IBM TS3310 Tape Library With LTO-5

The TS3310 Tape Library combines IBM tape and automation reliability with scalability at open systems prices.

Features include:

• A space-efficient design with modular, stackable growth expansion options
• Configurations with a base Model L5B Library of up to four Model E9U Expansion Units. Rack doors are required for any library that has more than 14 drives installed
• 8 Gbps Fibre Channel dual-port interface Ultrium 5 tape drives
• LTO specification adherence
• Capacity on Demand expansion units
• Optional features of additional power supply, rack mount installation, and path failover
• Application managed, system managed, and library managed encryption support

The IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library consists of the IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model L5B (3576 Model L5B) and the IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model E9U (3576 Model E9U).

The TS3310 Tape Library now incorporates the new IBM Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium 5 full-high 8 Gbps dual-port Fibre Channel Drives to enhance tape performance over the previous generation IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Tape Drives, with a native data transfer rate of up to 140 MB/sec. Mixed Ultrium generations and attachment tape drive types are supported where drive space is available. IBM new Ultrium 5 Fibre Channel tape drives are encryption capable. IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager V1 (TKLM) is required for encryption key management with LTO Ultrium 5 drives. The TS3310 Tape Library incorporates IBM’s Multi-Path Architecture with logical libraries equal to the number of drives installed. Ultrium 5 Tape Drives for the TS3310 are only available as feature code options.

By using the IBM LTO Ultrium 5 1.5 TB Data Cartridge, the Ultrium 5 Tape Drive has the capability of writing nearly twice as much data, up to 1.5 TB native physical capacity (3.0 TB with 2:1 compression), compared to the Ultrium 4 Tape Drive. IBM Ultrium 5 Tape Drives can read and write LTO Ultrium 4 Data Cartridges and can read Ultrium 3 Data Cartridges.

Additional IBM Ultrium 5 enhancements
that help improve performance and reliability include:

• A larger 512 MB internal buffer
• LTO 5 media partitioning and self describing tape support
• LTO Ultrium 5 encryption support

The TS3310 Tape Library offers:

• Enhanced Model E9U with expansion scalability and flexibility to support a full 41U rack
• IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Fibre Channel dual-port tape drive support and integration
• Support for LTO Ultrium 5 data and WORM tape cartridges
• Support for LTO Ultrium 5 and 4 encryption management methods:
• Application managed, system managed, and library managed
• System managed and library managed encryption is available through the Transparent LTO Encryption feature
• Support for mixed Ultrium 5, Ultrium 4, and Ultrium 3 tape drives and media

The IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library is modular, with physical scalability varying from the 5U Model L5B base library to additional four Model E9U expansion units.

This automated tape library is designed to provide:

• Space-efficient design with modular, stackable growth options, as well as Capacity on Demand growth options
• Path failover, optional for both control paths and data paths
• Capacity on Demand growth options for its expansion modules
• Standalone library (up to 14U) or optional rack mounting in an industry-standard 19-inch rack

The IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model L5B is a 5U base library unit, which contains the library control module, fixed tape cartridge storage of 35 slots, a configurable I/O station of 6 slots, a touchscreen display, cartridge handling robotics, and up to two LTO Ultrium 5, Ultrium 4, or Ultrium 3 Tape Drives.

The IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library Model E9U is an optional 9U expansion module. Each E9U expansion module can accommodate up to four LTO Ultrium 5, Ultrium 4, or Ultrium 3 Tape Drives, additional storage slots, and a configurable I/O station of 12 slots. Up to four of these TS3310 E9U tape expansion modules can be added to the TS3310 Model L5B Tape Library, either at the time of purchase or as a follow-on upgrade. For configurations of 23U and above, the TS3310 Tape Library and expansion modules must be installed in a rack. Rack doors are required for any library that has more than 14 drives installed.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host software are required to attach the TS3310 Tape Library with IBM LTO Ultrium Tape Drives to selected IBM System Servers, HP-UX, Sun, UNIX, Linux, and Microsoft Windows servers.

Planned availability date: June 4, 2010