IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader Supporting LTO9 LTO8 LTO7 LTO6 LTO5 LTO4 LTO3

IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader is a single LTO drive tape library with nine Ultrium tape cartridge slots and autoloader in a rack mountable 1U chassis. The IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader supports one LTO half-high SAS LTO tape drive, and can include any of the following 3572 LTO Half-High SAS Tape Drives:

3572-S9H IBM TS2900 LTO9 Half-High 12 Gb SAS Tape Drive 02XW961
3572-S8H IBM TS2900 LTO8 Half-High 6 Gb SAS Tape Drive 002CE530
3572-S7H IBM TS2900 LTO7 Half-High 6 Gb SAS Tape Drive 00VJ177
3572-S6H IBM TS2900 LTO6 Half-High 6 Gb SAS Tape Drive 35P2579
3572-S5H IBM TS2900 LTO5 Half-High 6 Gb SAS Tape Drive 46X8519
3572-S4H IBM TS2900 LTO4 Half-High 6 Gb SAS Tape Drive 46X8578 45E4831
3572-S3H IBM TS2900 LTO3 Half-High 3 Gb SAS Tape Drive 45E4824

Before purchasing an IBM 3572 LTO Tape Drive for a IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader, be sure to understand the Write and Read compatibility of the IBM LTO Ultrium Tape Meda you will be using. LTO Tape Drive and Ultrium Tape Media Rules are as follows:
LTO9 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 9 and Ultrium 8
LTO8 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 8 and Ultrium 7
LTO7 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 7 and Ultrium 6, Read Only Ultrium 5
LTO6 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 6 and Ultrium 5, Read Only Ultrium 4
LTO5 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 5 and Ultrium 4, Read Only Ultrium 3
LTO4 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 4 and Ultrium 3, Read Only Ultrium 2
LTO3 Tape Drive: Read/Write Ultrium 3 and Ultrium 2, Read Only Ultrium 1

The IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Drive Autoloader has a maximum native data rate of 300 MB/s, regardless of other factors such as the 12 Gb/s SAS interface. The IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Drive Autoloader can serve as a backup device for IBM i OS400, AIX, Windows, Linux, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, Unix and IBM z Mainframe environments with Linux Servers via direct attached and network-attached storage implementations, such as backups and mass storage archives where multi-terabyte capacities are required. Storage and tape management is provided by software such as BRMS, IBM Storage Protect, IBM Storage Archive, and other third-party software offerings.

The IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Drive with Autoloader leverages IBM Storage Archive for direct, intuitive, and graphical access to data stored in IBM tape drives and libraries by incorporating the IBM LTFS format standard. IBM LTFS compatibility allows tape-stored data to be accessed as if it were on disk or flash storage. IBM Storage Archive allows users of LTO Ultrium 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.

The IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader features and capabilities:
Ultrium tape drive encryption support, including application-managed encryption, system-managed encryption, and library-managed encryption. Transparent LTO Encryption is enabled through a license key Encryption Key Manager for supported LTO Ultrium SAS drives.
A single I/O station to help support continuous library operations while importing and exporting media, with little or no disruption to library operation.
Remote management capabilities to enable remote administration of the tape library through a web interface.
One removable magazine that houses nine LTO Ultrium data cartridges to enable quick population of the tape library, as well as ease of storage for media. Additional magazines may be ordered as an option (feature number 8111).
A standard bar code reader that enables operation of the TS2900 in sequential (autoloader) or random (library) access mode with labeled media. Labeled Ultrium 7 media can be ordered at the time of purchase through the following feature codes:
8706 Ultrium 7 Data Cartridge (5-pack)
Or through the 3589 LTO Ultrium media machine type.
Optional rack mount kits, covers, and additional cartridge magazines.
Performance for maximum tape drive throughput and LTO Generation 8 media native data rate performance of up to 300 MBps for IBM Ultrium 8 tape drives.
Mixed media support, including IBM Ultrium 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and Type M media.

Note: IBM LTO Tape Autoloader supports data encryption on LTO4 and later tape drives with T10 encryption methods, including Application Managed Encryption (AME), Library Managed Encryption (LME) and System Managed Encryption (SME). Encryption requires library firmware version 4.0 or later. Application Managed Encryption (AME) does not require a key. Library Managed Encryption (LME) and System Managed Encryption (SME) requires a license key, which is available by purchasing Feature Code 5901. The encryption enabled drive contains the necessary hardware and firmware to encrypt and decrypt host tape application data. Encryption policy and encryption keys are provided by the host application or host server. A drive digital certificate is installed at manufacturing time. Each drive receives a unique serial number and certificate. The T10 application validates each drive instance by checking the drive’s digital certificate. The LTO Ultrium encryption environment is complex and requires knowledge beyond that of product trained Service Support Representatives (SSRs). The Encryption function on tape drives, whether it's a desktop, a stand-alone drive, or within libraries, is configured and managed by the customer.

Physical Specifications
Width: 17.6 in (445 mm)
Chassis: 17.52 in. (445 mm)
Bezel: 19.02 in. (483 mm)
Depth: 33.3 in (847 mm)
Height: 1.7 in (43.6 mm)
Weight: 28.66 lb (13 kg)

Common IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader Features
01AF507 IBM AGKB 3m Mini-SAS HD/Mini-SAS HD 1x Cable
01AF506 IBM AGKD 1.5m Mini-SAS HD / Mini-SAS HD 1x Cable
46C2900 IBM 5507 4 m Mini-SAS HD/Mini-SAS Cable
00VJ139 IBM 5502 2 m Mini-SAS/Mini-SAS 1x Cable
00VJ140 IBM 5402 2 m SAS/Mini-SAS 1x Cable
00VJ141 IBM 5406 5.5 m SAS/Mini-SAS 1x Cable
00VJ138 IBM 5506 5.5 m Mini-SAS/Mini-SAS 1x Cable
7006 IBM 3572 Rack Mount Kit
7010 IBM 3572 Deskside Covers
5901 IBM LTO Library Managed Encryption
46Y0016 IBM Cartridge Magazine

Other IBM LTO Tape Drives and IBM Tape Libraries include:
IBM TS2240 3580-H4S LTO4 Tape Drive
IBM TS2250 3580-H5S LTO5 Tape Drive
IBM TS2260 3580-H6S LTO6 Tape Drive
IBM TS2270 3580-H7S LTO7 Tape Drive
IBM TS2280 3580-H8S LTO8 Tape Drive
IBM TS2290 3580-H9S LTO9 Tape Drive
IBM 7226-1U3 LTO Tape and DAT Storage Enclosure
IBM TS2900 LTO Tape Autoloader 3572-S9H LTO9, 3572-S8H LTO8, 3572-S7H LTO7, 3572-S6H LTO6, 3572-S5H LTO5, 3572-S4H LTO4, 3572-S3H LTO3
IBM TS3100 3573-L2U IBM Tape Library with up to 2 LTO Drives
IBM TS4300 3555-L3A and 3555-E3A Tape Library with up to 3 LTO Tape Drives
IBM TS4500 Tape Library with up to 14 LTO Tape Drives and 882 Cartridges

Note: Actual performance capabilities and limitations are subject to the environment the IBM tape drive is used, and the maximum achieved is always subject to the slowest bottleneck in the chain of an IBM i backup. Stated maximums cannot be achieved in environment where the maximum of other components involved in the backup is slower than the tape drive capabilities, such as the SAS bus, SAS media adapter, SAS cable, host processor, disk data rate, block size, compression, backup software and other variables. If the SAS media adapter is 3 Gb, the maximum transfer rate that can be achieved is 3 Gbps. To achieve faster IBM i backup and restore speeds where there bottleneck variables are not present, consider using an IBM i VTL. An IBM i VTL can achieve up to 10 GB/s and backup up to 36 TB per hour, while also supporting much faster host connection types such as 32 Gb Fiber Channel, 12 Gb SAS, and up to 40 GbE.

All new and refurbished IBM tape library and tape drive purchases include warranty and support. If you are purchasing an IBM Tape Library or Tape Drive for a Server other than an IBM i with OS400 operating system, be sure to inform your representative of the Server and OS type to ensure the IBM Tape Library ships with the correct firmware.

For significantly faster IBM i backup and restore times, consider using an IBM i Virtual Tape Library. If your organization needs a minimize or eliminate downtime for backups, consider IBM i Backup Snapshots.