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3584-L52 IBM UltraScalable Tape Library Model L52
3584-L52 IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library Model L52

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3584-L52 IBM UltraScalable Tape Library Model L52



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Revised:  July 09, 2004.



Revised:  February 15, 2005.


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The IBM 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library is part of a family of tape

The IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library is part of a family of tape


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Each aspect of the subsystem is designed to optimize access to data and
reliability. The 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library is designed to connect
to host systems using any combination of Fibre Channel, Ultra2/Wide Low
Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI, or Ultra/Wide High Voltage Differential
(HVD) SCSI interfaces.
Each aspect of the subsystem is designed to help optimize access to data
and reliability. The 3584 Tape Library is designed to connect to host
systems using any combination of Fibre Channel, Ultra2/Wide Low Voltage
Differential (LVD) SCSI, or Ultra/Wide High Voltage Differential (HVD)
SCSI interfaces.

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The IBM TotalStorage UltraScalable Tape Library Base Frame 3584 Model
L52 has 64 to 287 cartridge slots and support for up to twelve IBM
TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 2 Tape Drives with an incremental reduction of
storage slots beyond four drives or with Additional I/O Slots. This
model has the same footprint as the Model L22, which is a smaller
footprint than the Model L32. Data Capacity for the Model L52 using
Ultrium 2 data cartridges is 13 to 57 TB native and 26 to 115 TB using
LTO-DC (LTO Data Compression) at 2:1 compression. Aggregate library data
rates of up to 75 TB/hour for a fully configured 3584 library support
extremely high data transfer performance. Up to 15 IBM TotalStorage
UltraScalable Tape Library Expansion Frame 3584 Models D22, D32, or D52
can be attached to the Model L52, supporting IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium
1 or 2 Tape Drives and cartridges or the IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape
Drive 3592 and cartridges. Up to 12 logical libraries and/or up to 12
control paths can be configured for each frame. Each Model L52 library
has a standard 16-slot cartridge input/output station for importing or
exporting LTO cartridges from the library without requiring a
re-inventory. Optional features can provide an additional 16
input/output slots for LTO Ultrium or 3592 tape cartridges. For
bulk-loading of tape cartridges, the library door can be opened. Each
time the library door is closed, a bar code reader mounted on the

The IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library Base Frame Model L52 has 64 to
287 cartridge slots and support for up to twelve IBM TotalStorage LTO
Ultrium Tape Drives with an incremental reduction of storage slots beyond
four drives or with Additional I/O Slots. This model has the same
footprint as the Model L22, which is a smaller footprint than the Model
L32. Up to 15 IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library Expansion Frame 3584
Models D22, D32, or D52 can be attached to the Model L52, supporting IBM
TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Tape Drives and cartridges or the IBM
TotalStorage 3592 Enterprise Tape Drive and cartridges. Up to 12 logical
libraries and/or up to 12 control paths can be configured for each frame.
Each Model L52 library has a standard 16-slot cartridge input/output
station for importing or exporting LTO cartridges from the library
without requiring a re-inventory. Optional features can provide an
additional 16 input/output slots for LTO Ultrium or 3592 tape cartridges.
For bulk-loading of tape cartridges, the library door can be opened.
Each time the library door is closed, a bar code reader mounted on the


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  • Attachment to iSeries, AS/400, pSeries, RS/6000, xSeries, Netfinity,
    Sun, Hewlett-Packard, and other non-IBM servers

  • Attachment to IBM eServer i5, iSeries, AS/400, IBM eServer p5,
    pSeries, RS/6000, IBM eServer xSeries, Netfinity, Sun, Hewlett-Packard,
    and other non-IBM servers

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  • IBM Multi-Path Architecture supporting redundant control paths, mixed
    drive configurations, and library sharing between multiple applications

  • IBM Multi-Path Architecture designed to support redundant control
    paths, mixed drive configurations, and library sharing between multiple
    applications

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  • Each IBM LTO Ultrium 2 Tape Drive in the Model L52 has a single-port
    Fibre Channel interface
  • Each IBM Fibre Channel LTO Ultrium Tape Drive in the Model L52 has a
    single-port Fibre Channel interface

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    3584 UltraScalable Library Overview

    The IBM TotalStorage UltraScalable Tape Library 3584 is part of the
    family of tape library storage solutions designed for the large,
    unattended storage requirements from today's midrange systems up to
    high-end open systems. Each aspect of the subsystem is designed to
    optimize access to data and reliability. The UltraScalable Tape Library
    3584 supports the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 2 Tape Drive, in addition
    to the Ultrium 1 Tape Drive, and the IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape
    Drive 3592. IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives are compact storage devices that
    support the highly intensive read and write operations required by
    today's open system servers. The IBM LTO Ultrium 2 Tape Drive is the
    second generation of LTO Ultrium tape drives in the IBM TotalStorage LTO
    Ultrium family of products. The 3592 Tape Drives are designed to provide
    high levels of performance, functionality, and cartridge capacity
    supporting the 3592 tape format, including Write Once Read Many (WORM)
    media support.

    The 3584 Library Models L32 and D32 can be equipped with IBM
    TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 1 or 2 Tape Drives, the Models L52 and D52 with
    IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Fibre Channel Tape Drives, and the Models
    L22 and D22 with the IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape Drive 3592. The
    3584 Models D22, D52, L22, and L52 have a smaller footprint than the
    Models D32 or L32, so they take up less floor space. The Ultrium 2 Tape
    Drives and data cartridges can be resident in the same UltraScalable Tape
    Library 3584 frame with original Ultrium 1 Tape Drives and data

    3584 Tape Library Overview

    The IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library is part of a family of tape
    library storage solutions designed for the large, unattended storage
    requirements from today's midrange systems to high-end open systems.
    Each aspect of the subsystem is designed to optimize access to data and
    reliability. The 3584 Tape Library supports the IBM TotalStorage LTO
    Ultrium 1, 2, and 3 Tape Drives and the IBM TotalStorage 3592 Enterprise
    Tape Drive. IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives are compact storage devices
    designed to support the highly intensive read and write operations
    required by today's open system servers.

    The IBM Ultrium 3 Tape Drive is the third generation of LTO Ultrium
    tape drives in the IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium family of products.
    Ultrium 3 Tape Drives and data cartridges can be resident in same 3584
    Tape Library frame with Ultrium 2 or Ultrium 1 Tape Drives and data


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    cartridges. The 3584 supports mixed media in the same library by
    supporting the intermix of the Models D22, D32, and D52 within a 3584
    library. Input/Output (I/O) stations are located on the Models L22, L32,
    or L52 to facilitate tape loading and unloading.

    The 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library is designed to provide an
    excellent network data backup/archive solution. With the granularity and
    scalability to follow your requirements from a few servers to hundreds of
    clients, from gigabytes to terabytes, this powerful pairing can grow with
    you, helping protect your investment.

    3584 UltraScalable Library means high performance
    cartridges. The 3592 Tape Drives are designed to provide high levels of
    performance, functionality, and cartridge capacity supporting the 3592
    tape format, including Write Once Read Many (WORM) media support.

    The 3584 Library Models L32 and D32 can be equipped with IBM
    TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 1, 2, or 3 Tape Drives, the Models L52 and D52
    with IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium Fibre Channel Tape Drives, and the
    Models L22 and D22 with the IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape Drive 3592.
    The 3584 Models D22, D52, L22, and L52 have a smaller footprint than the
    Models D32 or L32, so they take up less floor space. The Ultrium 3 Tape
    Drives and data cartridges can be resident in the same 3584 Tape Library
    frame with Ultrium 1 or 2 Tape Drives and data cartridges, and adjacent
    frames can have 3592 Tape Drives and data cartridges. The 3584 supports
    mixed media in the same library by supporting the intermix of the Models
    D22, D32, and D52 within a 3584 library. Input/Output (I/O) stations are
    located on the Models L22, L32, or L52 to facilitate tape loading and
    unloading. The 3584 High Availability Model HA1 may be added to the 3584
    Tape Library Base Frame Models L22, L32, or L52. In conjunction with a
    service bay feature on the 3584 Model D22 or D52, the Model HA1 provides
    for the installation and operation of a second library accessor in a 3584
    Tape Library to help improve availability and performance.

    The 3584 Tape Library is designed to provide an excellent network data
    backup/archive solution. With the granularity and scalability to follow
    your requirements from a few servers to hundreds of clients, from
    gigabytes to terabytes, this powerful pairing can grow with you, helping
    protect your investment.

    3584 Tape Library means high performance


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    enhances performance even further. Aggregate library data rates of up to
    75 TB/hour (with maximum compression) for a fully configured
    UltraScalable Tape Library 3584 supports extremely high data transfer
    enhances performance even further. Aggregate library data rates for a
    fully configured 3584 Tape Library supports extremely high data transfer

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    Cartridge move time within the 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library is
    typically less than 3.0 seconds in a single-frame library. The
    dual-gripper accessor can retrieve the next cartridge to be mounted,
    unload the current cartridge, and load the next cartridge, providing the
    following potential benefits as compared to a single gripper:

    Cartridge move time within the 3584 Tape Library is typically less
    than 3.0 seconds in a single-frame library. The dual-gripper accessor
    can retrieve the next cartridge to be mounted, unload the current
    cartridge, and load the next cartridge, providing the following potential
    benefits as compared to a single gripper:


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    3584 UltraScalable Library defines high reliability

    3584 Tape Library defines high reliability


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    provides a cartridge capacity with Ultrium 2 data cartridges of up to
    6,887 cartridges from 13 TB to 1,377 TB (26 TB to 2,755 TB with 2:1
    compression), or with 3592 data cartridges of up to 6,260 cartridges from
    17 TB to 1,878 TB (52 TB to 5,634 TB with 3:1 compression). Or, you can
    intermix cartridges and drive types in different frames and have up to
    192 tape drives in up to 16 total 3584 library frames.
    provides a cartridge capacity with Ultrium data cartridges of up to 6,887
    cartridges, or with 3592 data cartridges of up to 6,260 cartridges You
    can intermix cartridges and drive types in different frames and have up
    to 192 tape drives in up to 16 total 3584 library frames.

    90,193c199,200
    capacity for the Model L52 depends on the types of cartridges, up to 115
    TB (at 2:1 compression) using LTO-DC with Ultrium 2 data cartridges. Up
    to 12 logical libraries (one per tape drive) can be configured for each
    frame.
    capacity for the Model L52 depends on the types of cartridges. Up to 12
    logical libraries (one per tape drive) can be configured for each frame.

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    3584 High Availability Frame Model HA1

    The 3584 High Availability Frame Model HA1 is designed to improve the
    performance and availability of the 3584 Tape Library. The Model HA1, in
    conjunction with service bay features on the 3584 Models D22 and D52,
    provide for the installation of a second library accessor that is
    designed to operate simultaneously with the first accessor and service
    mount requests in the 3584 Tape Library at the same time. It is designed
    to non-disruptively failover to a redundant accessor when any component
    of either accessor fails, which helps maintain availability and
    relibility. Additionally, this design includes the ability to add one or
    more Model D52 or D22 Frames to a 3584 Tape Library that has an attached
    Model HA1 with minimal disruption.

    Dual active accessor support is provided in a mixed media library.
    This includes any combination of 3592 and LTO Ultrium media types.
    Advanced Library Management Systems (ALMS) will be required for support
    of dual accessors and two or more 3584 frames are required in a high
    availability configuration.

    A dual accessor library will have two garage areas called service
    bays. Service Bay A (the 3584 High Availability Frame Model HA1) is to
    left of and adjacent to the L-frame, when facing the front door. Service
    Bay B (a modified 3584 Model D22 or D52) is to the right of the last
    active frame in the library. The service bays will be regular library
    frames but they will not have any drives, power supplies, or node cards.
    Storage slots within the service bays will only be used to test service
    actions.

    The actual performance of the 3584 Tape Library is determined by a
    number of factors, such as: accessor capacity, number of library frames,
    number of tape drives, location of tape drives and tape cartridges, and
    tape cartridge residency.


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    The Multi-Path Architecture of the UltraScalable Tape Library 3584
    provides the capability for sharing of the library robotics. This is
    accomplished by partitioning the library into up to 192 multiple logical
    libraries (up to the number of drives installed), and providing each
    logical library its own separate and distinct drive(s), storage slots,
    and control path(s). I/O slots are shared on a first-come-first-served
    basis. This type of partitioning allows heterogeneous applications to
    share the library robotics independent of each other. Cartridges under
    library control are not shared between logical libraries, nor allowed to
    be moved between logical libraries. An example of heterogeneous sharing
    is a Microsoft Windows 2000 application using the drive and storage slots
    of one logical library, while a UNIX application uses the drive and slots
    of another logical library.

    Logical libraries can also be used for separating Ultrium 1 Tape
    Drives and cartridges from Ultrium 2 Tape Drives and cartridges, or 3592
    Tape Drives and cartridges, for applications which do not support mixing
    the drives in the same logical library.

    The Multi-Path Architecture of the 3584 Tape Library provides the
    capability for sharing of the library robotics. This is accomplished by
    partitioning the library into up to 192 multiple logical libraries (up to
    the number of drives installed), and providing each logical library its
    own separate and distinct drive(s), storage slots, and control path(s).
    I/O slots are shared on a first-come-first-served basis. This type of
    partitioning allows heterogeneous applications to share the library
    robotics independent of each other. Cartridges under library control are
    not shared between logical libraries, nor allowed to be moved between
    logical libraries. An example of heterogeneous sharing is a Microsoft
    Windows 2000 application using the drive and storage slots of one logical
    library, while a UNIX application uses the drive and slots of another
    logical library.

    Logical libraries can also be used for separating different
    generations of Ultrium Tape Drives and cartridges, or 3592 Tape Drives
    and cartridges, for applications which do not support mixing the drives
    in the same logical library.


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    typically be changed without any impact to host applications.
    typically be changed without any impact to host applications. ALMS is
    required when a 3584 High Availability Frame Model HA1 is installed in
    the 3584 Tape Library.

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    For enhanced availability you may use Control Path Failover. This
    optional feature is designed to provide automatic control path failover
    to a preconfigured redundant control path in the event of a loss of a
    host adapter or control path drive, without aborting the current job in
    progress. Support is provided under AIX and Linux when the IBM device
    driver is used.

    Two types of path failover capabilities exist: Control Path Failover
    (CPF) and Data Path Failover (DPF). Control refers to the command set
    that controls the library (the SCSI Medium Changer command set on LUN 1
    of the tape drives). Data refers to the command set that carries the
    customer data to and from the tape drives (the SCSI-3 Stream Commands
    (SSC) device on LUN 0 of the tape drives). Path failover means the same
    thing in both: that is, where there is redundancy in the path from the
    application to the intended target (the library accessor or the drive
    mechanism), the device driver transparently fails over to another path in
    response to a break in the active path.

    Both types of failover include host-side failover when configured with
    multiple host bust adapter (HBA) ports into a switch, but CPF includes
    target-side failover through the control paths that are enabled on more
    than one tape drive. DPF includes target-side failover for 3592 Tape
    Drives only by using the dual-ported interface of the drive.

    For enhanced availability you may use CPF. This optional feature is
    designed to provide automatic control path failover to a preconfigured
    redundant control path in the event of a loss of a host adapter or
    control path drive, without aborting the current job in progress.
    Support is currently provided under AIX, Solaris, and Linux when the IBM
    device driver is used. Additional operating systems support will be
    provided in the future for installed CPF users.


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    Data Path Failover and Load Balancing exclusively supports native
    Fibre Channel Ultrium 2 Tape Drives and 3592 Tape Drives in the
    UltraScalable Tape Library 3584 using the IBM device driver for AIX and
    Linux. Data path failover is designed to provide a failover mechanism in
    the IBM device driver, which enables you to configure multiple redundant
    paths in a SAN environment. In the event of a path or component failure,
    the failover mechanism is designed to automatically provide error
    recovery to retry the current operation using an alternate, preconfigured
    path without aborting the current job in progress. This allows you
    flexibility in SAN configuration, availability, and management.

    Data Path Failover (DPF) and Load Balancing exclusively supports
    native Fibre Channel Ultrium Tape Drives and 3592 Tape Drives in the 3584
    Tape Library using the IBM device driver. Support is currently provided
    for AIX, Linux, and Solaris. Additional operating systems support will
    be provided in the future for installed DPF users. DPF is designed to
    provide a failover mechanism in the IBM device driver, which enables you
    to configure multiple redundant paths in a SAN environment. In the event
    of a path or component failure, the failover mechanism is designed to
    automatically provide error recovery to retry the current operation using
    an alternate, preconfigured path without aborting the current job in
    progress. This allows you flexibility in SAN configuration,
    availability, and management.


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    automatically selects a path through the host bus adapter (HBA) that has
    the fewest open tape devices, and assigns that path to the application.
    This autonomic self-optimizing capability is called Load Balancing. The
    dynamic load balancing support is designed to optimize resources for
    devices that have physical connections to multiple HBAs in the same
    machine. The device driver is designed to dynamically track the usage on
    each HBA as applications open and close devices, and balance the number
    of applications using each HBA in the machine. This may help optimize
    HBA resources and improve overall performance. Further, Data Path
    Failover provides autonomic self-healing capabilities similar to Control
    Path Failover, with transparent failover to an alternate data path in the
    event of a failure in the primary host-side path. Data Path Failover and
    Load Balancing for Ultrium 2 Tape Drives attached to Linux or other
    operating systems requires an optional feature.
    automatically selects a path through the HBA that has the fewest open
    tape devices, and assigns that path to the application. This autonomic
    self-optimizing capability is called Load Balancing. The dynamic load
    balancing support is designed to optimize resources for devices that have
    physical connections to multiple HBAs in the same machine. The device
    driver is designed to dynamically track the usage on each HBA as
    applications open and close devices, and balance the number of
    applications using each HBA in the machine. This may help optimize HBA
    resources and improve overall performance. Further, DPF provides
    autonomic self-healing capabilities similar to CPF, with transparent
    failover to an alternate data path in the event of a failure in the
    primary host-side path.

    Note: DPF and Load Balancing for Ultrium 3 Tape Drives, or Ultrium 2 Tape
    Drives attached to operating systems other than AIX, requires an optional
    feature. Load Balancing is not currently supported for Solaris.


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    Tape drives in the 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library Models D22, D52,
    L22, and L52 are designed to connect to host systems using Fibre Channel
    interfaces. An LTO Ultrium Tape Drive with a Fibre Channel interface or
    3592 Tape Drive can be selected for attachment to host systems and
    servers utilizing Fibre Channel adapters. Fibre Channel connection
    distances up to 500 meters are possible. By utilizing selected Fibre
    Channel Switches, distances exceeding 500 meters are possible.

    Tape drives in the 3584 Tape Library Models D22, D52, L22, and L52 are
    designed to connect to host systems using Fibre Channel interfaces. An
    LTO Ultrium Tape Drive with a Fibre Channel interface or 3592 Tape Drive
    can be selected for attachment to host systems and servers utilizing
    Fibre Channel adapters. Fibre Channel connection distances up to 300
    meters (at 2-Gbps) are possible. By utilizing selected Fibre Channel
    Switches, distances exceeding 300 meters are possible.

    Ultrium 3 Tape Drive

    The IBM TotalStorage 3588 Tape Drive Model F3A is an IBM Linear
    Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium 3 Tape Drive designed for the heavy demands of
    backup tape storage. The 3588 Tape Drive Model F3A is designed to mount
    in an IBM TotalStorage 3584 Tape Library and has a 2-Gbps Fibre Channel
    interface for attachment to IBM eServer p5 or pSeries, IBM eServer i5 or
    iSeries, IBM eServer xSeries, AS/400, RS/6000, HP, Sun, UNIX, and Intel
    servers.

    The Ultrium 3 Tape Drive incorporates third-generation IBM LTO Ultrium
    technology. It offers the following significant improvements over the
    Ultrium 2 Tape Drive:


    • Maximum tape drive throughput data rate performance is more than
      doubled, up to 80 MB/sec native data transfer rate. Data tracks are now
      written 16 at a time. IBM Ultrium 3 Tape Drives can read and write, at
      eight data tracks at a time, LTO Ultrium 2 Data Cartridges at Ultrium 2
      rates, and read LTO Ultrium 1 Data Cartridges at Ultrium 1 rates.

      Note: Although the 3588 Tape Drive provides the capability for excellent
      tape performance, other components of the system may limit the actual
      performance achieved. Also, although the compression technology used in
      the tape drive can typically double the amount of data that can be stored
      on the media, the actual degree of compression achieved is highly
      sensitive to the characteristics of the data being compressed.

    • The tape cartridge capacity is doubled over the Ultrium 2 Data
      Cartridge up to 400 GB native physical capacity (800 GB with 2:1
      compression), with the use of the new IBM TotalStorage LTO Ultrium 400 GB
      Data Cartridge. This is achieved by increasing the linear density, the
      number of tape tracks, and the media length. The tape itself is an
      advanced metal particle tape developed to help provide durability and
      capacity.

    • Ultrium 2 cartridge compatibility - The Ultrium 3 Tape Drive can read
      and write on LTO Ultrium 2 Data Cartridges and can read LTO Ultrium 1
      Data Cartridges.

    • 2-Gbps Fibre Channel attachment - The 3588 Model F3A comes with a
      2-Gbps Fibre Channel interface for connection to a wide spectrum of open
      system servers. They are supported on AIX, OS/400, i5/OS, Sun Solaris,
      HP-UX, Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Linux, and other open
      systems.

    • New dual stage 16 channel head actuator - designed to provide
      precision head alignment to help support higher track density and
      improved data integrity.

    • New independent tape loader and threader motors and positive pin
      retention - designed to help improve the reliability of loading and
      unloading a cartridge, and to retain the pin even if tension is dropped.
      With an independent loader motor coupled with the positive pin retention,
      the tape threads with a higher level of reliability.

    • Larger internal data buffer - There is a 128 MB internal data buffer
      in the Ultrium 3 Tape Drive as compared to a 64 MB internal data buffer
      in the Ultrium 2 Tape Drive or a 32 MB internal data buffer in the
      Ultrium 1 Tape Drive.

    • Highly integrated electronics using IBM-engineered copper technology
      - designed to reduce the total number of components in the drive, lower
      chip temperatures, and reduce power requirements, helping to provide for
      a more reliable drive. The generation 3 drive electronics are also
      designed to provide "on-the-fly" error correction capability for soft
      errors in the memory arrays in data and control paths.

    • Graceful dynamic braking - In the event of power failure, reel motors
      are designed to maintain tension and gradually decelerate instead of
      stopping abruptly, helping reduce tape breakage, stretching, or loose
      tape wraps during a sudden power-down.

    Proven IBM LTO Ultrium features enhanced in IBM LTO Ultrium 3 Tape
    Drive include:


    • Servo and track layout technology - There are 704 data tracks in
      Ultrium 3 verses 512 data tracks in Ultrium 2 and 384 data tracks in
      Ultrium 1. High bandwidth servo system features a low-mass servo to help
      more effectively track servo bands and improve data throughput with
      damaged media in less-than-optimal shock and vibe environments.

    • Surface Control Guiding Mechanism - IBM's patented Surface Control
      Guiding Mechanism is designed to guide the tape along the tape path in
      the IBM Ultrium Tape Drive. This method uses the surface of the tape,
      rather than the edges, to control tape motion. This helps reduce tape
      damage (especially to the edges of the tape) and tape debris, which comes
      from the damaged edges and can accumulate in the head area.

    • Magneto Resistive (MR) head design - Use of flat lap head technology
      in MR heads helps minimize contact, debris accumulation, and wear on the
      tape as it moves over the read/write heads.

    • Digital speed matching - The Ultrium 3 Tape Drive is designed to
      perform dynamic speed matching (at one of five speeds, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80
      MB/sec) to adjust the drive's native data rate as closely as possible to
      the net host data rate (after data compressibility has been factored
      out). This helps reduce the number of backhitch repositions and improve
      throughput performance. Speed matching on Ultrium 3 ranges from 40 to 80
      MB/sec versus 17.5 to 35 MB/sec on Ultrium 2.

    • Robust drive components optimized for automation environments - Drive
      designed using some of the most robust components available, such as: 1)
      all metal clutch, 2) steel ball bearings in loader, 3) robust leader
      block design, 4) single circuit card, to help enhance reliability and
      prolong the life of the drive.

    • Power management - The power management function is designed to
      control the drive electronics to be either completely turned off or to be
      in a low-power mode when the circuit functions are not needed for drive
      operation.

    • Channel calibration: The channel calibration feature allows for
      customization of each read/write data channel to support optimum
      performance. The customization enables compensation for variations in
      the recording channel transfer function, media characteristics, and
      read/write head characteristics.

    • Adaptive read equalization - designed to automatically compensate for
      dynamic changes in readback signal response.

    • Dynamic amplitude asymmetry compensation - designed to dynamically
      optimize readback signals for linear readback response from magneto
      resistive read head transducers.

    • Separate writing of multiple filemarks - Separate writing of multiple
      filemarks is designed to cause any write command of two or more filemarks
      to cause a separate data set to be written containing all filemarks after
      the first. This feature has two advantages. First, it helps improve
      performance if a subsequent append overwrites somewhere after the first
      filemark. Second, the write of multiple filemarks typically indicates a
      point where an append operation might occur after the first of these
      filemarks. This change helps prevent having to rewrite datasets
      containing customer data and the first filemark in cases if such an
      append occurs.

    • LTO Data Compression (LTO-DC) - The IBM Ultrium Tape Drives use
      LTO-DC which is an implementation of a Lempel-Ziv class 1 (LZ-1) data
      compression algorithm. LTO-DC is an extension of Adaptive Lossless Data
      Compression (ALDC) and an improvement over previous IBM lossless
      compression algorithms. IBM's patented "Scheme-Swapping" compression is
      designed to look ahead at incoming data, and determine the most efficient
      storage method (either ALDC or pass-thru mode) to help provide optimal
      data compression and increased data throughput.

    • LTO Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM) - Contained within the LTO Ultrium data
      cartridge is the LTO-CM, which is a passive, contactless silicon storage
      device that is physically a part of the cartridge. The LTO-CM is used to
      hold information about that specific cartridge, the media in the
      cartridge, and the data on the media. The storage capacity of the LTO-CM
      is 4,096 bytes. Communication between the drive and the LTO-CM is via a
      low-level RF field transmitted by the drive to the cartridge.

    • Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS) - The IBM Ultrium
      Tape Drives use SARS to help isolate failures between media and hardware.
      The SARS use the cartridge performance history saved in the CM module and
      the drive performance history kept in the drive flash EEPROM to help
      determine the more likely cause of failure. SARS can cause the drive to
      request a cleaner tape, to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate
      that the hardware has degraded.

    With support for LTO Ultrium-format tape data cartridges, the 3588
    Tape Drive with the 3584 Tape Library can be a cost-effective solution
    for backup, save-and-restore, and archiving functions.


    06,388d502

  • Digital speed matching: The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive performs dynamic
    speed matching to adjust the drive's native data rate as closely as
    possible to the net host data rate (after data compressibility has been
    factored out). This helps provide the dual benefit of reducing the
    number of backhitch repositions and improving throughput performance.

  • Power management: The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive power management function
    controls the drive electronics to be either completely turned off or to
    be in a low-power mode. These power modes occur only when the circuit
    functions are not needed for drive operation.

  • Channel calibration: The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive channel calibration
    feature allows for customization of each read/write data channel to
    support optimum performance. The customization enables compensation for
    variations in the recording channel transfer function, media
    characteristics, and read/write head characteristics.

  • Separate writing of multiple filemarks: Separate writing of multiple
    filemarks causes any write command of two or more filemarks to cause a
    separate data set to be written containing all filemarks after the first.
    This feature has two advantages. First, it can help improve performance
    if a subsequent append overwrites somewhere after the first filemark.
    Second, write of multiple filemarks typically indicates a point where an
    append operation might occur after the first of these filemarks. This
    change helps prevent having to rewrite datasets containing customer data
    and the first filemark in cases if such an append occurs.

  • Ultrium 1 Cartridge compatibility: The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive can read
    and write on Ultrium 1 cartridges with improved transfer rates.

  • Larger internal data buffer: There is a 64 MB internal data buffer
    in the Ultrium 2 Tape Drive as compared to a 32 MB internal data buffer
    in the Ultrium 1 Tape Drive

  • Faster cartridge fill times (for both Ultrium 1 and Ultrium 2 data
    cartridges): The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive can fill an Ultrium 2 200 GB data
    cartridge up to 12% faster, with a sustained data rate up to 128% better
    when compared to the Ultrium 1 Tape Drive filling an Ultrium 1 100 GB
    data cartridge. The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive can fill an Ultrium 1 100 GB
    data cartridge up to 25% faster, with a sustained data rate up to 33%
    better, when compared to the Ultrium 1 Tape Drive. The Ultrium 2 Tape
    Drive can fill an Ultrium 2 200 GB data cartridge in 1 hour 44 minutes
    with a sustained data rate of 122.8 GB/hour. The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive
    can fill an Ultrium 1 100 GB data cartridge in 1 hour 29 minutes with a
    sustained data rate of 71.9 GB/hour. The Ultrium 1 Tape Drive can fill
    an Ultrium 1 100 GB data cartridge in 2 hours with a sustained data rate
    of 53.8 GB/hour.

  • Faster data access, rewind, and load times: The Ultrium 2 Tape Drive
    has the following improvements:
                                  Ultrium 2       Ultrium 1
    ---------- -----------
    Cartridge Load Time 10 seconds 15 seconds
    Maximum Rewind Time 80 seconds 110 seconds
    Average File Access Time 46 seconds 73 seconds
     


    Proven IBM LTO Ultrium 1 features enhanced in IBM LTO Ultrium 2 Tape
    Drive include: