IBM TS4500 User Manual

Drive performance
Read this topic to learn about the performance specifications of the LTO and 3592
tape drives that are supported by the TS4500 tape library.
Table 23. Performance specifications of the LTO tape drives
Performance parameter
Tape drive
LTO 8 LTO 7 LTO 6 LTO 5
Sustained data rate (native)
1
360 MB/s
(L8 media)
L8 media not
supported
L8 media not
supported
L8 media not
supported
300 MB/s
(M8 media)
M8 media not
supported
M8 media not
supported
M8 media not
supported
300 MB/s
(L7 media)
300 MB/s
(L7 media)
L7 media not
supported
L7 media not
supported
L6 media not
supported
160 MB/s
(L6 media)
160 MB/s
(L6 media)
L6 media not
supported
L5 media not
supported
140 MB/s
(L5 media)
140 MB/s
(L5 media)
140 MB/s
(L5 media)
L4 media not
supported
L4 media not
supported
120 MB/s
(L4 media)
120 MB/s
(L4 media)
L3 media not
supported
L3 media not
supported
L3 media not
supported
80 MB/s
(L3 media)
2
Sustained data rate (L6, L7, and L8 media
compressed at 2.5:1 compression; L5 and
earlier media compressed at 2:1
compression)
750 MB/s (L8
media)
L8 media not
supported
L8 media not
supported
L8 media not
supported
750 MB/s (M8
media)
M8 media not
supported
M8 media not
supported
M8 media not
supported
750 MB/s (L7
media)
750 MB/s (L7
media)
L7 media not
supported
L7 media not
supported
L6 media not
supported
400 MB/s
(L6 media)
400 MB/s
(L6 media)
L6 media not
supported
L5 media not
supported
280 MB/s
(L5 media)
280 MB/s
(L5 media)
280 MB/s
(L5 media)
L4 media not
supported
L4 media not
supported
240 MB/s
(L4 media)
240 MB/s
(L4 media)
L3 media not
supported
L3 media not
supported
L3 media not
supported
160 MB/s
(L3 media)
2
Maximum sustained data rate (at
maximum compression)
750 MB/s 750 MB/s 745 MB/s 745 MB/s
Burst data rate for Fibre Channel drives 800 MB/s 800 MB/s 800 MB/s 800 MB/s
Time to load, thread, and initialize a
cartridge
12 seconds
Time to unload cartridge from load point 17 seconds
Average search time to first byte of data
(load time)
60 seconds
Note: All sustained data rates are dependent on the entire data path (from data source to host system to tape
drive).
Chapter 1. Overview 65

IBM TS4500 Specifications

General

Model	IBM TS4500
Type	Tape Library
Form Factor	Rack-mounted
Interface	Fibre Channel
Encryption	Yes
Drive Technology	LTO Ultrium 8, LTO Ultrium 7
Tape Formats Supported	LTO
Management Interface	Web-based GUI