IBM TS3100 Service Manual

LTO 8 Type M Cartridge (M8)
The LTO Program introduced a new capability with LTO-8 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 LTO 7 format. Such
a cartridge is called an LTO 7 initialized LTO 8 Type M cartridge. These LTO 8 Type M cartridges are
identifiable by using an automation bar code label that ends with the last 2 characters “M8”.
Table 43. LTO 7 and LTO 8 Cartridge Types
Cartridge/Density
type Bar code label
Cartridge
Packaging/Silkscreen
labeling Native capacity
Tape Drive
compatibility
L8 xxxxxxL8 LTO Ultrium 8 12 TB LTO 8
M8 xxxxxxM8 LTO Ultrium 7 9 TB LTO 8
L7 xxxxxxL7 LTO Ultrium 7 6 TB LTO 7, LTO 8
From now on, these cartridges are referred to as L8, M8, and L7.
Only new, unused LTO Ultrium 7 cartridges can be initialized as M8 cartridges. When a cartridge is
initialized as M8, it cannot be changed back to L7. Initialized M8 cartridges can be written and read only
in an LTO 8 tape drive; LTO7 tape drives cannot read initialized M8 cartridges.
M8 cartridges can be purchased as either pre-initialized (also referred to as “labeled and initialized”) M8
data cartridges or uninitialized M8 data cartridges (M8 WORM cartridges are not supported). For either
option, the bar code label is included. However, the uninitialized M8 data cartridge must first be
initialized in tape libraries that support the automatic initialization of uninitialized M8 cartridges while
under the control of ISV applications that recognize the “M8” bar code label.
A tape cartridge is initialized when it is first loaded into a compatible tape drive and data is written by
the ISV application at the beginning of tape (sometimes referred to as "labeling a tape" or "writing from
BOT"). The tape drive then establishes the density of the media.
If an uninitialized M8 cartridge is not initialized in a tape library that supports uninitialized M8
cartridges, then the cartridge might inadvertently and silently be initialized at the L7 density (that is, at a
6 TB native capacity) even if the bar code label states “M8”. This action might occur with the usage of
non-TS3100/TS3200 tape libraries, stand-alone LTO7 tape drives, stand-alone LTO8 tape drives, earlier
LTO8 tape drive firmware, earlier TS3100/TS3200 library firmware, or earlier ISV software that does not
recognize that M8 cartridges must be mounted only in LTO8 tape drives. M8 cartridges that are
inadvertently initialized at the L7 density can continue to be read and written in LTO7 and LTO8 tape
drives. However, they remain limited to the 6 TB native capacity.
TS3100/TS3200 Tape Library firmware version <pending> added support for uninitialized M8 cartridges,
in addition to support for preinitialized M8 cartridges. In any tape product with M8 cartridges, the
minimum LTO8 tape drive firmware version is HB82.
Note: See “Minimum firmware levels for common library features” on page v for minimum firmware
levels for LTO M8 media.
Capacity scaling
To control the capacity of the cartridge (for example, to obtain a faster seek time) issue the SCSI
command SET CAPACITY. For information about this command, see the IBM Ultrium Tape Drive SCSI
Reference.
166 IBM TS3100 Tape Library and TS3200 Tape Library: Setup, Operator, and Service Guide Machine Type 3573
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IBM TS3100 Specifications

General

Brand	IBM
Model	TS3100
Category	Network Hardware
Language	English