Administrator Guide

9 Dell EMC Tape Systems | Document ID | version (optional)
5 Media Compatibility
Each new LTO generation aims to achieve the highest bit density possible utilizing the latest technology.
Higher bit densities allow more data to be stored on the magnetic medium within the same form factor. These
constant improvements to the technology results in a backwards Read/Write compatibility limitation as new
generations are brought to the market. Table 4 demonstrates each generation’s capabilities.
Tape drive and cartridge compatibility