Dell PowerVault 110T LTO User manual

Dell PowerVault Tape Systems
LTO Media Handbook

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
_____________________
Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
© 2005–2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL logo, PowerEdge™, and PowerVault™ are trademarks
of Dell Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this publication to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
March 2011 Rev. A03

Contents 3
Contents
Drives and Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PowerVault LTO-1 Tape Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PowerVault LTO-2 Tape Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
PowerVault LTO-3 Tape Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PowerVault LTO-4 and LTO-5 Tape Drives . . . . . . 9
Media Types for PowerVault LTO Tape 
Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Media Color Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Invalid Media Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Cartridge Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Migrating LTO Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
WORM Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cleaning Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Label Designations on LTO Cleaning 
Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cleaning Media Usage and Drive Cleaning 
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Characteristics of Expired LTO Cleaning 
Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Stuck Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Erasing a Pre-Written LTO Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Media Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Media Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4Contents
Perform a Thorough Inspection . . . . . . . . . . 23
Handle the Cartridge Carefully . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Ensure Proper Packaging While Shipping 
Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Cartridge Storage Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Cartridge Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Media Do’s and Don’ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

LTO Media Handbook 5
This document describes media compatibility, handling, and usage for all Dell
PowerVault Linear Tape Open (LTO) drives.
Drives and Media
Table 1 through Table 4 list the basic characteristics of Dell PowerVault LTO
tape drives.
PowerVault LTO-1 Tape Drives
Table 1. LTO-1 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
PowerVault 110T LTO PowerVault 110T LTO-1 PowerVault 110T LTO-1
Capacity Native
/Compressed
100 GB/200 GB 100 GB/200 GB 100 GB/200 GB
Native Speed 15 MB/s 15 MB/s 15 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-1 Ultrium-1 Ultrium-1

6 LTO Media Handbook
Physical
Device
Description
• Single air intake
at the bottom of
the drive
• Eject button at
top right corner
• Status lights
(vertical)
–Power
– Activity
– Error
–Status
• Ultrium-1 label on
drive bezel
•Splitairintakeson
both the bottom
corners
• Flush mount eject
button
• Status lights
(vertical)
–Ready
– Drive error
– Tape error
–Usecleaning
cartridge
Seven segment display
NOTE: PowerVault
110T LTO-1 is only sold
on 132T drive sled.
Supported
Systems
• PowerVault 110T
LTO (table top
and internal
standalone)
• PowerVault 122T
• PowerVault 136T
• PowerVault 114T
PowerVault 110T
LTO-1 (table top and
internal standalone)
PowerVault 132T
Table 1. LTO-1 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
PowerVault 110T LTO PowerVault 110T LTO-1 PowerVault 110T LTO-1

LTO Media Handbook 7
PowerVault LTO-2 Tape Drives
Table 2. LTO-2 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
PowerVault 110T LTO2 PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Certance)
PowerVault 110T
LTO-2-L (Tandberg)
Capacity (Native/
Compressed)
200 GB/400 GB 200 GB/400 GB 200 GB/400 GB
Native Speed 35 MB/s 24 MB/s 24 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-2 Ultrium-2 Ultrium-2
Physical Device
Description
• Seven segment
display
• Full height
• Ultrium-2 label
• Ultrium-2 label
• Int drive has full
height expander
•LEDs(Vertical)
–Power
–Activity
–Error
– Status
• Ultrium-2 label
• Half height
•LEDsarranged
horizontally
with symbols
Supported
Systems
• PowerVault 132T
• PowerVault 136T
• PowerVault 122T
• PowerVault 110T
LTO-2 table top
and internal
standalone
• PowerVault 114T
• PowerVault 110T
LTO- 2-L (table top
and internal
standalone)
• PowerVault 114T
• PowerVault 124T
• Supported internally
on select systems
•PowerVault
110T LTO-2-L
internal
standalone
•Supported
internally on
select systems
•Supported
externally on
select systems

8 LTO Media Handbook
PowerVault LTO-3 Tape Drives
Table 3. LTO-3 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
PowerVault 110T LTO 3 PowerVault LTO-3-060 PowerVault LTO-3-080
Capacity (Native
/Compressed)
400 GB/800 GB 400 GB/800 GB 400 GB/800 GB
Native Speed 80 MB/s 60 MB/s 80 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-3 Ultrium-3 Ultrium-3
Physical Device
Description
• Seven segment
display
• Ultrium-3 label
• Full height
•Internal/External
drive
• Half height
•LEDs(Vertical)
–Power
– Activity
–Clean
– Error
•Sevensegment
display
• Internal/External
drive
• Half height
Supported
Systems
For a list of supported tape devices, firmware, and driver versions, see
the Dell PowerVault Compatibility Matrix at dell.com/pvmatrix.

LTO Media Handbook 9
PowerVault LTO-4 and LTO-5 Tape Drives
Table 4. PowerVault LTO-4 and LTO-5 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
PowerVault LTO-4-120
(IBM)
PowerVault LTO-4-120
HH (IBM)
PowerVault LTO-5-140
(IBM)
Capacity
(Native/
Compressed)
800 GB/1600 GB 800 GB/1600 GB 1500 GB/3000 GB
Native Speed 120 MB/s 120 MB/s 140 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-4 Ultrium-4 Ultrium-5
Physical
Device
Description
• Seven segment
display
•Ultrium-4label
• Full height
•Internal/External
drive
• Seven segment
display
• Ultrium-4 label
• Half height
• Internal/External
drive
• Seven segment
display
• Ultrium-5 label
• Half height
• Internal/External
drive
Supported
Systems
For a list of supported tape devices, firmware, and driver versions, see
the Dell PowerVault Compatibility Matrix at dell.com/pvmatrix.

10 LTO Media Handbook
Media Types for PowerVault LTO Tape Drives
Table 5. Supported Media Types Per PowerVault 110 LTO Tape Drive
Ultrium-1
Media
Ultrium-2
Media
Ultrium-3
Media
Ultrium-4
Media
Ultrium-5
Media
LTO-3
WORM
Media
LTO-4
WORM
Media
LTO-5
WORM
Media
Part No. 340-7240 340-8701 341-2645 341-4640 342-1103 341-2655 341-4647 342-1105
PowerVault
110T LTO
P✕✕✕✕✕✕✕
PowerVault
110T LTO-1
P✕✕✕✕✕✕✕
PowerVault
110T LTO-2
BC-RW P ✕✕✕✕✕✕
PowerVault
110T 
LTO-2- L
(Certance)
BC-RW P ✕✕✕✕✕✕
PowerVault
110T 
LTO-2- L
(Tandberg)
BC-RW P ✕✕✕✕✕✕
PowerVault
110T LTO 3
(IBM)
BC-R BC-RW P ✕✕ P✕✕
PowerVault
LTO3-060
(IBM)
BC-R BC-RW P ✕✕ P✕✕
PowerVault
LTO3-080
(IBM)
BC-R BC-RW P ✕✕ P✕✕
PowerVault
LTO4-120
✕BC-R BC-RW P ✕BC-RW P ✕
PowerVault
LTO5-140
✕✕BC-R BC-RW P BC-R BC-RW P
✕- Not Supported
BC-R - Backward Compatible - Read Only
BC-RW - Backward Compatible - Read/Write
P - Primary