Maxell LTO Ultrium 4 800GB, LTO-Ultrium 4, LTO-1, LTO-2, LTO-3 User Manual

Maxell LTO-Ultrium White Paper

What is LTO?

LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Technology is a linear, multi-channel, bi-directional (serpentine) half­inch tape format whose specification is the result of a joint effort by Hewlett Packard, IBM, and
Seagate Technology. It is an “open” tape format, which means its specification is readily
available to all potential manufacturers. The Ultrium format is the high-capacity, single-reel
version of LTO technology, ideally suited for backup, restore, and archival applications. The
capacities and data transfer rates for each generation are listed below in Table 1. Each
generation LTO cartridge is quickly and easily identified by the color of its cartridge, allowing
effortless differentiation between LTO 1 (black), LTO 2 (purple), LTO 3 (gray-blue), LTO 4
(teal), and LTO Universal Cleaning cartridges (gray).

LTO ULTRIUM SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL LTO-1 LTO-2 LTO-3 LTO-4 LTO-UCL

Maxell Item # 183800 183850 183900 183906 183804

Native 100 GB

Capacity

Compressed

Transfer
Rate

Cartridge Color

* Actual number of cleaning cycles achieved is completely drive dependent

Native
Compressed

200 GB 400 GB 800 GB 1.6 TB N/A

10-20 Mbps 20-40 Mbps 40-80 Mbps
20-40 Mbps 40-80 Mbps 80-160 Mbps

Black Purple Gray-Blue Teal Gray

200 GB 400 GB 800 GB

Up to120 Mbps

Up to 240 Mbps

15-20

Cleanings*

N/A
N/A

- Table 1 -

Compatibility

Since LTO technology is an “open” technology, there are multiple manufacturers of both
hardware and media. As with any tape technology, compatibility is achieved by adhering to the
specifications set forth for that technology. A licensing and certification process has been
established, independent of the three sponsors of the technology, for current and potential

MAXELL CORPORATION OF AMERICA | 22-08 ROUTE 208, FAIR LAWN, NJ 07410 | 800.533.2836 | www.maxell.com

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manufacturers of LTO products. Suppliers licensed for both LTO tape cartridges and LTO tape
drives must submit samples for annual third party compliance testing. Those products that meet
the verification requirements are entitled to display the trademarked LTO-Ultrium logo.
Consequently, any tape bearing the LTO-Ultrium logo is assured to be compatible with any
drive bearing the same logo, regardless of manufacturer.

Features of LTO-Ultrium media

While the LTO-Ultrium cartridge is slightly smaller than most half-inch single-reel tape
cartridges, its most significant feature is the incorporation of a semiconductor memory device
built in to the body of the cartridge. The LTO-CM (Cartridge Memory) is a 4KB (LTO 1, 2, and

3) or 8KB (LTO 4) nonvolatile memory chip that uses a non-contacting RF (Radio Frequency)
interface, which allows remote reading of its stored information. Since there is no physical
connection required to access the CM, the cartridge doesn’t have to be loaded in a drive to be
able to retrieve this data. Information that can be stored here includes calibration information,
manufacturer’s data, and initialization parameters. The CM data can be readily retrieved to
allow immediate file location and/or access, or in the support of tape automation in library
applications. The CM can also store user supplied information, such as the age of the tape, how
many loads it has endured, how many temporary errors have accumulated, etc.

It is important to note that the LTO-Ultrium tape contains two pre-written servo tracks that are
recorded on the tape during manufacturing, so degaussing will render the tape unusable.

LTO Ultrium 3 and Ultrium 4 Innovations - Maxell NeoSMART Technology

Maxell's LTO Ultrium 3 and Ultrium 4 cartridges employ one of Maxell's latest innovations,
NeoSMART Technology. NeoSMART (Super Maximum-capacity Advanced Reliability Tape)
integrates seven leading-edge technologies in the manufacturing of ultra high capacity magnetic
tape media, and is designed to support future tape capacities in excess of 1 Terabyte.
NeoSMART technologies consist of:

• Fine Metal Particles • Advanced Dispersion

• Ultra-Thin Coating • Superior Calendering

• Highly Precise Slitting • Precision Servo Track Writing

• High-Performance Cartridges

MAXELL CORPORATION OF AMERICA | 22-08 ROUTE 208, FAIR LAWN, NJ 07410 | 800.533.2836 | www.maxell.com

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