Type Native Data Capacity Recording Format
LTO M8
9 TB (22.5 TB at 2.5:1 compression)
*
Reads and writes data on 3584 tracks, 32 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 7 6 TB (15 TB at 2.5:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 3584 tracks, 32 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 6 2.5 TB (6.25 TB at 2.5:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 2176 tracks, 16 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 5 1.5 TB (3 TB at 2:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 1280 tracks, 16 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 4 800 GB (1.6 TB at 2:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 896 tracks, 16 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 3 400® GB (800 GB at 2:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 704 tracks, 16 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 2 200 GB (400 GB at 2:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 512 tracks, 8 tracks at a time.
Ultrium 1 100 GB (200 GB at 2:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 384 tracks, 8 tracks at a time.
*
In any tape product with M8 cartridges, the minimum LTO8 tape drive firmware version is HB82.
The first set of tracks is written from near the beginning of the tape almost to the end of the tape. The head then repositions to the next set of tracks for the return pass.
This process continues until all tracks are written and the cartridge is full, or until all data is written.
The cartridge door (2 in Figure 1) protects the tape from contamination when the cartridge is out of the drive. The tape is attached to a leader pin (3 in Figure 1) behind
the door. When the cartridge is inserted into the drive, a threading mechanism pulls the pin (and tape) out of the cartridge, across the drive head, and onto a non-
removable take-up reel. The head can then read or write data from or to the tape.
The write-protect switch (4 in Figure 1) prevents data from being written to the tape cartridge. For more information, see Write-Protect switch.
The label area (5 in Figure 1) provides a location to place a label. For more information, see Bar code label.
The insertion guide (6 in Figure 1) is a large, notched area that prevents the cartridge from being inserted incorrectly.
Table 3. Nominal cartridge life:
Load/unload cycles
Type Load/Unload Cycles
Ultrium 9 100,000 (100k)
Ultrium 8 100,000 (100k)
LTO M8 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 7 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 6 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 5 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 4 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 3 20,000 (20k)
Ultrium 2 10,000 (10k)
Ultrium 1 5000 (5k)
Cartridge Compatibility
The read/write capabilities of Ultrium data cartridges.
LTO type M cartridge (M8)
The LTO program introduced a new capability with LTO8 tape drives: the ability to write 9 TB (native) on a brand new LTO Ultrium 7 cartridge instead of 6 TB (native)
as specified by the LTO7 format.
Capacity Scaling
You can control the capacity of data cartridges to obtain faster seek times.
Cartridge Compatibility
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The read/write capabilities of Ultrium data cartridges.
Table 1. Ultrium data cartridge compatibility with Ultrium tape drives
IBM Ultrium Data Cartridges
IBM Ultrium tape
drive
18 TB
Ultrium 9
12 TB
Ultrium 8
9 TB LTO
M8
6 TB
Ultrium 7
2.5 TB
Ultrium 6
1.5 TB
Ultrium 5
800 GB
Ultrium 4
400 GB
Ultrium 3
200 GB
Ultrium 2
100 GB
Ultrium 1
Ultrium 9 Read/Write Read/Write
Ultrium 8 Read/Write Read/Writ
e
Read Only
Ultrium 7 Read/Write Read/Write
Ultrium 6 Read/Write Read/Write Read Only
Ultrium 5 Read/Write Read/Write Read Only
Ultrium 4 Read/Write Read/Write Read Only
Ultrium 3 Read/Write Read/Write Read Only
Ultrium 2 Read/Write Read/Write
Ultrium 1 Read/Write
LTO type M cartridge (M8)
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