IBM TS3310 Tape Library With FH LTO-6 FC Drives

The IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library from IBM Corp. consists of System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model L5B (3576 Model L5B) and System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model E9U (3576 Model E9U).

ibm_system_storage_ts3310_tape_library_540

The TS3310 Tape Library now incorporates the new IBM LTO-6 full-high 8 Gbps dual-port FC tape drives feature to enhance drive performance over the previous generation LTO-5 tape drives with a native data transfer rate of up to 160MB/sec. Mixed LTO generations and attachment tape drive types are supported where drive space is available.

New LTO-6 FC tape drives are encryption capable. The TS3310 Tape Library incorporates IBM Multi-Path Architecture with logical libraries equal to the number of drives installed.

The TS3310 Tape Library supports the LTO-6 media specification of an over double 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 tape cartridge. LTO-6 Tape Drives can read and write LTO-6 and -5 cartridges, and can read LTO-4 cartridges.

LTO-6 enhancements include:

LTO-6 media specification native data transfer rate up to 160MB/sec
Support for LTO-6 media specification tape cartridge compressed capacity of up to 6.25TB with 2.5 to 1 compression per cartridge
A larger 1GB internal buffer
Support for media partitioning and self-describing tape
LTO-6 encryption support

Also new to the TS3310 Tape Library, the IBM Tape System Reporter (TSR) enables administrators to gather usage statistics for multiple TS3500 and TS3310 libraries using a centralized Java-based server application. Administrators can generate custom reports on the health and utilization of cartridges, drives and libraries by querying the TSR database directly or using the optional Windows-based client.

An additional enhancement reduces the time required to obtain logs and update drive firmware for LTO-5 and newer tape drives. With the web interface, users can transfer drive logs and drive firmware at very high speeds over an internal Ethernet interface. For tape drives in the base module TS3310 Model L5B, library-to-drive Ethernet cables feature is required. For tape drives in the expansion module TS3310 Model E9U, an Ethernet Expansion Blade feature is required.

Also, the TS3310 Command Line Interface (CLI) program can now be used to access the TS3310 library from a CLI. This is in addition to the TS3310 web user interface.

The TS3310 library is modular with physical scalability varying from the 5U Model L5B base library to four additional Model E9U expansion units.

This automated tape library is designed to provide:

Space-efficient design with modular, stackable Model E9U Expansion Frame options providing growth, scalability, and flexibility
IBM LTO LTO-6 FC dual-port tape drive support and integration
Support for LTO LTO-6 data and WORM tape cartridges
Support for three encryption management methods: Application managed, system managed, and library managed; System managed and library managed encryption is available through the Transparent LTO Encryption feature
Support for media partitioning and self-describing tape with LTFS Library Edition and LTFS Storage manager software
Support for mixed generations of LTO tape drives and media
Path failover, optional for both control paths and data paths
Capacity on demand growth options for its expansion modules
Stand-alone library (up to 14U) or optional rack mounting in 19-inch rack

TS3310 Tape Library Model L5B is a 5U base library unit, which contains the library control module, fixed tape cartridge storage of 35 slots, a configurable I/O station of 6 slots, a touchscreen display, cartridge handling robotics, and up to two LTO LTO-6, -5, or -4 tape drives.

TS3310 Tape Library Model E9U is an optional 9U expansion module. Each E9U expansion module can accommodate up to four LTO-6, -5, or -4 tape drives, additional storage slots, and a configurable I/O station of twelve slots. Up to four TS3310 E9U tape expansion modules can be added to the TS3310 Model L5B Tape Library, either at the time of purchase or as a follow-on upgrade to fill a full 41U rack. For configurations of 23U and above, the TS3310 Tape Library and expansion modules must be installed in a rack. Rack doors are required for any library that has more than 14 drives installed.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host software are required to attach the TS3310 Tape Library with IBM LTO Tape Drives to selected IBM System Servers, HP-UX, Sun, UNIX , Linux , and Microsoft Windows servers.

List of supported open system configurations

In order to use the TS3310 Tape Library CLI,
the following prerequisites apply: