IBM TS4300 LTO Tape Drives Library 3555-L3A 00VJ943
IBM 3580 LTO External Tape Drives
IBM TS2290, TS2280, TS2270, TS2260, TS2250 and TS2240 Standalone LTO Tape Drives
The IBM 3580 LTO external tape drive family includes multiple generations of single-drive, external IBM LTO Ultrium tape drives designed for enterprise backup, archive, disaster recovery, removable storage and long-term data retention. The IBM 3580 LTO tape drive family encompasses every Linear Tape-Open Ultrium generation, and includes the IBM TS2290 3580-H9S, TS2280 3580-H8S, TS2270 3580-H7S, TS2260 3580-H6S, TS2250 3580-H5S, TS2240 3580-H4S and older LTO generation models. IBM 3580 tape drives are single-drive, external LTO tape drives commonly used with IBM i Power Systems, AIX, Linux, Windows and other supported server platforms where organizations require removable tape storage without the additional cost or complexity of a tape autoloader or robotic library.
IBM 3580 LTO Tape Drive Performance Specifications and Maximums by Model
| IBM Product | Machine Type / Model | LTO Generation | Native Capacity | Compressed Capacity | Native Transfer Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBM TS2290 | 3580-H9S | LTO 9 | 18TB | 45TB | 300 MB/s |
| IBM TS2280 | 3580-H8S | LTO 8 | 12TB | 30TB | 300 MB/s |
| IBM TS2270 | 3580-H7S | LTO 7 | 6TB | 15TB | 300 MB/s |
| IBM TS2260 | 3580-H6S | LTO 6 | 2.5TB | 6.25TB | 160 MB/s |
| IBM TS2250 | 3580-H5S | LTO 5 | 1.5TB | 3TB | 140 MB/s |
| IBM TS2240 | 3580-H4S/H4V | LTO 4 | 800GB | 1.6TB | 120 MB/s |
IBM TS2290 3580-H9S LTO 9 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2290 3580-H9S is the newest generation in the IBM 3580 standalone LTO tape drive family. The IBM TS2290 3580-H9S has an IBM half-height LTO 9 Ultrium 9 SAS tape drive that provides substantially greater cartridge capacity than earlier generations while retaining the familiar standalone external-drive format. The IBM TS2290 has a 12 Gbps SAS interface, supports hardware encryption, WORM Media, LTFS and is appropriate for organizations that need high-capacity removable tape storage for large backup sets, long-term retention, IBM Power Systems backup and offline cyber-recovery copies.
IBM TS2280 3580-H8S LTO 8 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2280 3580-H8S is an external half-height LTO 8 SAS tape drive providing 12TB of native cartridge capacity and up to 30TB using the standard LTO 2.5:1 compression assumption. The IBM TS2280 has an LTO 8 Ultrium 8 tape drive with a 6 Gbps SAS interface and supports hardware encryption, WORM Media and LTFS. The IBM TS2280 is particularly useful for IBM Power Systems and IBM i environments requiring standalone LTO 8 backup capability, removable media rotation, BRMS backups or offline disaster recovery storage.
IBM TS2270 3580-H7S LTO 7 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2270 3580-H7S uses an IBM LTO 7 Ultrium 7 half-height SAS tape drive and provides considerable capacity and performance increase over the LTO 6 generation. The IBM TS2270 3580-H7S remains useful in environments with substantial inventories of LTO 7 or LTO 6 media and can provide an economical standalone backup solution where LTO 8 or LTO 9 capacity is not required. The IBM TS2270 tape drive has a 6 Gbps SAS interface and supports hardware encryption, WORM Media and LTFS.
IBM TS2260 3580-H6S LTO 6 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2260 3580-H6S is an LTO Ultrium 6 standalone external SAS tape drive. It provides 2.5TB of native capacity and 6.25TB compressed using the 2.5:1 LTO compression assumption. The TS2260 3580-HS6 remains relevant when existing backup environments contain LTO 6 media or require compatibility with older LTO cartridges that later generations can no longer read.
IBM TS2250 3580-H5S LTO 5 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2250 3580-H5S is an external half-height LTO 5 SAS tape drive providing 1.5TB native cartridge capacity and approximately 140 MB/s native transfer performance. The LTO 5 Ultrium 5 generation was an important because it introduced media partitioning and LTFS support, making compatible tape cartridges usable for both conventional backup and file-oriented archive applications.
IBM TS2240 3580-H4S / H4V LTO 4 Tape Drive
The IBM TS2240 represents the LTO 4 generation of the 3580 standalone tape-drive family. Important models include 3580-H4S and related H4V configurations. LTO 4 introduced hardware encryption into the Ultrium family and remains important for organizations maintaining older tape archives that require LTO 4 or LTO 3 media compatibility.
IBM 3580 LTO Capacity Comparison
| IBM Tape Drive | LTO Generation | Native Capacity | Compressed Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| TS2290 3580-H9S | LTO 9 | 18TB | 45TB |
| TS2280 3580-H8S | LTO 8 | 12TB | 30TB |
| TS2270 3580-H7S | LTO 7 | 6TB | 15TB |
| TS2260 3580-H6S | LTO 6 | 2.5TB | 6.25TB |
| TS2250 3580-H5S | LTO 5 | 1.5TB | 3TB |
| TS2240 3580-H4S | LTO 4 | 800GB | 1.6TB |
IBM 3580 LTO Performance Benchmarks and Maximums Comparison
| IBM Model | LTO Generation | Maximum Native Transfer Rate | Approximate Native Data per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| TS2290 3580-H9S | LTO 9 | 300 MB/s | Approximately 1.08TB/hour |
| TS2280 3580-H8S | LTO 8 | 300 MB/s | Approximately 1.08TB/hour |
| TS2270 3580-H7S | LTO 7 | 300 MB/s | Approximately 1.08TB/hour |
| TS2260 3580-H6S | LTO 6 | 160 MB/s | Approximately 576GB/hour |
| TS2250 3580-H5S | LTO 5 | 140 MB/s | Approximately 504GB/hour |
| TS2240 3580-H4S | LTO 4 | 120 MB/s | Approximately 432GB/hour |
Actual backup and restore performance depends on the server, SAS adapter, source storage, backup application, file sizes, data compression and the ability of the host to keep the tape drive streaming continuously.
LTO Tape Media Compatibility
Media compatibility is one of the most important considerations when replacing an existing IBM 3580 tape drive. A newer drive is not automatically able to read every older LTO generation.
| Drive Generation | Current Generation | Previous Generation | Older Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTO 9 | LTO9 Read / Write | LTO8 Read/Write | Depends |
| LTO 8 | LTO8 Read / Write | LTO7 / M8 Read/Write | LTO6 Not Supported |
| LTO 7 | LTO7 Read / Write | LTO6 Read/Write | LTO5 Read Only |
| LTO 6 | LTO6 Read / Write | LTO5 Read/Write | LTO4 Read Only |
| LTO 5 | LTO5 Read / Write | LTO4 Read/Write | LTO3 Read Only |
| LTO 4 | LTO4 Read / Write | LTO3 Read/Write | LTO2 Read Only |
Hardware Encryption for IBM 3580 LTO Tape Drives
All IBM 3580 LTO Tape Drive models support tape or backup encryption, begining with IBM's LTO 4 and later standalone tape-drive generations. IBM 3580 encryption is hardware-based tape encryption. Backup encryption and decryption is performed within the LTO drive, reducing the need to perform these operations on the host processor. Backup encryption protect data at rest and stored on removable cartridges if the tape cartridges are lost, stolen or transported off site. The exact encryption-management method depends on the operating system, backup application and tape-drive generation.
LTFS and Tape Partitioning
IBM 3580 tape drives begining with the LTO 5 generation later drives supports tape partitioning and the Linear Tape File System (LTFS). LTFS enables compatible tape cartridges to be accessed using a file-oriented structure rather than exclusively through traditional backup software.
LTFS is useful for:
- Long-term data archives
- Media and video storage
- Engineering files
- Scientific datasets
- Digital asset management
- Large-file transport
- Offline archive repositories
WORM Tape Support
IBM 3580 LTO tape drive models begining with the LTO 4 generation support Write Once, Read Many (WORM) media. WORM cartridges are designed to prevent recorded data from being modified or overwritten after it is written. WORM media can be useful for regulatory archives, financial data, long-term records and other retention applications where media immutability is required.
IBM 3580 Tape Drives for IBM i and IBM Power Systems
IBM 3580 external tape drives have been widely used with IBM Power Systems running IBM i, AIX and Linux. Later TS22xx generations attach through supported SAS adapters and provide removable storage for system backup, application backup, archive and disaster recovery. Typical IBM i uses include:
- SAVSYS backups
- GO SAVE backups
- BRMS-managed backup and recovery
- User-library saves
- Integrated File System backups
- Off-site media rotation
- Disaster-recovery copies
- Long-term archive retention
Compatibility should be verified against the specific IBM Power System model, SAS adapter, IBM i or AIX release, drive firmware and backup software before purchasing a replacement or upgrade.
Standalone Tape Drive vs. Tape Library
The IBM 3580 family is designed around a single tape drive and one loaded cartridge. This differs from an automated IBM tape library, which uses robotics to load cartridges automatically.
| Capability | IBM 3580 Standalone Drive | Automated Tape Library |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Count | 1 | One or more |
| Loaded Media | 1 cartridge | Multiple cartridges |
| Media Changes | Manual | Automatic / robotic |
| Complexity | Low | Higher |
| Space Requirement | Low | Generally higher |
| Typical Use | Standalone backup, archive and manual rotation | Automated backup and larger media sets |
Offline Tape and Cyber Resilience
One of the continuing advantages of removable tape storage is the ability to create an offline copy of production data. After a cartridge is removed from the tape drive and stored securely, it is no longer continuously accessible through the production network. This physical separation can help protect backup copies from ransomware, accidental deletion, malicious administrative activity and other events that can affect continuously connected storage. Tape should be used as part of a broader backup and cyber-recovery strategy that includes appropriate retention policies, multiple backup copies, testing and secure off-site storage.
Choosing an IBM 3580 LTO Tape Drive
The correct IBM 3580 generation depends on more than cartridge capacity. Buyers and administrators should consider:
- Existing LTO cartridge generation
- Need to read historical backup tapes
- Required backup capacity
- Required backup window
- Native transfer performance
- SAS host-adapter compatibility
- IBM Power Systems compatibility
- IBM i, AIX, Linux or Windows support
- BRMS and backup-application compatibility
- Hardware encryption requirements
- WORM requirements
- LTFS archive requirements
- Rack-mount or standalone installation
IBM 3580 LTO External Tape Drive FAQ
What is the newest IBM 3580 external LTO tape drive?
The IBM TS2290 3580-H9S is the LTO 9 generation of the IBM 3580 standalone external tape-drive family.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 9?
The IBM TS2290 3580-H9S uses LTO Ultrium 9 technology and provides 18TB native cartridge capacity.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 8?
The IBM TS2280 3580-H8S is the LTO 8 standalone SAS tape drive and provides 12TB native capacity.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 7?
The IBM TS2270 3580-H7S provides LTO 7 tape technology with 6TB native capacity.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 6?
The IBM TS2260 3580-H6S is the LTO 6 standalone SAS tape drive.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 5?
The IBM TS2250 3580-H5S uses LTO 5 technology and provides 1.5TB native cartridge capacity.
Which IBM 3580 model is LTO 4?
The IBM TS2240 family includes 3580-H4S and related LTO 4 external tape-drive models.
What is the difference between IBM 3580 and TS22xx?
3580 is IBM's underlying tape-drive machine-type family. TS2240, TS2250, TS2260, TS2270, TS2280 and TS2290 are the corresponding product names used for the later LTO generations.
Can an IBM LTO 8 drive read LTO 6 tapes?
No. The TS2280 LTO 8 drive supports LTO 8 and LTO 7/M8 media, but it does not support LTO 6 cartridges.
Do IBM 3580 tape drives support hardware encryption?
IBM LTO 4 and later generations provide hardware encryption capabilities. The method used to manage encryption keys depends on the drive, host operating system and backup application.
Do IBM 3580 tape drives support LTFS?
LTO 5 and later generations support tape partitioning and LTFS when used with compatible software.
Can IBM 3580 tape drives be used with IBM i?
Many IBM 3580 generations support IBM i when attached to a supported IBM Power System with the appropriate tape or SAS adapter. Compatibility should be checked for the exact system, IBM i release and tape-drive generation.
Can IBM 3580 drives be used with BRMS?
Supported IBM 3580 tape devices can be used with IBM Backup, Recovery and Media Services (BRMS) when the complete IBM i hardware and software configuration is supported.
Can IBM 3580 tape drives be rack mounted?
Many later IBM 3580 models support optional rack-mount shelves or kits. Some configurations can mount two half-height standalone drives side-by-side in a standard 19-inch rack.
IBM 3580 LTO External Tape Drive Family Summary
The IBM 3580 external LTO tape drive family provides standalone removable storage for enterprise backup, archive and disaster-recovery applications. The later generations include the TS2290 LTO 9, TS2280 LTO 8, TS2270 LTO 7, TS2260 LTO 6, TS2250 LTO 5 and TS2240 LTO 4.
Capacity increased from 800GB native with LTO 4 to 18TB native with LTO 9, while native transfer performance increased from approximately 120 MB/s to as much as 300 MB/s. Later generations also provide hardware encryption, WORM support, LTFS and high-speed SAS attachment. For organizations running IBM Power Systems, IBM i, AIX, Linux or other enterprise platforms, IBM 3580 standalone drives provide a simple method of maintaining removable backup and archive media without deploying an automated tape library.
When choosing an IBM 3580 replacement or upgrade, the most important considerations are existing tape-media compatibility, required capacity, host-interface support and operating-system compatibility. Organizations with historical tape archives should verify that the selected LTO generation can read the cartridges that must remain accessible.
