IBM TS4300 Libraries

IBM TS4300 tape library models with encryption, path failover, and LTO Ultrium 8 drives deliver increased reliability, security, capacity, and performance

IBM TS4300 tape library models L3A and E3A on machine type 3555 incorporate the new LTO Ultrium 8 FH 8Gb FC, HH 6Gb SAS, and HH 8GB FC tape drives, enhancing tape performance over the previous generation of LTO-7 tape drives with a native data transfer rate of up to 360MB/s on the full-height version.

Mixed LTO Ultrium generations and attachment tape drive types are supported where drive space is available. Ultrium 8 tape drives for the TS4300 tape library are only available as feature numbers.

LTO-8 tape drives support the LTO-8 media specification of double the compressed capacity of up to 30TB with 2.5 to 1 compression (up to 12TB native capacity) compared to previous LTO-7 compressed capacity of up to 15TB with 2.5 to 1 compression (up to 6TB native capacity) per tape cartridge. LTO-8 tape drives can read and write LTO-7 cartridges.

Note: Actual degree of compression achieved is highly sensitive to the characteristics of the data being compressed.

The base module of the TS4300 tape library can accommodate either up to three Ultrium HH tape drives with either SAS or FC attachment, one Ultrium FH with FC attachment, or a combination of one Ultrium FH plus one Ultrium HH tape drive.

It can also hold up to 32 data cartridge slots in two removable magazines, including a standard five-cartridge I/O station.

Note: Capacity decreases to 32 data cartridges (including 4 in the I/O Station) when the base module is the bottom module or the only module due to mechanical limitations.

On its maximum configuration of one base module and six expansions, the TS4300 tape library can accommodate up to 20 Ultrium HH tape drives, 7 Ultrium FH tape drives, or any combination of both based on the drive form factor (space needed for one FH drive equals two HH drives), and data cartridge slots.

The TS4300 incorporates path failover and LME for enhanced availability and security. Ultrium 8 SAS and FC tape drives are encryption capabe. Other optional features available include a rackmount kit, additional attachment cables, additional drives, wrap tools, interposers, and power cords.

Management software options

Spectrum Archive: TS4300 leverages Spectrum Archive for direct, intuitive, and graphical access to data stored in tape drives and libraries by incorporating the IBM LTFS (LTFS) format standard. LTFS compatibility enables tape-stored data to be accessed as if it were on disk or flash storage. Spectrum Archive enables users of LTO-8 tape library systems to inventory cartridges and read, write, and search data on any cartridge, enabling writing of metadata and tagging of individual files for easy and fast access to files stored on cartridges.
Spectrum Protect: It enables users to create, manage, and optimize archives, and provides management of concurrent copies of content, plus active, inactive, and off-site content.
Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM): It enhances data security while reducing the number of encryption keys to be managed. It simplifies encryption key management with an intuitive user interface for configuration and management, and helps minimize the risk of loss or breach of sensitive information.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host software are required to attach and support the TS4300 tape library with IBM LTO-8 tape drives to select IBM Power Systems, IBM System z, Linux, and Windows servers.

Prerequisites for using encryption

Certain hardware and software prerequisites must be met before using encryption with the TS4300 tape library.
With the TS4300 tape library, encryption is managed at the logical library level. All drives that are assigned to a logical library use the same method of encryption. The rules for setting up encryption differ whether you use LME or application-managed encryption (AME).

The following prerequisites apply: