View source for Linear Tape-Open

{{Short description|Magnetic tape data storage technology}}
{{Infobox media
| name = LTO
| logo = LTO Ultrium logo.svg
| image = LTX400G Sony.jpg
| caption = A 400 GB LTO-3 cassette by Sony
| type = [[Magnetic tape cartridge]]
| encoding =
| capacity = Up to 18 TB
| standard =
| owner = LTO Consortium ([[Hewlett Packard Enterprise]], [[IBM]], [[Quantum Corporation|Quantum]])
| manufacturer = [[Fujifilm]], [[Sony]] (tapes)<br>[[IBM]] (drives)
| dimensions = 102.0 × 105.4 × 21.5 mm<br>(4.0 in. x 4.1 in. x 0.8 in.)
| use = Archival storage
| released = {{Start date and age|2000}}
}}

'''Linear Tape-Open''' ('''LTO'''), also known as the '''LTO Ultrium''' format,<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is LTO tape technology? |url=https://www.lto.org/what-is-lto/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Ultrium LTO |language=en-US| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820202759/https://www.lto.org/what-is-lto/|archive-date =2024-08-20| url-status=live| publisher= Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, International Business Machines Corporation and Quantum Corporation}}</ref> is a [[magnetic tape data storage]] technology used for [[backup]], data archiving, and data transfer. It was originally developed in the late 1990s as an [[open standard]]s alternative to the proprietary magnetic tape formats available at the time. Upon introduction, LTO rapidly defined the ''super tape'' market segment and has consistently been the best-selling super tape format.<ref name="freemanreports-1" /><ref name="freemanreports-2" /> The latest generation as of 2025, LTO-10, can hold {{val|30|ul=TB}} in one cartridge, or {{val|75|ul=TB}} with industry-standard 2.5:1 compression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IBM LTO Tape Drive |url=https://www.ibm.com/products/lto-tape-drive}}</ref>

Cartridges contain hundreds of meters of half-inch (12.65&nbsp;mm) wide tape media wound onto a single reel. Mechanisms (a.k.a. [[tape drive]]s, streamers) extract the tape from the cartridge and spool it up on a second reel in the mechanism, reading or writing data as the tape moves between reels. Robotic [[Tape library|libraries]] exist that can hold hundreds or thousands of LTO cartridges and dozens of mechanisms.

The original version of LTO Ultrium, called LTO-1, was released in 2000 and stored {{val|100|ul=GB}} of data in a cartridge; throughout newer generations, the capacity has increased while maintaining the same physical size. They feature built-in [[encryption]] for safer storing and transporting of data, and the partition feature enables usage of [[Linear Tape File System|LTFS]], generally having higher capacity, better long-term stability, and lower unit cost than other data storage formats. There are also [[write once read many]] LTO cartridges, useful to protect against accidental or malicious deletion.

== Historical context ==
{{Memory types}}

Half-inch (12.65&nbsp;mm) wide magnetic tape has been used for data storage since the 1950s, starting with the open reel formats [[IBM 7-track]] and later [[9-track tape|IBM 9-track]].

In the mid-1980s, smaller, enclosed, single-reel cartridge formats were developed by [[IBM]] and [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]. Although the physical tape was nominally the same width in these new formats and the preceding open-reel formats, the technologies and intended markets were significantly different and there was no compatibility between them. The [[IBM 3480 family|IBM 3480]] tape format was designed to meet the demanding requirements of its mainframe products. DEC's CompacTape was targeted at a broader market, including minicomputers and smaller systems.
Later on, it was renamed [[Digital Linear Tape]] (DLT) and eventually sold to [[Quantum Corporation]].

In the late 1980s, Exabyte's [[Data8]] format, derived from Sony's dual-reel cartridge 8&nbsp;mm video format, saw some popularity, especially with UNIX systems. Sony followed this success with their own now-discontinued 8&nbsp;mm data format, [[Advanced Intelligent Tape]] (AIT).

By the late 1990s, Quantum's DLT and Sony's AIT were the leading options for high-capacity tape storage for PC servers and UNIX systems. These technologies were tightly controlled by their owners and consequently, there was little to no competition between vendors and the prices were relatively high.

=== Birth of LTO ===
Seeing an opportunity, IBM, HP and [[Seagate Technology|Seagate]] formed the LTO Consortium,<ref>{{Cite web |title=LTO Ultrium: Reliable and Scalable Open Tape Storage Format |url=https://www.lto.org/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Ultrium LTO |language=en-US}}</ref> which introduced a more open format focusing on the same mid-range market segment.<ref name="Ultrium announcement" /> Much of the technology is an extension of the work done by IBM at its Tucson lab during the previous 20 years.<ref name="IBM storage history" />

In 2000, and around the time of the release of LTO-1, Seagate's magnetic tape division was spun off as Seagate Removable Storage Solutions,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seagate Removable Storage Solutions Holdings: No Action, Interpretive and/or Exemptive Letter of March 7, 2003 |url=https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/seagate030703.htm |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> later renamed [[Certance]], which was subsequently acquired by Quantum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mearian |first=Lucas |date=2004-10-22 |title=Quantum buys Certance for $60M |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2567230/quantum-buys-certance-for--60m.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Computerworld |language=en}}</ref>

==== Unrealized variations ====
Initial plans called for two distinct LTO formats:
# Ultrium - with half-inch tape on a single reel, optimized for high capacity, and 
# Accelis<ref name="Licensing" /> - with 8&nbsp;mm tape on dual reels, optimized for fast access.

Despite the initial plans, only Ultrium was ever produced. So, in common usage, LTO refers to just the Ultrium form factor.

Another proposed variation was to have different length tapes. The first generation of Ultrium was going to be available with four types of cartridges, holding 10&nbsp;GB, 30&nbsp;GB, 50&nbsp;GB, and 100&nbsp;GB. However, only the full length 100&nbsp;GB tapes were ever produced.<ref name="EMTEC" />

== Generations ==
As of 2020, nine generations of LTO Ultrium technology have been made available and five more are planned.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=LTO-9 · New LTO Generation 9 Specifications {{!}} LTO Ultrium |url=https://www.lto.org/lto-9/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Ultrium LTO |language=en-US}}</ref> Between generations, there are strict compatibility rules that describe how and which drives and cartridges can be used together.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: smaller;"
|-
! scope="row" | Format
! LTO-1
! LTO-2
! LTO-3
! LTO-4
! LTO-5
! LTO-6
! LTO-7
! ''Type M (M8)''<ref group="Note">Previously unused LTO-7 tape, not an independent generation, part of LTO-8 generation. See: [[#Compatibility|Compatibility]]</ref>
! LTO-8
! LTO-9
! LTO-10
|-
! align="left" | Release date
| 2000<ref name="First million">{{cite press release|url=http://www.lto.org/newsite/download/pdf/11_12_01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040306110949/http://www.lto.org/newsite/download/pdf/11_12_01.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2004 |publisher=LTO |title=Linear Tape-Open Program Ships One Million Ultrium Tapes in First 12 Months of Availability for market |date=November 5, 2001 }}</ref>
| 2003
| 2005
| 2007
| 2010<ref name="LTO-5" />
| Dec. 2012<ref name="Bechtle" />
| Dec. 2015<ref name="LTO-7" /><ref name="reglto7b" /><ref name="lto7lic" /><!--Specs released September 2015; products expected early 2016-->
| colspan="2" | Dec. 2017
| Sep. 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itjungle.com/2021/09/08/lto-9-drives-and-cartridges-finally-get-out-the-door/
|title=LTO-9 Drives and Cartridges Finally Get Out the Door |last=Woodie |first=Alex |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=September 9, 2002}}</ref>
| May 2025
|-
! align="left" |[[Native capacity]] <small>(uncompressed)</small>
| 100&nbsp;GB
| 200&nbsp;GB
| 400&nbsp;GB
| 800&nbsp;GB
| 1.5&nbsp;TB<ref name="ltfs" />
| 2.5&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto6pressrelease" />
| 6.0&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto7lic" /><ref name="ltogenerations" />
| 9 TB
| 12&nbsp;TB<ref name="Ts2280" />
| 18&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto9rel" /><ref name="ltfs" /><ref name="lto910" />
| 30&nbsp;TB
|-
! align="left" | Advertised capacity <small>([[Data compression|compressed]])</small>
| 200&nbsp;GB
| 400&nbsp;GB
| 800&nbsp;GB
| 1.6&nbsp;TB
| 3.0&nbsp;TB
| 6.25&nbsp;TB
| 15&nbsp;TB
| 22.5&nbsp;TB
| 30&nbsp;TB
| 45&nbsp;TB
| 75&nbsp;TB
|-
! align="left" | Max speed MB/s <small>(uncompressed)</small>
<ref name="ltogenerations" /><ref group="Note">This speed is the data transfer between the drive and the tape. If compression or decompression is being performed, the speed between the drive and the computer writing or reading data could be higher.</ref><ref group="Note">Maximum uncompressed speeds valid for full height drives. Half height drives may not attain the same speed. Check manufacturer's specifications.</ref>
| 20
| 40
| 80
| 120
| 140
| 160
| colspan="2" | 300<ref name="reglto7a" />
| 360
| 400
| 400
|-
! align="left" | Time to write a full tape at max speed (hh:mm)
| colspan="3" | 1:23
| 1:51
| 3:10
| 4:20
| 5:33
| 8:20
| 9:16
| 12:30
|-
! align="left" | [[data compression|Compression]] capable?
| colspan="5" | Yes, "2:1"
| colspan="6" | Yes, "2.5:1"
|-
! align="left" | [[Write Once Read Many|WORM]] capable?
| colspan="2" | No
| colspan="5" | Yes
| No
| colspan="3" | Yes
|-
! align="left" | [[Encryption]] capable?
| colspan="3" | No
| colspan="8" | Yes
|-
! align="left" | [[Linear Tape File System|LTFS]] capable?
| colspan="4" | No
| colspan="7" | Yes
|-
! align="left" | Max. number of partitions
| colspan="4" | 1 (no partitioning)
| 2
| colspan="5" | 4
|-
| colspan="12" | <references group="Note" />
|}

[[File:Supertape data storage capacities.svg|thumb|Comparison of "supertape" capacities, including LTO]]

While data capacity and speed figures vary with ''uncompressed or compressed'' data, most manufacturers list compressed capacities and speeds on their marketing material. Capacities are often stated on tapes assuming that data will be compressed at a fixed ratio, commonly 2:1. See [[#Compression|Compression]] below for algorithm descriptions and the table above for LTO's advertised compression ratios.

The units for data capacity and data transfer rates generally follow the "decimal" [[SI prefix]] convention (e.g. mega = 10<sup>6</sup>), not the [[binary prefix|binary interpretation]] of a decimal prefix (e.g. mega = 2<sup>20</sup>).

Minimum and maximum reading and writing speeds are drive-dependent.

Drives usually support variable-speed operation to dynamically match the data rate flow. This nearly eliminates tape backhitching or "shoe-shining", maximizing overall throughput and device/tape life.<ref name="Speed Matching" />

The LTO Consortium provide a roadmap of future generations, which state that LTO-10 is 30 TB of storage and LTO-14 potentially 576 TB.<ref name="roadmap1120" /><ref name="lto910" /><ref name="lto78" />

=== Compatibility ===
[[file:LTO2-IBM-drive-top-front-qtr.jpg|thumb|An LTO-2 mechanism, from IBM. This [[SCSI]] drive fits in a 5.25 inch, Full-Height [[drive bay]]. ]]
[[file:LTODrive HP-448HH.jpg|thumb|HP Half-Height LTO-2 drive in an enclosure for desktop use]]

In contrast to other tape technologies, an Ultrium cartridge is rigidly defined by a particular generation of LTO technology and cannot be used in any other way (with the exception of LTO-M8, see below). While Ultrium drives are also defined by a particular generation, they are required to have some level of compatibility with older generations of cartridges. The rules for compatibility between generations of drives and cartridges are as follows:

* Up to and including LTO-7, an Ultrium drive ''can read'' data from a cartridge in its own generation and the two prior generations. Later generations reduce read compatibility to only the previous generation: LTO-8 drives can read LTO-7 and LTO-8 tape, but not LTO-6 tape;<ref name="generation-8"/><ref name="Barium Ferrite"/><ref name="ibm-compatibility"/> LTO-9 drives can read and write from LTO-8 and LTO-9 tapes, but not LTO-7 ones. {{Citation |title=LTO Generation Compatibility |date=2024-12-20 |url=https://www.lto.org/lto-generation-compatibility/ |publisher=LTO}}
* An Ultrium drive ''can write'' data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the one prior generation ''in the prior generation's format''.
* Some LTO-8 drives may write previously unused LTO-7 tapes with an increased, uncompressed capacity of 9&nbsp;TB (''Type M (M8)'').<ref name="M8"/> Only new, unused LTO-7 cartridges may be initialized as LTO-7 Type M. Once a cartridge is initialized as Type M it may not be changed back to a 6 TB LTO-7 cartridge. LTO-7 Type M cartridges are only initialized to Type M in an LTO-8 drive. LTO-7 drives are not capable of reading LTO-7 Type M cartridges.<ref name="auto"/>
* An Ultrium drive ''cannot make any use'' of a cartridge from a more recent generation. For example, an LTO-2 cartridge can never be used by an LTO-1 drive; and even though it can be used in an LTO-3 drive, it performs as if it were in an LTO-2 drive.

Within the compatibility rules stated above, drives and cartridges from different vendors are expected to be interchangeable. For example, a tape written on any one vendor's drive should be fully readable on any other vendor's drive that is compatible with that generation of LTO.

== Core technology ==
=== Tape specifications ===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: smaller;"
|-
! scope="row" | Generations
! LTO-1
! LTO-2
! LTO-3
! LTO-4
! LTO-5 <ref name="oracle-lto-5"/>
! LTO-6 <ref name="oracle-lto6"/>
! LTO-7
! LTO-7 Type&nbsp;M (M8) <ref name="auto"/>
! LTO-8 <ref name="StoreEver"/>
! LTO-9
|-
! align=left| [[Native capacity]]
| 100&nbsp;GB
| 200&nbsp;GB
| 400&nbsp;GB
| 800&nbsp;GB
| 1.5&nbsp;TB <ref name="ltfs" />
| 2.5&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto6pressrelease"/><ref name="lto10"/>
| 6.0&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto7lic"/><ref name="ltogenerations"/><ref name=lto10 />
| 9.0&nbsp;TB
| 12&nbsp;TB <ref name="ltogenerations" /><ref name=lto10 />
| 18&nbsp;TB<ref name="lto910"/><ref name="lto78"/><ref name=lto10 /><ref name="lto9rel" />
|-
! Tape length
| colspan=2| 609&nbsp;m
| 680&nbsp;m
| 820&nbsp;m
| colspan=2 | 846&nbsp;m<ref name="lto6-performance"/>
| colspan="3" | 960&nbsp;m
| 1035&nbsp;m<ref name="lto-media"/>
|-
! Tape width
| colspan="10" | 12.650&nbsp;mm ± 0.006&nbsp;mm
|-
! Tape thickness
| colspan=2 | 8.9&nbsp;μm
| 8&nbsp;μm
| 6.6&nbsp;μm
| 6.4&nbsp;μm
| 6.4&nbsp;μm<ref name="oracle-lto6" /> or 6.1&nbsp;μm (BaFe)<ref name="Fujifilm LTO-6"/>
| colspan="3" | 5.6&nbsp;μm
| 5.2&nbsp;μm<ref name="FujiLTO9" />
|-
! Magnetic pigment material<ref>{{cite web | url=https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c04937098&docLocale=en_US | title=Document Display &#124; HPE Support Center }}</ref>
| colspan=5| Metal particulate (MP)
| MP or [[barium ferrite|BaFe]]<ref name="Imation"/>
| colspan="4" | [[Barium ferrite|BaFe]]<ref name="HP-BaFe"/><ref name="FujiLTO9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fujifilm.com/lv/en/news/hq/6917|title = Fujifilm Launches LTO Ultrium9 Data Cartridge &#124; Fujifilm &#91;Latvia&#93;}}</ref>
|-
! Base material
| colspan="9" | [[Polyethylene naphthalate]] (PEN)
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! Data bands per tape
| colspan="9" |4
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! Wraps per band
| 12
| 16
| 11
| 14
| 20<ref name="ltfs" />
| 34<!-- 2176 tracks, divided by 16 heads and 4 bands -->
| 28<!-- 3585 tracks, divided by 32 heads and 4 bands -->
| 42
| 52
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! Tracks per wrap, read/write elements
| colspan=2| 8
| colspan=4| 16<ref name="ltfs" /><ref name="ibm_lto6_announce" />
| colspan=2| 32<ref name="lto7lic"/>
| 32 ([[Tunnel magnetoresistance|TMR]])
| 32<ref name="FujiLTO9" />
|-
! Total tracks
| 384
| 512
| 704
| 896
| 1,280
| 2,176<ref name="ibm_lto6_announce"/>
| 3,584
| 5,376
| 6,656
| 8,960<ref name="FujiLTO9" />
|-
! Linear density (bits/mm)
| 4,880
| 7,398
| 9,638
| 13,250
| 15,142 <ref name="quantum-ug"/>
| 15,143<ref name="qlto6-ds"/>
| 19,094<ref name="sonylto7"/>
| 19,104
| 20,668
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! Encoding
| [[Run length limited|RLL 1,7]]
| colspan=3 | [[Run Length Limited|RLL 0,13/11]]; [[partial-response maximum-likelihood|PRML]]
| [[Run Length Limited|RLL 32/33]]; [[partial-response maximum-likelihood|PRML]]
| colspan="4" | [[Run Length Limited|RLL 32/33]]; [[Noise-Predictive Maximum-Likelihood (NPML) Detection|NPML]]<ref name="qlto6-ds" />
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! End-to-end passes required to fill tape
| 48
| 64
| 44
| 56
| 80
| 136
| 112
| 168
| 208
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! Expected tape durability, end-to-end passes
| 9,600<ref name="imation-life"/>
| 16,000<ref name="imation-life"/>
| 16,000<ref name="imation-life"/>
| 11,200<ref name="imation-life"/>
| 16,000 <ref name="imation-life"/>
| colspan="4" | 20,000
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|}

=== Physical structure ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
LTO Ultrium tape is laid out with four wide data bands sandwiched between five narrow servo bands. The tape head assembly, that reads from and writes to the tape, straddles a single data band and the two adjacent servo bands. The tape head has 8, 16, or 32 data read/write head elements and 2 servo read elements. The set of 8, 16, or 32 tracks are read or written in a single, one-way, end-to-end pass that is called a "wrap". The tape head shifts laterally to access the different wraps within each band and also to access the other bands.

Writing to a blank tape starts at band 0, wrap 0, a forward wrap that runs from the beginning of the tape (BOT) to the end of the tape (EOT) and includes a track that runs along one side of the data band. The next wrap written, band 0, wrap 1, is a reverse wrap (EOT to BOT) and includes a track along the other side of the band. Wraps continue in forward and reverse passes, with slight shifts toward the middle of the band on each pass. The tracks written on each pass ''partially overlap'' the tracks written on the previous wrap of the same direction, like [[roof shingle]]s. The back and forth pattern, working from the edges into the middle, conceptually resembles a coiled [[snake|serpent]] and is known as [[Magnetic tape data storage#Linear|linear serpentine]] recording.

When the first data band is filled (they are filled in 3, 1, 0, 2 order across the tape), the head assembly is moved to the second data band and a new set of wraps is written in the same linear serpentine manner. The total number of tracks on the tape is (4 data bands) × (11 to 52 wraps per band) × (8, 16, or 32 tracks per wrap). For example, an LTO-2 tape has 16 wraps per band, and thus requires 64 passes to fill.

=== Logical structure ===

Since LTFS is an open standard, LTFS-formatted tapes are usable by a wide variety of computing systems.

The block structure of the tape is logical so interblock gaps, file marks, tape marks and so forth take only a few bytes each. In LTO-1 and LTO-2, this logical structure has CRC codes and compression added to create blocks of 403,884 bytes. Another chunk of 468 bytes of information (including statistics and information about the drive that wrote the data and when it was written) is then added to create a "dataset". Finally error correction bytes are added to bring the total size of the dataset to 491,520 bytes (480&nbsp;[[kibibyte|KiB]]) before it is written in a specific format across the eight heads. LTO-3 and LTO-4 use a similar format with 1,616,940-byte blocks.<ref name="patent-20090208018"/>

The tape drives use a strong error correction algorithm that makes data recovery possible when lost data is within one track. Also, when data is written to the tape it is verified by reading it back using the read heads that are positioned just "behind" the write heads. This allows the drive to write a second copy of any data that fails the verify without the help of the host system.

=== Positioning times ===

While specifications vary between different drives, a typical LTO-7 drive will take about 15 seconds to load the tape and 20 seconds to unload the tape. These drives have an average rewind time of 60 seconds and an average access time (from beginning of tape) of about 56 seconds.<ref name="ibm_drive_performance_specs"/> Because of serpentine writing methods, rewinding often takes less time than the maximum. If a tape is written to full capacity, there is no rewind time, since the last pass is a reverse pass leaving the head at the beginning of the tape (number of tracks ÷ tracks written per pass is always an even number).

=== Durability ===

LTO tape is designed for 15 to 30 years of archival storage.<ref name="da-11529"/><ref name="sun.com"/> If tapes are archived for longer than 6 months they have to be stored at a temperature between {{convert|16|and|25|C|F}} and between 20 – 50% RH.<ref name="fujifilm-tape-recommendations">{{Cite web|url=https://tapepower.fujifilmrmd.com/Shared/PDF/knowledgebase/LTO_Tech%20&%20C&H_2015.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130062615/https://tapepower.fujifilmrmd.com/Shared/PDF/knowledgebase/LTO_Tech%20%26%20C%26H_2015.pdf|url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2021|title=Fujifilm Tape Care & Handling Recommendations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=IBM media environmental specifications|website = [[IBM]]|url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts3500-tape-library?topic=media-environmental-shipping-specifications-lto-tape-cartridges}}</ref>
Both drives and media should be kept free from airborne dust or other contaminants from packing and storage materials, paper dust, cardboard particles, printer toner dust etc.<ref name="fujifilm-tape-recommendations" />

Depending on the generation of LTO technology, a single LTO tape should be able to sustain approximately 200-364 full file passes.<ref name="imation-life" /> There is a large amount of lifespan variability in actual use. One full file pass is equal to writing enough data to fill an entire tape and takes between 44 and 208 end-to-end passes. Regularly writing only 50% capacity of the tape results in half as many end-to-end tape passes for each scheduled backup, and thereby doubles the tape lifespan. LTO uses an automatic verify-after-write technology to immediately check the data as it is being written,<ref name="primer3"/><ref name="NewsBytes_June_2011"/> but some backup systems explicitly perform a completely separate tape reading operation to verify the tape was written correctly. This separate verify operation doubles the number of end-to-end passes for each scheduled backup, and reduces the tape life by half.

== Optional technology ==

The original release of LTO technology defined an optional data compression feature. Subsequent generations of LTO have introduced new technologies, including WORM, encryption, and partitioning features. These features are built into the drives and/or tapes and can be ignored or enabled. Compression and encryption can also be performed in software prior to the data being sent to the tape drive. However, the partitioning function can only be done in hardware, and the WORM feature requires special WORM tapes.

=== Compression ===
The original LTO specification describes a [[Lossless compression|data compression method]] '''LTO-DC''', also called Streaming Lossless Data Compression (SLDC).<ref name="SLDC"/><ref name="ECMA-321"/> It is very similar to the algorithm ALDC<ref name="ALDC"/> which is a variation of [[Lempel–Ziv–Stac|LZS]]. LTO-1 through LTO-5 are advertised as achieving a "2:1" compression ratio, while LTO-6 and LTO-7,<ref name="lto7lic"/> which apply a modified SLDC algorithm using a larger history buffer, are advertised as having a "2.5:1" ratio. This is inferior to slower algorithms such as [[gzip]], but similar to [[lzop]] and the high speed algorithms built into other tape drives. The actually achievable ratio generally depends on the compressibility of the data, e.g. for precompressed data such as ZIP files, [[JPEG]] images, and [[MPEG]] video or audio the ratio will be close to or equal to 1:1.

=== WORM ===
New for LTO-3 was [[write once read many]] (WORM) capability. This is useful for legal record keeping, and for protection from accidental or intentional erasure, for example from [[ransomware]], or simply human error. Standard LTO cartridges do include a write-protect switch in the bottom-left corner, although it is easily overridden by the user and doesn't provide any protection from accidental deletion by, for example, misidentification of a cartridge. An LTO-3 or later drive will not erase or overwrite data on a WORM cartridge, but will read it. A WORM cartridge is identical to a normal tape cartridge of the same generation with the following exceptions: the cartridge memory identifies it to the drive as WORM, the servo tracks are slightly different to allow verification that data has not been modified, the bottom half of the cartridge shell is gray,<ref name="PVMatrix"/> and it may come with tamper-proof screws.<ref name="LTO 3 WORM"/> WORM-capable drives immediately recognize WORM cartridges and include a unique WORM ID with every dataset written to the tape. There is nothing different about the tape medium in a WORM cartridge.

=== Encryption ===
The LTO-4 specification added a feature to allow LTO-4 drives to encrypt data before it is written to tape.<ref name="LTO-4 encryption"/> All LTO-4 drives must be aware of encrypted tapes, but are not required to support the encryption process. All current LTO manufacturers support encryption natively enabled in the tape drives using Application Managed Encryption (AME). The algorithm used by LTO-4 is [[Advanced Encryption Standard|AES]]-[[Galois/Counter Mode|GCM]], which is an authenticated, symmetric block cipher. The same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data, and the algorithm can detect tampering with the data. Tape drives, tape libraries, and backup software can request and exchange encryption keys using either proprietary protocols, or an open standard like [[OASIS (organization)|OASIS]]'s [[Key Management Interoperability Protocol]].

=== Partitioning ===
The LTO-5 specification introduced the partitioning feature that allows a tape to be divided into two separately writable areas, known as partitions. LTO-6 extends the specification to allow 4 separate partitions. The [[Linear Tape File System]] (LTFS) is a self-describing tape format and file system made possible by the partition feature. File data and filesystem [[metadata]] are stored in separate partitions on the tape. The metadata, which uses a standard [[XML Schema (W3C)|XML schema]], is readable by any LTFS-aware system and can be modified separately from the data it describes. The Linear Tape File System Technical Work Group of the [[Storage Networking Industry Association]] (SNIA) works on the development of the format for LTFS.<ref name="LTFS"/> Without LTFS, data is generally written to tape as a sequence of nameless "files", or data blocks, separated by "filemarks". Each file is typically an archive of data organized using some variation of [[tar (computing)|tar]] format or proprietary container formats developed for and used by backup programs. In contrast, LTFS utilizes an XML-based index file to present the copied files as if organized into directories. This means LTFS-formatted tape media can be used similarly to other removable media ([[USB flash drive]], [[external hard disk drive]], and so on). While LTFS can make a tape appear to behave like a disk, it does not change the fundamentally sequential nature of tape. Files are always appended to the end of the tape. If a file is modified and overwritten or removed from the volume, the associated tape blocks used are not freed up: they are simply marked as unavailable, and the used volume capacity is not recovered. Data is deleted and capacity recovered only if the whole tape is reformatted.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} In spite of these disadvantages, there are several use cases where LTFS-formatted tape is superior to disk and other data storage technologies. While LTO seek times can range from 10 to 100 seconds, the streaming data transfer rate can match or exceed disk data transfer rates. Additionally, LTO cartridges are easily transportable and the latest generation can hold more data than other removable data storage formats. The ability to copy a large file or a large selection of files (up to 1.5&nbsp;TB for LTO-5 or 2.5&nbsp;TB for LTO-6) to an LTFS-formatted tape, allows easy exchange of data to a collaborator or saving of an archival copy.

== Cartridges ==
[[File:LTO2-cart-wo-top-shell.jpg|thumb|LTO-2 cartridge with the top shell removed, showing the internal components. Top right corner: tape access gate. Bottom left corner: write-protect-tab. Bottom right corner: cartridge memory chip]]

[[File:Sony LTO Ultrium 3 Data cartridge LTX400G - details.jpg|thumb|LTO-3 cartridge with the top shell removed, showing the internal components. Top right corner: write-protect-tab. Bottom left corner: cartridge memory chip. Bottom: tape access gate.]]

Throughout the history of the format, there have been six compliance-verified, licensed manufacturers of LTO technology media: [[EMTEC]], [[Imation]], [[Fujifilm]], [[Maxell]], [[TDK Corporation|TDK]], and [[Sony]].<ref name="ultrium-lto-licensees"/> All other brands of media are (or were) manufactured by these companies under contract. Since its bankruptcy in 2003, EMTEC no longer manufactures LTO media products. Imation ended all magnetic tape production in 2011,<ref name="imation-closes-last-tape-plant"/> but continued making cartridges using TDK tape for a while. In 2017 they withdrew from all data storage markets, renaming themselves Glassbridge Enterprises. TDK withdrew from the data tape business in 2014.<ref name="Dissolution"/> Maxell produced cartridges up to and including generation 6 in 2012, but has since withdrawn from the market. [[Verbatim Corporation|Verbatim]]<ref name="emtec-imation-verbatim"/> and [[Quantegy]]<ref name="fujitsu-quantegy"/> both licensed LTO technology, but never manufactured their own compliance-verified media.

{{As of|2019}}, only Fujifilm and Sony continue to manufacture current LTO media.<ref name="sony-and-fujifilm"/>

In addition to the data cartridges, there are also Universal Cleaning Cartridges (UCC), which work with all drives.

=== Dimensions ===

All formats use the same cartridge dimensions, {{convert|102.0|x|105.4|x|21.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="fujifilm-cartridge"/>

=== Colors ===
The colors of LTO Ultrium cartridge shells are mostly consistent, though not formally standardized; HP is the notable exception. Sometimes similar, rather than identical, colors are used by different manufacturers (slate-blue and blue-gray; green, teal, and blue-green; dark red and burgundy).

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: smaller;"
|-
!
! UCC
! LTO-1
! LTO-2
! LTO-3
! LTO-4
! LTO-5
! LTO-6
! LTO-7
! LTO-8
! LTO-9
! LTO-10
|-
! align=left| Typical color
| Black <ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.allbound.com/iq-ab/2020/02/LTO-Ultrium-Datasheet-DS00383A.pdf|title=Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet|website=cdn.allbound.com}}</ref>
| Black <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge">{{Cite web|title=IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge| website=[[IBM]] |url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts4500-tape-library/1.8.0.3?topic=media-lto-data-cartridge}}</ref>
| Purple <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Slate-blue / Blue-gray <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Green / Green-gray / Teal <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Dark red / Burgundy <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Black <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Purple <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quatum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.allbound.com/iq-ab/2020/02/LTO-Ultrium-Datasheet-DS00383A.pdf|title=Quatum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet|website=cdn.allbound.com}}</ref>
| Dark red / Burgundy <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet"/>
| Green <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet"/>
| style="background:lightgrey"|Black
|-
! align=left | HP color
| Orange <ref name="HP C7978A-60010">{{Cite web|url=https://partsurfer.hpe.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=C7978-60010|title=C7978-60010|website=partsurfer.hpe.com}}</ref>
| Blue <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives">{{Cite web|url=http://cdn.cnetcontent.com/8b/94/8b940c1f-e3af-48e3-8694-c81cfd2af2f3.pdf|title=HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives|website=cdn.cnetcontent.com}}</ref>
| Dark red <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Yellow <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Green <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Light blue <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/><ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet">{{Cite web|title=HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet|url=https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/PSN34648USEN?jumpid=in_hpesitesearch}}</ref>
| Purple <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/><ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Slate blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Green <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Light blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
|}

WORM (write once, read many) cartridges are two-tone: the top half of the shell is the normal color of that generation for that manufacturer, and the bottom half of the shell is a light gray.<ref name="HPE LTO-6 ULTRIUM 6.25TB WORM DATA CARTRIDGE (C7976W)">"{{Cite web|title=HPE LTO-6 ULTRIUM 6.25TB WORM DATA CARTRIDGE |url=https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/PSN5378429USEN?jumpid=in_hpesitesearch}}</ref>

=== Memory ===
[[File:LTO-3 cartridge memory chip.jpg|thumb|LTO cartridge memory]]

Every LTO cartridge has a cartridge memory chip inside it. It is made up of 511, 255, or 128 blocks of memory, where each block is 32 bytes for a total of 16&nbsp;KiB for LTO-6 to 8; 8&nbsp;KiB for LTO-4 and 5; and 4&nbsp;KiB on LTO-1 to 3 and cleaning cartridges.<ref name="fujispecs"/> This memory can be read or written, one block at a time, via a non-contacting passive 13.56&nbsp;MHz RF interface. This memory is used to identify tapes, to help drives discriminate between different generations of the technology, and to store tape-use information. Every LTO drive has a cartridge memory reader in it. The non-contact interface has a range of 20&nbsp;mm.<ref name="LTO-CM_13.56_MHz"/> External readers are available, both built into tape libraries and PC based. One such reader, Veritape, connects by USB to a PC and integrates with analytical software to evaluate the quality of tapes.<ref name="veritape"/> This device is also rebranded as the Spectra MLM Reader<ref name="Spectra MLM"/> and the Maxell LTO Cartridge Memory Analyzer.<ref name="Maxell-LTO"/> [[Proxmark3]] and other generic RFID readers are also able to read data.<ref name="proxmark"/>

=== Labels ===
[[File:LTO-6 sample label.png|thumb|An example of an LTO-6 label]]

The LTO cartridge label in [[tape library]] applications commonly uses the bar code symbology of [[Code 39|USS-39]].<ref name="LabelSpecification"/><ref name="Barcode"/> A description and definition is available from the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) specification Uniform Symbol Specification (USS-39) and the ANSI MH10.8M-1993 ANSI Barcode specification.

=== Leader pin ===
[[File:LTO-leader-pin.jpg|thumb|Leader pin on the end of a length of LTO tape]]

The tape inside an LTO cartridge is wound around a single reel. The end of the tape is attached to a perpendicular leader pin that is used by an LTO drive to reliably grasp the end of the tape and mount it in a take-up reel inside the drive. Older single-reel tape technologies, such as [[9-track tape]] and [[Digital Linear Tape|DLT]], used different means to load tape onto a take-up reel. When a cartridge is not in a drive, the pin is held in place at the opening of the cartridge with a small spring. A common reason for a cartridge failing to load into a drive is the misplacement of the leader pin as a result of the cartridge having been dropped. The plastic slot where the pin is normally held is deformed by the drop and the leader pin is no longer in the position that the drive expects it to be.

=== Erasing ===
The magnetic servo tracks on the tape are factory encoded. Using a bulk eraser, degaussing, or otherwise exposing the cartridge to a strong magnetic field, will erase the servo tracks along with the data tracks, rendering the cartridge unusable. Erasing the data tracks without destroying the servo tracks can be done with an LTO drive or with special equipment. The erasing head used in these erasers has four magnetic poles that match the width and the location of the data bands. The gaps between the poles correspond to the servo tracks, which are not erased. Tapes erased by this equipment can be recorded again.<ref name="THIC"/>

=== Cleaning ===
[[File:LTO2-internal-head-cleaning-brush-detail.jpg|thumb|Internal head cleaning brush from an IBM LTO-2 FH drive. Swipes once for every insert and eject]]

Although keeping a tape drive clean is important, normal cleaning cartridges are abrasive and frequent use will shorten the drive's lifespan. LTO drives have an internal tape head cleaning brush that is activated when a cartridge is inserted. When a more thorough cleaning is required the drive signals this on its display and/or via Tape Alert flags.<ref name="tapealert"/> Cleaning cartridge lifespan is usually from 15 to 50 cleanings. There are 2 basic methods of initiating a cleaning of a drive: robot cleaning and software cleaning. In addition to keeping the tape drive clean, it is also important to keep the media clean. Debris on the media can be deposited onto drive components that are in contact with the tape. This debris can result in increased media wear which generates more debris. Removing excessive debris from tape can reduce the number of data errors. Cleaning of the media requires special equipment.<ref name="HPE Cleaning"/> These cleaners are also used by Spectra Logic to clean new media that is marketed as "CarbideClean" media.<ref name="Certified"/> HP LTO Gen.1 drives have a cleaning strategy<ref name="HP cleaning strategy"/> that will prevent the drive from using the cleaning tape if it is not needed. In a change of strategy, HP LTO Gen 2, 3 and 4 drives will always clean when a Universal Cleaning Cartridge is inserted, whether the drive requires cleaning or not.<ref name="HP cleaning strategy" />

== Mechanisms ==
[[file:Inside a LTO tape drive.jpg|thumb|Inside a LTO-2 tape drive]]

{{As of|2019}}, compliance-verified licensed manufacturers of current LTO technology mechanisms are [[IBM]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[Quantum Corporation|Quantum]],<ref name="SL2019"/> although both Hewlett Packard and Quantum have stopped new development of drive mechanisms.<ref name="Outlook 2019"/> The mechanisms, also known as [[tape drive]]s or streamers, are available in [[Drive bay#5.25"|Full-height]] and Half-height form factors.

=== Libraries ===
These drives are frequently packaged into external desktop enclosures or carriers that fit into a robotic tape library.
[[file:Ibm3584.PNG|thumb|left|IBM 3584 tape library with LTO-1 (Ultrium) tapes visible]]
[[file:ADIC Scalar 100 tape library.jpg|thumb|center|upright|ADIC Scalar 100 [[tape library]] interior]]

== Sales and market ==
{{Timeline of release years
| title = Tape technology releases
| subtitle = since 2010,<br />with native storage capacity
| 2010 = '''''LTO-5''''' - 1.5 TB
| 2011a = ''[[IBM 3592|TS1140]]'' - 4 TB
| 2011b = ''[[StorageTek tape formats#T10000|T10000C]]'' - 5 TB
| 2012 = '''''LTO-6''''' - 2.5 TB
| 2013 = ''[[StorageTek tape formats#T10000|T10000D]]'' - 8.5 TB
| 2014 = ''[[IBM 3592|TS1150]]'' - 10 TB
| 2015 = '''''LTO-7''''' - 6 TB
| 2017 = '''''LTO-8''''' - 12 TB
| 2018 = ''[[IBM 3592|TS1160]]'' - 20 TB
| 2021 = '''''LTO-9''''' - 18 TB
| 2023 = ''[[IBM 3592|TS1170]]'' - 50 TB
| 2025 = '''''LTO-10''''' - 30 TB
}}
In the course of its existence, LTO has succeeded in completely displacing all other low-end/mid-range tape technologies such as [[Advanced Intelligent Tape|AIT]], [[Digital Linear Tape|DLT]], [[Digital Data Storage|DAT/DDS]], and [[VXA]]. And after the exit of [[StorageTek tape formats#T10000|Oracle StorageTek T10000]] of the high-end market,<ref name="Oracle Support article 2784043_1">{{Cite web|title="T10000C/D New Firmware For Drive Cleaning (Doc ID 2784043.1)"|website=[[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]|url=https://support.oracle.com/knowledge/Sun%20Microsystems/2784043_1.html}}</ref> only the [[IBM 3592]] series and LTO are still under active development. LTO also competes against [[hard disk drive]]s (HDDs), and its continuous improvement has prevented the predicted "death of tape".<ref name="dying"/>

=== LTO Sales ===
The presence of five certified media manufacturers and four certified mechanism manufacturers for a while produced a competitive market for LTO products. However, {{as of |2019 |lc=y}}, there are only two manufacturers developing media, Sony and Fuji, and only IBM is developing mechanisms.

[[File:Lto-media-shipments-2000-2023.png|thumb|left|LTO media shipments, 2000 - 2023]]
The LTO organization publishes annual media shipments measured in both units and compressed capacity. Media unit shipments peaked in 2008, at about 28 million.<ref name="report-CY17"/>  However, the 152.9 Exabytes of total compressed storage capacity shipped in 2023 is the highest ever reported.<ref>[https://www.lto.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LTOUltrium_AnnualTapeReport.pdf LTO Annual Tape report, covering CY'23]</ref>

Public information on tape drive sales is not readily available. Unit shipment peaked at about 800,000 units in 2008, but have declined since then to about 400,000 units in 2010,<ref name="market strength"/> and to less than 250,000 by the end of 2018<ref name="spectralogic-evaluation"/>

Some reports have shown sales of tape systems have slowed but in terms of EB sold the sales of tape have grown over time. Tape drives tend to last several years in the typical systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lto.org/what-is-lto/ |website=LTO SIG |title=What is LTO tape technology? }}</ref>

=== Comparison to Disk Storage ===

For decades, tape storage has primarily been used only in a few special situations, such as with mainframes or for backup and archiving, so the declining cost of disk made it seem possible that disk would completely take over the remaining uses of tape. In spite of this, the continuing evolution of tape technology, and particularly LTO, has kept tape storage relevant.

Tape and disk storage have some important fundamental differences. Tape generally has lower marginal costs, is more portable, and has better long term stability. These attributes make tape very appealing for large primarily offline data sets.   Disk generally has much lower initial costs, much better access times, and is better suited to normal everyday usage.

Costs get complicated when considering large storage systems. Besides the simple unit cost of the data storage media, there are costs related to the hardware that makes use of and manages the media. Large robotic tape libraries are capable of managing hundreds of petabytes of data. Since most tapes in a library sit passively in their storage slot, the system uses relatively little power per TB stored.   By contrast, disks must be kept powered on, spinning, and attached to some sort of computer system. The cost and capacity of storage arrays and tape libraries varies widely.

As HDD prices have dropped, disk has become cheaper relative to tape drives and cartridges. For decades, the cost of a new LTO tape cartridge plus the tape drive required to make use of it, has been much greater than that of an equivalently sized HDD. However, tape cartridges typically have a substantially lower price per gigabyte than HDDs, so that at very large subsystem capacities, the total price of tape-based subsystems can be lower than HDD based subsystems, particularly when the higher operating costs of HDDs are included in any calculation.<ref name="ProStorage"/>

Tape is also used as ''offline'' copy, which can be protection against ransomware that cipher or delete data (e.g. tape is pulled out of the tape library, blocked from writing after making copy or using WORM technology). In 2019, many businesses used tape for backup and archiving.<ref name="Schwartz"/>

== See also ==

* [[Optical Disc Archive]], an optical-based archival format by Sony
* [[RDX (disk)|RDX]], similar removable disk format for archive purposes

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="freemanreports-1">{{cite web| url = http://www.freemanreports.com/news/032101.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050306020817/http://www.freemanreports.com/news/032101.pdf | archive-date = 2005-03-06 |title=Super tape drive shipments double in | access-date= 2013-03-29}}</ref>
<ref name="freemanreports-2">{{cite web|url=http://www.freemanreports.com/news/040107.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050306020817/http://www.freemanreports.com/news/040107.pdf |archive-date=2005-03-06 |title=New Freeman Study Projects Major Shifts In Compact Tape&nbsp;— Industry Growth In Units, Revenue Seen | access-date = 2013-03-29}}</ref>
<ref name="Ultrium announcement">{{cite press release|url=http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/news_11_04_97.html |title=HP, IBM, And Seagate Agree to Establish Open Format Specifications for Enterprise and Network Storage |publisher=LTO |date=November 4, 1997 |access-date=2007-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113034635/http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/news_11_04_97.html |archive-date=2006-11-13 }}</ref>
<ref name="IBM storage history">{{cite web|url= http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/storage/storage_fifty.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050124032735/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/storage/storage_fifty.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 24, 2005 |title=IBM storage history |date=23 January 2003 |publisher=IBM |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref>
<ref name="Licensing">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_55898372 |title=Advanced Research, Exabyte, Matsushita, Mitsumi Electric and Otari License Linear Tape-Open Technology |access-date=2013-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108131038/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_55898372 |archive-date=2016-01-08}}</ref>

<!--(this citation is not used in content and was thus giving a cite error)
<ref name="accellis">{{cite web|url= http://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/technology/features/article.php/1461291 |title=What Happened to Accellis? |publisher=Enterprise storage forum |date = 2002-09-11 | access-date =2013-03-29}}</ref-->

<ref name="EMTEC">{{cite web | archive-date = 2005-05-09 |title = Cartouches Ultrium | url = http://www.rpsdata.com/english/consommables_informatiques/cartouches_ultrium.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050509195038/http://www.rpsdata.com/english/consommables_informatiques/cartouches_ultrium.html | language = fr |type= EMTEC site offering LTO-1 tape cartridges in multiple sizes |publisher= RPS data |date = 2005-05-09 | url-status = usurped |access-date= 2013-03-29}}</ref>

<ref name="LTO-5">{{cite web |url=http://www.geekzone.co.nz/paulspain/6766 |title=LTO-5 expected in H1 2010 with 1.6&nbsp;TB–3.2&nbsp;TB storage |publisher=Geekzone.co.nz:80 |access-date=2013-03-29 |archive-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928135333/http://www.geekzone.co.nz/paulspain/6766 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Bechtle">from Quantum and Tandberg, Bechtle Direct catalog 09/2012, p. 450</ref>
<ref name="LTO-7">{{Cite web |url=https://shop.bechtle.de/de/product/quantum-lto-7-hh-sas-internes-laufwerk--4038315 |title=Quantum LTO-7 HH SAS internes Laufwerk (TC-L72AN-BR) |access-date=2015-12-27 |archive-date=2016-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108131039/https://shop.bechtle.de/de/product/quantum-lto-7-hh-sas-internes-laufwerk--4038315 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="reglto7b">{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/21/lto7_bigger_tapes_bigger_problems/ |title=LTO-7 has it taped, but when will 'bigger/faster' thinking hit the buffers? |date=2015-09-21 |first= Enrico |last=Signoretti |work=The Register |access-date=2015-09-24}}</ref>

<ref name="lto7lic">{{cite web|title=The LTO Program Announces Upcoming Generation 7 Specifications for Licensing |url=http://www.lto.org/2015/09/the-lto-program-announces-upcoming-generation-7-specifications-for-licensing/ |date=2015-09-14 |access-date=2015-09-15}}</ref>

<ref name="lto9rel">{{cite web|title=THE LTO PROGRAM RELEASES SPECIFICATIONS FOR UPCOMING GENERATION 9|url=https://www.lto.org/2020/09/a_the-lto-program-releases-specifications-for-upcoming-generation-9/|website=lto.org|language=en|date=2020-09-09|access-date=2020-09-10}}</ref>

<!--<ref name="LTO-9">{{cite web|title=LTO-9 delayed til late 2021|url=https://www.backupworks.com/breaking-news-lto-9-delayed-til-at-least-september-2021.aspx|language=en|access-date=2021-04-25}}</ref>-->
<ref name="ltfs">{{cite web |url=http://www.lto.org/technology/what-is-lto-technology/ |title=WHAT IS LTO TECHNOLOGY? |year=2017}}</ref>

<ref name="lto6pressrelease">{{cite web |url=http://www.storagenewsletter.com/news/tapes/licensing-specs-august-2012 |title=Licensing Specs for LTO-6 Available in August, 2012 |date=11 June 2012 |publisher=Micro-Journal / The LTO Program}}</ref>

<ref name="ltogenerations">{{cite web|url=http://www.lto-technology.com/technology/generations.html |title=Ultrium Generations LTO |publisher=Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Quantum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626043041/http://lto-technology.com/technology/generations.html |archive-date=2011-06-26 }}</ref>
<ref name="Ts2280">{{cite web|title=IBM Ts2280 LTO-8|url=https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?htmlfid=TSD03243USEN&amp;|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="lto910">{{citation |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/11/lto_tape_extended_two_generations_to_120tb/ |title=No TKO for LTO: Tape format spawns another 2 generations, sports 120&nbsp;TB bigness |first=Chris |last=Mellor |date=11 Sep 2014 |journal=[[The Register]]}}</ref>

<ref name="roadmap1120">{{cite web|url=https://www.lto.org/roadmap/|title=Roadmap|website=Ultrium LTO}}</ref>

<ref name="reglto7a">{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/16/lto_has_15tb_gen_7_tape_format/ |title=LTO issues mighty seventh-generation 15&nbsp;TB tape format |date=2015-09-16 |first=Chris |last=Mellor |work=The Register |access-date=2015-09-22}}</ref>

<ref name="lto78">{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/15/lto_new_generations/ |title=Two new LTO tape gens announced |first=Chris |last=Mellor |date=2010-04-15 |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref>
<ref name="Speed Matching">{{citation|url=http://downloads.quantum.com/lto7hh/6-68132-02_Quantum%20LTO-7%20HH%20SAS%20Users%20Guide.pdf |title=Quantum LTO-7 HH SAS User's Guide |section=Chapter 2: Introduction Speed Matching |date=December 2015 |access-date=2017-04-09}}</ref>

<ref name="generation-8">{{cite web|title=LTO PROGRAM OUTLINES GENERATION 8 SPECIFICATIONS|url=https://www.lto.org/2017/10/lto-program-outlines-generation-8-specifications-extends-technology-roadmap-12th-generation/|access-date=2 March 2018|quote=To address this technological shift and maintain affordability in times of extreme data growth, the latest LTO generation 8 specifications are intended to be only backwards compatible with LTO generation 7 cartridges.}}</ref>

<ref name="Barium Ferrite">{{cite web|title=LTO-8|url=http://www.storagedna.com/lto8/|access-date=2 March 2018|quote=Is it true LTO-8 cannot read LTO-6? Yes it is true. The two generations of backward compatibility was broken for LTO-8 because LTO-8 drives relies entirely on Barium Ferrite tape media. Since LTO-6 supported both magnetic particle and Barium Ferrite, the compatibility issues has arisen.}}</ref>

<ref name="ibm-compatibility">{{cite web|title=Compatibility among LTO tape drives and cartridges|website=[[IBM]]|url=https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/STCMML8/com.ibm.storage.ts3500.doc/ipg_3584_meudrca.html|quote=LTO8 Drive -> Not compatible with LTO6 cartridges}}</ref>

<ref name="M8">{{cite web|url=https://www.tapeandmedia.com/lto-8-tape-media-tapes.asp |title=LTO Ultrium 8 Tapes |access-date=2017-12-26}}</ref>

<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/V2/getpdf.aspx/A00039948ENW.pdf|title=HPE LTO-7 cartridge initialized as Type M media; A technical overview of the main characteristics of LTO-7 Type M media}}</ref>

<ref name="oracle-lto-5">{{cite web|url=https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E21419_04/en/LTO5_Vol4_E4/LTO5_Vol4_E4.pdf|title=HP LTO Ultrium tape drives technical reference manual; Volume 4: specifications; LTO 5 drives}}</ref>

<ref name="oracle-lto6">{{cite web|url=https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E38452_01/en/LTO6_Vol4_E1/LTO6_Vol4_E1.pdf|title=HP LTO Ultrium 6 Tape Drives Technical Reference Manual; Volume 4: Specifications}}</ref>

<ref name="StoreEver">{{cite web|url=https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-a00041063en_us|title=HPE StoreEver LTO-8 Ultrium Tape Drives; Technical Reference Manual Volume 4; Specifications Guide|date=February 2018}}</ref>

<ref name=lto10>{{cite web|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2014/09/15/tfh091514-story05/|title=LTO Roadmap Extended To Gen 10|date=September 15, 2014|website=IT Jungle}}</ref>

<ref name="lto6-performance">{{citation|url=http://public.dhe.ibm.com/common/ssi/ecm/en/tsw03182usen/TSW03182USEN.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811035334/http://public.dhe.ibm.com/common/ssi/ecm/en/tsw03182usen/TSW03182USEN.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-08-11 |title=IBM® System Storage® LTO Ultrium 6 Tape Drive - Tape Drive Performance White Paper |date=September 2012 |first1=Rogelio |last1=Rivera |first2=Gustavo |last2=Vargas |first3=Marco |last3=Vázquez |publisher=IBM Guadalajara |quote=This new capacity is achieved in the same tape length (846&nbsp;m) as the gen5 media due to a higher density format (gen6 format).}} Note that another IBM announcement disagrees: "This is achieved by increasing the linear density, track density, and the media length." (IBM TS1060 LTO-6 tape drive announcement, p. 3.) Note: the difference on the length from LTO5 and LTO6 media is only 1&nbsp;m.</ref>

<ref name="lto-media">{{cite web|url=https://www.quantum.com/en/products/tape-storage/lto-media/|title = LTO Media}}</ref>

<ref name="Fujifilm LTO-6">{{cite web |url=http://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/5970_LTO6%20SellSheet_03.pdf |title=Fujifilm LTO-6 specifications |access-date=2013-03-29 |archive-date=2013-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511071053/http://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/5970_LTO6%20SellSheet_03.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Imation">{{cite web|url=https://static.spiceworks.com/attachments/post/0012/7822/LTO6_MP_and_BaFe_White_Paper.pdf|title=Imation whitepaper: LTO-6 MP or BaFe?}}</ref>

<ref name="HP-BaFe">{{cite web|url=http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04154430.pdf|title=HP Ultrium Storage Supplies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131070924/http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04154430.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-01-31}}</ref>

<ref name="ibm_lto6_announce">{{citation |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=877&letternum=ENUSZG12-0272 |title=IBM System Storage TS1060 Tape Drive offers an Ultrium 6 Tape Drive for the TS3500 Tape Library |id=IBM Hardware Announcement |date=2012-10-03 |publisher=[[IBM]] |access-date=2012-11-05 |quote=There are 2,176 data tracks in Ultrium 6 versus 1,280 data tracks in Ultrium 5.}}</ref>

<ref name="quantum-ug">{{cite web|url=http://downloads.quantum.com/lto5/6-66786-01_RevA.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108131038/http://downloads.quantum.com/lto5/6-66786-01_RevA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-01-08 |publisher=Quantum |title=LTO-5 Tape Drive User's Guide}}</ref>

<ref name="qlto6-ds">{{cite web |url=https://iq.quantum.com/exLink.asp?10444458OP44N16I37407297 |publisher=Quantum |title=LTO-6/LTO-5 Tape Drive Datasheet |access-date=2012-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213719/https://iq.quantum.com/exLink.asp?10444458OP44N16I37407297 |archive-date=2014-04-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="sonylto7">485 kbit/in{{cite web| url=http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/cat/datastorage/solutions/LTO7-Storage-Media-Spec-Sheet.pdf | title=LTO Ultrium 7 |publisher=Sony |date=2016-04-04 |access-date=2016-04-17}}</ref>

<ref name="imation-life">{{cite web|url=http://support2.imation.com/downloads/imn/LTO/Usage_Life_Imation_Media.pdf |title=Expected Usage Life of Imation Media |publisher=Imation |access-date=2013-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108010203/http://support2.imation.com/downloads/imn/LTO/Usage_Life_Imation_Media.pdf |archive-date=2016-01-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="patent-20090208018">{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090208018 |title=Patent application number 20090208018: Data Transfer Device |publisher=Faqs.org |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref>
<ref name="ibm_drive_performance_specs">[https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts4500-tape-library?topic=performance-lto-specifications IBM Performance Specifications for LTO Tape Drives. Retrieved 2023-11-08]</ref>

<ref name="da-11529">{{citation|publisher=CCI distribution |place=[[United Kingdom|UK]] |url=https://www.hpe.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c04154430.pdf |title=HP Ultrium Media QuickSpecs}}.</ref>

<ref name="sun.com">{{cite web | title = Storage tek tape storage media LTO specs | url = http://www.sun.com/storagetek/tape_storage/tape_media/lto/specs.xml | work = Oracle and Sun | publisher = Sun | date = 2011-10-04 | access-date = 2013-03-29 | archive-date = 2009-04-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090430080735/http://www.sun.com/storagetek/tape_storage/tape_media/lto/specs.xml | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="primer3">{{cite web|url=http://www.lto.org/technology/primer3.html |work=Ultrium&nbsp;– LTO Technology |title=Primer 3 |publisher=LTO |date=2010-04-04 |access-date=2013-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306224356/http://www.lto.org/technology/primer3.html |archive-date=2012-03-06}}</ref>

<ref name="NewsBytes_June_2011">{{citation|publisher=LTO |title=News bytes |date=Jun 2011 |url=http://www.lto.org/News/LTO_NewsBytes/NewsBytes_June_2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727053144/http://www.lto.org/News/LTO_NewsBytes/NewsBytes_June_2011.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-27}}.</ref>

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<ref name="ECMA-321">{{citation | url = http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ecma-st/ECMA-321.pdf | title = Specification of SLDC | publisher = ECMA | id = 321 | access-date = 2006-09-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061008152806/http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-321.pdf | archive-date = 2006-10-08 | url-status = dead}}.</ref>

<ref name="ALDC">{{Citation|url=http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/journal/rd/426/slattery.html |publisher=IBM |title=ALDC documentation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313051612/http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/journal/rd/426/slattery.html |archive-date=2006-03-13}}.</ref>

<ref name="PVMatrix">{{cite web|url=http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/stor-sys/matrix/PVMatrix/lto3_400.jpg |title=Image of Dell LTO-3 WORM cartridge with gray bottom |publisher=Support.dell.com |date=2012-06-06 |access-date=2013-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926174231/http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/stor-sys/matrix/PVMatrix/lto3_400.jpg |archive-date=2012-09-26}}</ref>

<ref name="LTO 3 WORM">{{cite web |url=http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Tape-Libraries-and-Drives/LTO-3-WORM-info/td-p/3758326 |title=HP Forum: LTO 3 WORM info |publisher=H30499.www3.hp.com |access-date=2013-03-29 |archive-date=2012-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330220905/http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Tape-Libraries-and-Drives/LTO-3-WORM-info/td-p/3758326 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="LTO-4 encryption">{{citation|url=http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/getdocument.aspx?docname=4AA1-4878ENW.pdf |title=LTO-4 encryption whitepaper |page=11 |publisher=HP |access-date=2013-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112162319/http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/getdocument.aspx?docname=4AA1-4878ENW.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-12}}</ref>

<ref name="LTFS">{{cite web |url=http://snia.org/ltfs | title=Linear Tape File System (LTFS) |publisher=[[Storage Networking Industry Association|SNIA]] | access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="sony-and-fujifilm">{{cite web |url=https://www.lto.org/2015/11/sony-and-fujifilm-pass-lto-ultrium-generation-7-interchange-testing/ |title=SONY AND FUJIFILM PASS LTO ULTRIUM GENERATION 7 INTERCHANGE TESTING |date=November 18, 2015 |website=www.lto.org |access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="ultrium-lto-licensees">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/licensing_certified.html |title=LTO Compliance-Verified Licencees |publisher=Ultrium |access-date=2013-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113034424/http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/licensing_certified.html |archive-date=2006-11-13 }}</ref>

<ref name="imation-closes-last-tape-plant">{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkcomputing.com/data-centers/imation-close-tape-plant|title=Imation To Close Tape Plant &#124; Network Computing|website=www.networkcomputing.com}}</ref>

<ref name="Dissolution">{{cite press release |url=http://www.global.tdk.com/news_center/press/20130829645.htm |title= Notice Concerning Dissolution of Consolidated Subsidiary Due to Business Withdrawal |publisher=LTO |date=August 29, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="emtec-imation-verbatim">{{cite press release|url=http://lto.org/pdf/980803.pdf |title=Emtec, Imation, and Verbatim License Linear Tape-Open Technology |publisher=LTO |date=August 3, 1998 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="fujitsu-quantegy">{{cite press release|url=http://lto.org/pdf/981021.pdf |title=Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Technology Continues Licensee Momentum with Signing of Fujitsu and Quantegy |publisher=LTO |date=October 21, 1998 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<ref name="fujifilm-cartridge">{{cite web |url = http://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=879836 |title = LTO cartridge specifications |publisher = Fujifilm |place = USA |access-date = 2013-03-29 |archive-date = 2013-05-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130511092812/http://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=879836 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="fujispecs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fujifilm.com/products/storage/lineup/ltoultrium/#specifications |title=LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge |publisher= Fujifilm |access-date=2015-12-27}}</ref>
<ref name="LTO-CM_13.56_MHz">{{cite web |url=http://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/LTO-CM_13.56_MHz.pdf |title=Fujitsu Cartridge Memory documentation |publisher=Fuji film |place=US |access-date=2013-03-29 |archive-date=2013-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511094811/http://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/LTO-CM_13.56_MHz.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="veritape">{{cite web|url=http://www.mptapes.com/veritape/ |title=VeriTape the trusted Cartridge Quality Analyzer |publisher= MP tapes | date= 2010-06-15 | access-date= 2013-03-29}}</ref>
<ref name="Spectra MLM">{{cite web|url= http://www.spectralogic.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.displayContent&catID=1852&src=fly |title= Spectra MLM Reader |publisher = Spectra logic |date=2007-11-15 |access-date=2013-03-29}}</ref>
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<ref name="proxmark">{{cite web|url=http://www.proxmark.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2686 |title=Proxmark3 developers community |publisher=Proxmark |place=US |access-date=2019-12-21 }}</ref>
<ref name="LabelSpecification">{{cite web|title=IBM LTO Ultrium Cartridge LabelSpecification (Revision 6) |date=February 2009 |publisher=IBM |url=https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-lto-ultrium-cartridge-label-specification}}</ref>
<ref name="Barcode">{{cite web|title=Barcode Requirements |publisher=Quantum Corporation |url=https://qsupport.quantum.com/kb/flare/content/Scalar_i6000/docCenter/Specs_Barcode_Requirements.htm}}</ref>
<ref name="THIC">http://www.thic.org/pdf/August07/MEII_8-21-07.Groel.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="tapealert">{{Citation | url = http://www.tapealert.org/ | title = Tape alert}}</ref>
<ref name="HPE Cleaning">{{Cite web|url=https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c01507784&docLocale=en_US|title = Document Display &#124; HPE Support Center}}</ref>
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<ref name="SL2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.lto.org/participants/ |title=PARTICIPANTS |website=LTO.org |publisher=LTO Consortium |access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Outlook 2019">{{cite web |url=https://edge.spectralogic.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=home.displayFile&DocID=5088 |title=Digital Data Storage Outlook 2019 |date=May 22, 2019 |publisher=Spectra Logic |access-date=June 2, 2019 |quote=It was Spectra's opinion that IBM would be the sole manufacturer of enterprise-class tape drives and media in the years to come. In 2017, this projection became true as Oracle announced their intentions to no longer pursue future tape drive development. There remain two tape media suppliers. }}</ref>
<ref name="dying">{{Cite web|url=https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2013/07/18/data-tape-dying-a-slow-death-or-already-dead|title=Data Tape: Dying a Slow Death or Already Dead?|date=July 18, 2013|website=Data Center Knowledge}}</ref>
<ref name="report-CY17">{{cite web | url=https://www.lto.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/LTO_Media-Shipment-Report__CY17.pdf | title=Media Shipment Report |date=March 2018 |publisher=LTO Organization |access-date=June 6, 2019 |page=6}}</ref>
<ref name="market strength">{{cite web | url=http://www.microlandusa.com/microland/marketing/HP%20Tape%20Partner%20Newsletter_July2011.pdf | title=Tape market strength | date=July 2011 | publisher=HP | access-date=June 6, 2019 | archive-date=February 14, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214190551/http://www.microlandusa.com/microland/marketing/HP%20Tape%20Partner%20Newsletter_July2011.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="spectralogic-evaluation">{{cite web |url=https://spectralogic.com/evaluating-different-tape-technologies/ |title=Evaluating Different Tape Technologies for Today's Data Storage Needs |date=January 17, 2019 |publisher=Spectra Logic |access-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607191900/https://spectralogic.com/evaluating-different-tape-technologies/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="ProStorage">{{cite web |url=https://getprostorage.com/blog/disk-vs-tape-vs-cloud/ | title=Disk vs Tape vs Cloud: What Archiving Strategy is Right for Your Business? |date=February 20, 2018 | publisher=ProStorage |access-date=June 6, 2019 }}</ref>
<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite web |url=https://www.itprotoday.com/backup/tape-storage-still-here |title=Tape Storage Is 'Still Here' | last=Schwartz |first=Karen D. |date=February 7, 2019 |publisher=ITPro Today |access-date=July 15, 2021 }}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.lto.org Linear Tape Open Consortium]
* [https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/abstracts/sg245946.html IBM's LTO Redbook]: IBM System Storage Tape Library Guide for Open Systems
* [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-319.htm ECMA-319: Ultrium 1 Format]
* [http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S7000429 IBM LTO Ultrium Cartridge Label Specification, Revision 6]

{{Magnetic tape data formats}}
{{Ecma International Standards}}

[[Category:Computer storage tape media]]
[[Category:Ecma standards]]
[[Category:Magnetic data storage]]
[[Category:Tape-based computer storage]]