Users Guide

Appendix C. LTO media
This section provides an overview of LTO media, which is recommended for use with this library.
Figure 85 on page 157 shows the LTO data cartridge and its components.
1 LTO cartridge memory 4 Write-protect Switch
2 Cartridge door 5 Label area
3 Leader pin 6 Insertion guide
Figure 85. The LTO data cartridge
Note: The same components are on all the LTO data cartridges.
Data cartridges
Use the LTO data and cleaning tape cartridges that are designed for your model of library.
When tape is processed in the cartridges, LTO Tape Drives use a linear, serpentine recording format. The
native data capacity and recording format of LTO data cartridges is as follows:
Table 45. Cartridge data capacity and recording formats
Type Native Data Capacity Recording Format
LTO8 12 TB (30 TB at 2.5:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 6656
tracks, 32 tracks at a time.
LTO M8 9 TB (22.5 TB at 2.5:1
compression)
Reads and writes data on 3584
tracks, 32 tracks at a time.
LTO7 6 TB (15 TB at 2.5:1 compression) Reads and writes data on 3584
tracks, 32 tracks at a time.
LTO6 2.5 TB (6.25 TB at 2.5:1
compression)
Reads and writes data on 2176
tracks, 16 tracks at a time.
See “Minimum rmware levels for common library features” on page iii for minimum rmware levels for
LTO 8 drives and media.