IBM TS1050 and TS1060 Tape Drive F5C and F6C for TS4500 Library

IBM TS1060 (machine type 3588, model F6C) and IBM TS1050 (machine type 3588, model F5C) are designed to be installed in an TS4500 tape library (machine type 3584) to offer capacity and performance for enterprise and midrange open systems environments.

TS4500 tape library

TS1060 model F6C incorporates the IBM LTO-6 tape drive with enhanced maximum tape drive throughput over the LTO-5 tape drive. It has a native data transfer of up to 16MB/s. The TS1060 tape drive supports 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 to 1 compression (up to 1.5TB native capacity) per tape cartridge. LTO-6 tape drives can read and write LTO-5 cartridges and read LTO-4 cartridges. The TS1060 has an 8Gb FC dual-ported interface for connection to a spectrum of open system servers.

The TS1060 LTO-6 tape drive supports data encryption with LTO-6 or LTO-5 media.

LTO-6 enhancements that help improve performance and reliability include:

• Native data transfer rate up to 160MB/s
• LTO-6 cartridge compressed capacity of up to 6.2TB (up to 2.5TB native)
• 8Gb FC dual-ported drive attachment
• A 512 MB internal buffer
• Support for media partitioning and self-describing tape with LTFS Library Edition, LTFS Storage Manager, and LTFS Enterprise Edition software
• LTO-6 encryption support

TS1050 model F5C incorporates the LTO-5 tape drive with enhanced maximum tape drive throughput over the LTO-4 tape drive. It has a native data transfer of up to 140MB/s. It supports the LTO-5 media specification of more than double the compressed capacity of up to 1.5TB with 2 to 1 compression (up to 3.0TB native capacity) compared to previous LTO-4 compressed capacity of up to 1.6TB with 2 to 1 compression (up to 800GB native capacity) per cartridge. LTO-5 tape drives can read and write LTO-5 and -4 cartridges and read LTO-3 cartridges. The TS1050 has an 8Gb FC dual-ported interface for connection to open system servers.

The TS1050 LTO-5 tape drive supports data encryption with LTO-5 media.

IBM LTO-5 enhancements that help improve performance and reliability include:

• Native data transfer rate up to 120MB/s
• LTO-5 cartridge compressed capacity of up to 1.6TB (up to 800GB native)
• 8Gb FC dual-ported drive attachment
• A 512 MB internal buffer
• Support for media partitioning and self describing tape with LTFS Library Edition, LTFS Storage Manager, and LTFS Enterprise Edition software
• LTO Ultrium 5 encryption support

TS1060 model F6C and TS1050 model F5C can be installed in new or installed TS4500 tape library models L55 or D55.

Following two generations of HD2-compatible LTO drives
are supported by HD2 frames of TS4500 tape library:

• TS1060 tape drive (Model 3588 F6C)
• TS1050 tape drive (Model 3588 F5C)

Model conversions are also supported to allow TS1060 and TS1050 tape drives models F6A and F5A to be moved from a TS3500 tape library to the HD2 frames of TS4500.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host and drive software are required to attach the TS1060 model F6C and TS1050 model F5C to a range of environments, including select Power Systems, System i, System p, System x, System z (zLinux), other servers running Linux, Sun Solaris, and Windows OS environments that support FC interfaces.

Planned availability date: June 13, 2014