IBM System Storage TS2900 LTO-5 Autoloader

IBM System Storage TS2900 Tape Autoloader Express (SEO/Part number 3572S5R) offers a compact tape unit at a cost effective price in open system environments. The TS2900 is part of the IBM System Storage tape library family of offerings.

The TS2900 Tape Autoloader, with a capacity of nine cartridges employing IBM patented high density (HD) slot technology, is a rack-mountable or deskside unit that contains either a single, IBM LTO Ultrium 5 Half-high SAS Tape Drive (Model S5H), IBM LTO Ultrium 4 Half-high SAS Tape Drive (Model S4H), or an IBM LTO Ultrium 3 Half-high SAS Tape Drive (Model S3H) in a 1U form factor height.

The TS2900 delivers
the following native data transfer rate options:

• Up to 140 MB/sec with the LTO Ultrium 5 Half-high Tape Drive based on the 1.5 TB native physical capacity with the IBM LTO Ultrium 5 tape cartridge
• Up to 120 MB/sec with the LTO Ultrium 4 Half-high Tape Drive based on the 800 GB native physical capacity with the IBM LTO Ultrium 4 tape cartridge
• Up to 60 MB/sec with the LTO Ultrium 3 Half-high Tape Drive based on the 400 GB native physical capacity with the IBM LTO Ultrium 3 tape cartridge

LTO Ultrium 5 Tape Drives can read and write LTO Ultrium 4 data cartridges and can read Ultrium 3 data cartridges. LTO Ultrium 4 Tape Drives can read and write LTO Ultrium 3 data cartridges and can read Ultrium 2 data cartridges. LTO Ultrium 3 Tape Drives can read and write LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges and can read LTO Ultrium 1 cartridges.

The TS2900 comes standard with a bar code reader and a removable magazine to provide nine cartridge slots, including a single I/O station. It has remote management capabilities to allow for remote administration of the TS2900 through a web interface. The TS2900 can be configured to run in sequential (autoloader) or random (library) access mode. Optional features available for the TS2900 include rack-mount kits, deskside covers, and additional cartridge magazines.

IBM Ultrium 4 or 5 SAS tape drives are encryption capable and will support Transparent LTO Encryption to deliver Systems Managed and Library Managed Encryption through a web-based delivery system. Transparent LTO Encryption is enabled through a license key Encryption Key Manager for LTO Ultrium 4 or 5 SAS drives.

Key prerequisites
Appropriate levels of host software are required to attach the TS2900 Tape Library with IBM LTO Ultrium 5, IBM LTO Ultrium 4, or IBM LTO Ultrium 3 Tape Drives to selected IBM System p servers that support AIX and Linux operating systems and to IBM System x servers that support Linux and Microsoft Windows servers to Sun Solaris SPARC servers. Refer to the Software requirements section for details.

Planned availability date

• March 4, 2011