IBM TS4500 Tape Library Supports TS7700 Attachment

IBM TS4500 Tape Library supports TS7700 attachment to deliver mainframe connectivity, HA, capacity on-demand, and an enhanced GUI

IBM TS4500 tape libraries are the next generation in cloud storage solutions, delivering high storage density, HA, and integrated management.

TS4500 tape libraries are designed to deliver mainframe support
provided through TS7700 attachment,
along with the following features and enhancements:

• Increased mount performance and overall system availability with dual robotic accessor
• Ability to grow left or right with less than one hour of downtime
• Integrated service bays to reduce inactive service space by 40%
• No dedicated service bay frames required
• TS7700-ready
• Flexible growth options with new x track design (now called flex track)
• Simplified ordering for dual accessor
• Standard on all new TS4500 tape libraries at latest release availability
• Field upgrade supported for pre-R3 libraries
• Support for external TSSC or IMC
• Management GUI improvements

Prerequisites for using encryption
Certain hardware and software prerequisites must be met before using encryption with TS4500 tape libraries.

Encryption is managed at the logical library level in TS4500 tape libraries. All encryption-enabled drives that are assigned to a logical library use the same method of encryption. The rules for setting up encryption differ based on whether the library is installed with 3592 or LTO tape drives, and whether you use library-managed encryption (LME) or application-managed encryption (AME).

If the library contains 3592 tape drives, following prerequisites apply:

• IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (formerly Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager) must be attached to the TS4500 and configured for LME
• Tape drives must be enabled for encryption from the Logical Libraries page of the TS4500 management GUI

If library contains LTO tape drives, following prerequisites apply:

• Tape drives must be enabled for encryption from the Logical Libraries page of the TS4500 management GUI
• Feature code 1604, Transparent LTO Encryption, is required for LTO tape drives if using LME
• IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is required as the key manager when using LME with LTO

Planned availability date:

• June 3, 2016: All countries except Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, and Taiwan.
• July 15, 2016: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, and Taiwan.