to selected IBM Power Systems, IBM System p, IBM System i, IBM System z, IBM System x, HP-UX, Sun, UNIX, Linux, and Windows servers.

Planned availability date
December 7, 2012