LTO data cartridge
This section describes the construction, operation, and components of the IBM LTO
data cartridge.
The IBM LTO 8 cartridge is burgundy with a silk screen label on top that specifies
"Ultrium 8 - 12 TB." The IBM LTO 7 cartridge is purple with a silk screen label on
top that specifies "Ultrium 7 - 6 TB." The IBM LTO 6 cartridge is black with a silk
screen label on top that specifies "Ultrium 6 - 2.5 TB." The IBM LTO 5 cartridge is
burgundy with a silk screen label on the top that specifies "Ultrium 5 - 1.5 TB." The
IBM LTO 4 cartridge is green with a silk screen label on the top that specifies
"Ultrium 4 - 800 GB." The IBM LTO 3 cartridge is blue-gray. The IBM LTO 2
cartridge is purple, and the LTO 1 cartridge is black. WORM data cartridges are
two tones in order to distinguish them from other data cartridges. Each WORM
cartridge is the color as the same generation of data cartridge on the top, but it is
gray on the bottom.
When processing tape in the cartridges, the LTO tape drives use a linear,
serpentine recording format. LTO 8 drives read and write data on 6656 tracks, LTO
7 drives read and write data on 3584 tracks, LTO 6 drives read and write data on
2176 tracks, and LTO 5 drives read and write data on 1280 tracks. LTO 8 and 7
drives read and write 32 tracks at a time. LTO 6 and LTO 5 drives read and write
16 tracks at a time. The first set of tracks is written from near the beginning of the
tape to near 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 tape
is full, or until all data is written. For additional information about LTO tape drive
and cartridge compatibility, refer to the topic about LTO tape drives.
Figure 29 shows the IBM LTO data cartridge and its components.
# Component # Component
▌1▐ LTO cartridge memory ▌4▐ Write-protect switch
▌2▐ Cartridge door ▌5▐ Label area
▌3▐ Leader pin ▌6▐ Insertion guide
All generations of the IBM LTO data cartridge include a Linear Tape-Open
Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM) chip (▌1▐ in Figure 29) that contains information
Figure 29. The IBM LTO data cartridge
Chapter 2. Planning 117
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