CPU Inc

Data Storage and Backup Solutions

LTO (Linear Tape-open) drives have been around since the early 90’s. They were first developed as an open standard or “open source” form of other tape formats that existed. These other tape formats were controlled by Quantum and Sony at the time. The companies that saved the day are IBM, HP, and Seagate who ventured on creating a more open form of tape drive that would be affordable and still possess the storage capabilities of other competing formats.

The first LTO was released in 2000 and could hold 100GB of data in one cartridge. The most recent, the LTO-4, was released in 2007 and can hold up to 800GB. Its predecessor, LTO-3, was released in 2005 offering 400GB of native data capacity in addition to its new WORM capabilities.

Throughout the LTO generations, a common theme has presented itself over and over again. That theme can best be described in one word “double.” A popular flavor of chewing gum brought us the tagline, “double your pleasure, double your fun,” but it is the LTO, generations 1 through 4, that offers the greatest statement for businesses looking for affordable high capacity storage solutions. This is because each generation that has unveiled itself has doubled its storage capacity from the previous generation. The most important aspect though, is that, though the storage capacity continues to increase with each subsequent release, the size of the drive remains essentially the same.

If the above descriptions have not sufficiently informed you of the many benefits of using linear tape open drives at least as a supplement to your business’s storage and backup solution, browse through the list below for a more comprehensive understanding of the many features of LTO drives.

Outstanding Speed:

From the first generation HP 215 LTO Ultrium tape drive with a transfer rate of up to 15MB/second to the latest HP 1760 LTO4 that offers a transfer rate of nearly 160MB/second (576GB/hour), linear tape open drives  always provide lightning fast transfer speeds for the best price.  Couple this with a maximum rewind time of only 98 seconds and an average tape seek/filemark search time of only 75 seconds, and you’re left with less time dealing with your data backup and more time to focus on those things that really make your business succeed.

Great Durability:

Most lto tape drives are good for anywhere from 15 to 30 years worth of archival. Obviously this will depend on the number of cartridge loads and unloads as well as the number of file passes you require from your system. On average, linear tape open drives can handle at least 5000 cartridge loads/unloads and approximately 260 full file passes. A file pass refers to the amount of data written to fill a whole tape. These numbers are simply averages and will very depending on the generation of lto drive and the extent of wear and tear placed upon it by the user.

WORM Capability:

The third generation LTO-3 tape drives brought the write once read many (WORM) capability to the table for tape drives in 2005. WORM prevents data that has already been written from being re-written, reformatted, or erased. This is particularly useful for keeping legal records and records involved in IT transformation in the health care industry.

Easy Cleaning:

It is well known that using traditional cleaning cartridges for tape drives can cause damage and limit the lifespan of the drive. LTO limits the potency of this problem with its internal cleaning mechanism that takes care of cleaning tasks based on time and error rate criteria. This helps prevent the drive from using the cleaning tape if it is not needed.

The list goes on and on with ways LTO drives can provide an inexpensive yet quality way of storing data. If you would like to learn more about how an lto system can help your business, please fill out any of our forms with your inquiry. We will respond to your questions and can offer you price quotes on a system that will work best for your company. You can also check out the product details of some of our lto systems on our website at www.cpuinc.com/lto-tape-drives/.

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