Tape Cartridge Requirements
Below figure 25 shows the types of tape cartridges that the tape library
supports, along with their densities and capacities. When loaded, the cartridges
automatically default to their highest supported density.
IBM recommends that you use DLTtape III XT and DLTtape IV tape cartridges.
Use of other tapes is not guaranteed. For information about ordering tape
cartridges, see 'Ordering Tape Cartridges'
-Attention- If a prerecorded tape is reused and the Write From Beginning of Tape
(BOT) command is executed, all prerecorded data is lost (including the density setting).
For read operation of prerecorded tape media, the recorded density will be read back.
For write operation, the tape media can be recorded using any of the supported densities of the loaded tape type from BOT, or using the default density
of the loaded tape type.
For write append operation, the prerecorded data density will be used.
Figure 25. Tape Cartridge Capacity and Density
Please see the LEGAL - Trademark notice.
Type of
Cartridge
SupportedDensity
Compressed Data Capacity *
DLTtape IV
20.0 GB
35.0 GB 40.0 GB
70.0 GB (default for drive)
DLTtape III XT
15.0 GB
30.0 GB (default for drive)
DLTtape III
2.6 GB
6.0 GB
10.0 GB 2.6 GB (no compression)
6.0 GB (no compression)
20.0 GB (default for drive)
Notes:
For example, using a block size of 1024 and backing up 32 GB of data takes approximately
22 hours; using a block size of 30,000 for the same amount of data takes approximately 2 hours.
Small block sizes have a significant impact on performance, but only a minimal impact on capacity.
However, 2.6 format (density) and 6 format (density) are significantly impacted in capacity
by using small block sizes because they do not pack the data in the internal block.
The cartridges can be labeled or unlabeled.
When the cartridges do not have a label, the host computer will identify the tape cartridge
by the information at the beginning of the tape.
Labels can be applied to the edge of a tape cartridge and used by the bar code reader to
identify the contents of the tape cartridge.
(For more information, see 'Tape Cartridge Labels'.)
Figure 26 shows a typical tape cartridge.
Figure 26. Tape Cartridge with Label
When preparing tapes for use in the tape library keep the following in mind:
IBM recommends that data cartridges be retired after 10,000 loads to avoid
possible data reliability problems and load/unload problems.
Back to
Feel free - send a for any BUG on this page found - Thank you.