View source for Linear Tape-Open

{{Short description|Magnetic tape data storage technology}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox media
| name = LTO
| logo = LTO Ultrium logo.svg
| image = LTX400G Sony.jpg
| caption = A 400 GB LTO-3 cartridge by Sony
| type = [[Magnetic tape cartridge]]
| encoding = 
| capacity = Up to 40 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=December 13, 2023 |website=Ultrium LTO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820202759/https://www.lto.org/what-is-lto/ |archive-date=August 20, 2024 |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|open-standard]] 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.<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. The first generation LTO cartridge was released in 2000 and stored {{val|0.1|ul=TB}} of data. With each new generation, the capacity has increased, while maintaining the same physical size cartridge.

Mechanisms (a.k.a. [[tape drive]]s, streamers, transports) 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.

In contrast to other non-tape data storage formats, LTO offers high-capacity removable cartridges with a lower cost per TB and better long term stability.  As an overall system, LTO requires significantly less electrical power per TB and includes built-in technologies useful for data interchange and safe-keeping, like [[Linear Tape File System|LTFS]], [[Write once read many|WORM]], encryption and data compression.

== 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=October 29, 2022 |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=October 29, 2022 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> renamed [[Certance]] in 2003, and subsequently acquired by Quantum in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mearian |first=Lucas |date=October 22, 2004 |title=Quantum buys Certance for $60M |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2567230/quantum-buys-certance-for--60m.html |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=Computerworld |language=en}}</ref>

==== Unrealized variations ====
Initial plans called for two distinct LTO formats: 1) Ultrium - with half-inch tape on a single reel, optimized for high capacity, and 2) Accelis<ref name="Licensing" /> - with 8&nbsp;mm tape on dual reels, optimized for fast access.  Only Ultrium was ever produced, so in common usage, LTO refers to just the Ultrium form factor.

Additionally, the first generation of Ultrium was proposed to be available with 4 different lengths of tape, holding 10&nbsp;GB, 30&nbsp;GB, 50&nbsp;GB, and 100&nbsp;GB per cartridge.<ref name="EMTEC" /> Only full length cartridges were ever produced.

== Generations ==
[[File:Tape-capacities-1998-2025.svg|thumb|Capacities of each LTO generation compared with other tape technologies]]
As of 2025, ten generations of LTO Ultrium technology have been made available<ref>[https://www.ibm.com/products/lto-tape-drive IBM LTO Tape Drive]</ref> and four 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=October 29, 2022 |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.

The LTO Consortium publishes a roadmap of future generations, which states that LTO-14 will have a capacity of "up to" 576 TB.<ref name="roadmap1120" /><ref name="lto910" /><ref name="lto78" />
{{clear}}

=== Key specifications ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: smaller;"
|-
! scope="row" | Format
! width=7.7% |  LTO-1
! width=7.7% | LTO-2
! width=7.7% | LTO-3
! width=7.7% | LTO-4
! width=7.7% | LTO-5
! width=7.7% | LTO-6
! width=7.7% | LTO-7
! width=7.7% | ''Type M'' <ref group="Note">Type M (label id: M8) is an alternate format of an LTO-7 cartridge, not an independent generation. See: [[#Compatibility|Compatibility]]</ref>
! width=7.7% | LTO-8
! width=7.7% | LTO-9
! width=15.4% colspan="2"| 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
| Jan. 2026<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-29 |title=Fujifilm to begin shipping LTO Ultrium 10 40TB tape cartridges in January 2026 |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/fujifilm-to-begin-shipping-lto-ultrium-10-40tb-tape-cartridges-in-january-2026 |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! align="left" |[[Native capacity]] <small>(uncompressed)</small><ref group="Note">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>).</ref>
| 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 
| 40&nbsp;TB
|-
! align="left" | Advertised capacity <small>(compressed)</small><ref group="Note">On packaging and in marketing materials, capacities are often stated assuming that data will be [[#Compression|compressed]] at a fixed ratio, commonly 2:1 or 2.5:1.</ref>
| 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 
| 100&nbsp;TB
|-
! align="left" | Max speed MB/s <small>(uncompressed)</small><ref group="Note">This is the maximum data transfer rate between the drive and the tape. See: [[#Data transfer rates|Data transfer rates]]</ref>
| 20
| 40
| 80
| 120
| 140
| 160
| colspan="2" | 300<ref name="reglto7a" />
| 360
|colspan="3" | 400
|-
! align="left" | [[data compression|Compression]] capable?
| colspan="5" {{Yes}} (2:1)
| colspan="7" {{Yes}} (2.5:1)
|-
! align="left" | [[Write Once Read Many|WORM]] capable?
| colspan="2" {{No}}
| colspan="5"  {{Yes}}
| {{No}} <ref>[https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts4500-tape-library?topic=media-lto-type-m-cartridge-m8 LTO Type M cartridge (M8)]</ref>
| colspan="4" {{Yes}}
|-
! align="left" | [[Encryption]] capable?
| colspan="3" {{No}}
| colspan="9" {{Yes}}
|-
! align="left" | [[Linear Tape File System|LTFS]] capable?
| colspan="4" {{No}}
| colspan="8" {{Yes}}
|-
! align="left" | Max. number of partitions
| colspan="4" | 1 (no partitioning)
| 2
| colspan="7" | 4
|-
| colspan="13" | <references group="Note" />
|}

=== Compatibility ===
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-7 Type M, see below). Ultrium drives prior to LTO-10<ref>[https://idm.net.au/article/0015189-lto-10-breaks-mold-new-tape-format-sacrifices-compatibility LTO-10 Breaks the Mold: New Tape Format Sacrifices Compatibility]</ref> have some level of compatibility with older generations of cartridges.

{| class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none; font-size: smaller;"
! colspan=4 rowspan=2 style="border: none; background: none;" | Compatibility
! colspan="10" style="height:28px" | Drives
|-
! LTO-1
! LTO-2
! LTO-3
! LTO-4
! LTO-5
! LTO-6
! LTO-7
! LTO-8
! LTO-9
! LTO-10
|-
! rowspan=11 style="width: 28px" | {{Vertical text|Cartridges}}
! LTO-1
! L1
!
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{partial|R}}
|
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=4 |
| rowspan=6 |
| rowspan=8 |
| rowspan=10 |
|-
!  LTO-2
! L2
!
|
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}} 
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}} 
| align="center" {{partial|R}}
|-
! LTO-3
! L3
! LT
| colspan="2" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{partial|R}}
|-
! LTO-4
! L4
! LU
| colspan="3" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{partial|R}}
|-
! LTO-5
! L5
! LV
| colspan="4" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{partial|R}}
|-
! LTO-6
! L6
! LW
| colspan="5" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|-
! LTO-7
! L7
! LX
| colspan="6" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|-
! LTO-7 Type M
! M8
!
| colspan="7" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|-
! LTO-8
! L8
! LY
| colspan="7" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|-
! LTO-9
! L9
! LZ
| colspan="8" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|-
! LTO-10
! LA
! LH
| colspan="9" |
| align="center" {{yes|'''RW'''}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
|style="border: none; background: none;"|
| Generation
| Regular<br/>ID
| WORM<br/>ID
| colspan=10 | 
{{legend|#9f9|outline=#A2A9B1|text={{spaces|2|em}}'''RW'''{{spaces|2|em}}|Read & Write compatible}}
{{legend|#ffb|outline=#A2A9B1|text={{spaces|2|em}}R{{spaces|2|em}}|Read Only compatible{{spaces|1|em}}}}
|-
|}

The [https://www.lto.org/lto-generation-compatibility/ rules for compatibility between generations] of drives and cartridges are as follows:

* Drives of every generation can read and write cartridges of the same generation.
* Drives from generations 2 through 9 can also read and write cartridges of the prior generation.
* Drives from generations 3 through 7 can also read (but not write) cartridges of 2 generations prior. 
* Drives from generation 8 can reformat unused cartridges from generation 7 with a special, higher-capacity format (''Type M (M8)''). Once reformatted as Type M, the cartridge is only compatible with drives from generation 8.

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="text-align:center; font-size: smaller;"
|-
! scope="row" | Generations
! width=7.7% | LTO-1
! width=7.7% | LTO-2
! width=7.7% | LTO-3
! width=7.7% | LTO-4
! width=7.7% | LTO-5 <ref name="oracle-lto-5"/>
! width=7.7% | LTO-6 <ref name="oracle-lto6"/>
! width=7.7% | LTO-7
! width=7.7% | LTO-7 Type&nbsp;M (M8) <ref name="auto"/>
! width=7.7% | LTO-8 <ref name="StoreEver"/>
! width=7.7% | LTO-9
! width=15.4% colspan="2"| LTO-10
|-
! align=left| [[Native capacity]]
| 100&nbsp;GB
| 200&nbsp;GB
| 400&nbsp;GB
| 800&nbsp;GB
| 1.5&nbsp;TB 
| 2.5&nbsp;TB 
| 6.0&nbsp;TB 
| 9.0&nbsp;TB
| 12&nbsp;TB 
| 18&nbsp;TB 
| 30&nbsp;TB
| 40&nbsp;TB
|-
! 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
| colspan=2 | 1035&nbsp;m<ref name="lto-media"/>
| 1337&nbsp;m<ref name="ff-lto10-40">https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/news/fujifilm-launches-lto-ultrium-10-data-cartridge</ref>
|-
! Tape width
| colspan="12" | 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" />
|{{dunno}}
| 4.0&nbsp;μm<ref name="ff-lto10-40"/>
|-
! 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="5" | [[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>
|{{dunno}}
|-
! Base material
| colspan="11" | [[Polyethylene naphthalate]] (PEN)
| [[Aramid]]<ref>[https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/tape-keeps-kicking-breakthrough-40tb-native-spec-announced-lto-10-tapes-claim-up-to-100tb-compressed-data-capacity-hold-2-2x-more-data-than-previous-spec Tape keeps kicking, 'breakthrough' 40TB native spec announced — LTO-10 tapes claim up to 100TB compressed data capacity, hold 2.2X more data than previous spec]</ref><ref name="ff-lto10-40"/>
|-
! Data bands per tape
| colspan="12" |4
|-
! 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
| 70
| colspan="2" | 118
|-
! Tracks per wrap, read/write elements
| colspan=2| 8
| colspan=4| 16<ref name="ltfs" /><ref name="ibm_lto6_announce" />
| colspan=6| 32<ref name="lto7lic"/><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" />
| colspan="2" | 15,104<ref name="lto10pr" />
|-
! 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
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|-
! 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
| 20:50
|{{dunno}}
|-
! 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" />
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|-
! End-to-end passes required to fill tape
| 48
| 64
| 44
| 56
| 80
| 136
| 112
| 168
| 208
| 280
| 472
|{{dunno}}
|-
! 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
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|{{dunno}}
|}

=== 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.

=== 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 [[Write once read many|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 later generations,<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 does not 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 ==
{{As of|2025}}, 10 generations of data cartridges and 1 type of universal cleaning cartridge have been produced by 6 manufacturers.  All LTO Ultrium cartridges are the same size and shape.  Humans and robotic libraries can identify the cartridges by barcode labels.  Tape drives can identify cartridges by the internal cartridge memory.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:LTO2-cart-wo-top-shell.jpg|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|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.
</gallery>

=== Manufacturers ===
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.  [[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.  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.  Maxell produced cartridges up to and including generation 6 in 2012, but has since withdrawn from the market.  TDK withdrew from the data tape business in 2014.<ref name="Dissolution"/>

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

=== Cartridge specifications ===
Cartridges of all generations have the same dimensions, {{convert|102.0|x|105.4|x|21.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="fujifilm-cartridge"/>

{{vertical align rows}}
{| class="wikitable vertical-align-top"  style="font-size: smaller; text-align:center;"
|+ LTO Cartridge Specifications
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! colspan=2 |
! width=7.5% | UCC
! width=7.5% | LTO-1
! width=7.5% | LTO-2
! width=7.5% | LTO-3
! width=7.5% | LTO-4
! width=7.5% | LTO-5
! width=7.5% | LTO-6
! width=7.5% | LTO-7
! width=7.5% | Type M
! width=7.5% | LTO-8
! width=7.5% | LTO-9
! width=7.5% | LTO-10
|-
! rowspan=4 width=5% |{{Vertical text|Colors}}
! align=left width=5% | Typical Regular
| {{legend|black|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|black|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|#aa55aa|<br/>Purple <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
| {{legend|#667799|<br/>Blue-gray <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
| {{legend|#556666|<br/>Green (dark) <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
| {{legend|#992233|<br/>Dark red <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
| {{legend|black|<br/>Black <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
| colspan=2 | {{legend|#aa55aa|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|#992233|<br/>Dark red <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet"/>}}
| {{legend|#556666|<br/>Green (dark)<ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>}}
|{{legend|black|<br/>Black}}
|-
! align=left | HP Regular
| {{legend|#ff8833|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|#114488|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|#992233|<br/>Dark red <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>}}
| {{legend|#ffdd22|<br/>Yellow <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>}}
| {{legend|#00ad66|<br/>Green <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>}}
| {{legend|#0088cc|<br/>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>}}
| {{legend|#aa55aa|<br/>Purple <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/><ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>}}
| colspan=2 |{{legend|#444455|<br/>Slate blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>}}
| {{legend|#00ad66|<br/>Green <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>}}
| {{legend|#0088cc|<br/>Light blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>}}
| {{legend|#aa55aa|<br/>Purple}}
|-
! align=left| Typical WORM
| colspan=3 |
| {{legend striped|#667799|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#556666|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#992233|#bbbbbb|up=yes}} 
| {{legend striped|black|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#aa55aa|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
|
| {{legend striped|#992233|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#556666|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|black|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
|-
! align=left | HP WORM
| colspan=3 |
| {{legend striped|#ffdd22|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#00ad66|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#0088cc|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#aa55aa|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#444455|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
|
| {{legend striped|#00ad66|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#0088cc|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
| {{legend striped|#aa55aa|#bbbbbb|up=yes}}
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! rowspan=3 | {{Vertical text|Labels}}
! Regular ID<ref name="ibm-label-spec">[https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/dtl/2.11.3?topic=media-lto-bar-code-labels IBM: LTO bar code labels]</ref>
| *
| L1
| L2
| L3
| L4
| L5
| L6
| L7
| M8
| L8
| L9
| LA
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! WORM ID<ref name="ibm-label-spec"/>
| --
| --
| --
| LT
| LU
| LV
| LW
| LX
| --
| LY
| LZ
| LH
|-
! Notes
| colspan=12 | * Cleaning Cartridges are identified by having "C L N" as the ''first'' 3 characters of the barcode.<ref>[https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/dtl/2.11.3?topic=media-lto-cleaning-cartridge IBM LTO Cleaning Cartridge]</ref> Some also use the ID "CU".<br/> * Diagnostic Cartridges are identified by having "D G ''space''" as the ''first'' 3 characters of the barcode.<ref>[https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts3500-tape-library?topic=media-lto-diagnostic-cartridge LTO diagnostic cartridge]</ref>
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! rowspan=3 style="width:8em"| {{vertical text|Memory}}
! CM Blocks
| colspan=4 align=center| 128 <ref name="fujispecs"/>
| colspan=2 align=center| 255
| colspan=4 align=center| 511 
| colspan=2 align=center| 1023 <ref name="lto10pr">[https://www.lto.org/lto-10/ LTO-10 Press Release]</ref>
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! CM Capacity
| colspan=4 align=center| 4 KiB
| colspan=2 align=center| 8 KiB
| colspan=4 align=center| 16 KiB
| colspan=2 align=center| 32 KiB<ref name="ff-lto10-40"/>
|- style=vertical-align:middle
! CM Block size
| colspan=12 align=center| Each Cartridge Memory (CM) block is 32 Bytes
|}

=== Colors ===
The colors of LTO Ultrium cartridge shells are mostly consistent. HP is the notable exception. Sometimes similar, rather than identical, color names are used by different manufacturers (slate-blue and blue-gray; green, teal, and blue-green; dark red and burgundy).

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]]
{{main|Media Auxiliary Memory}}

Every LTO cartridge has a cartridge memory (CM) chip inside it, which is used to identify tapes, to discriminate between different LTO generations, and to store tape-use information. This memory can be read or written, one 32-byte block at a time, via a non-contacting passive 13.56&nbsp;MHz RF interface.  The non-contact interface has a range of 20&nbsp;mm.<ref name="LTO-CM_13.56_MHz"/>

Every LTO drive has a cartridge memory reader in it. 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.svg|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.  For LTO labels, there are 6 characters plus an ID code. This identifier is called a VOLSER, for Volume Serial.<ref name="ibm-label-spec"/>

=== 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 ===
A Universal Cleaning Cartridge can be used to remove debris from the tape read and write heads in a tape drive.  Although keeping a tape drive clean is important, normal cleaning cartridges are abrasive and frequent use will shorten the drive's lifespan.  Cleaning cartridge lifespan is usually from 15 to 50 cleanings.<ref name="HPE 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. These cleaners are also used by Spectra Logic to clean new media that is marketed as "CarbideClean" media.<ref name="Certified"/>

== Mechanisms ==
[[file:Inside a LTO tape drive.jpg|thumb|upright|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-inch|Full-height]] and Half-height form factors.

[[file:LTODrive HP-448HH.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|HP Half-Height LTO-2 drive in an enclosure for desktop use]]
[[file:LTO2-IBM-drive-top-front-qtr.jpg|thumb|center|An LTO-2 mechanism, from IBM. This [[SCSI]] drive fits in a 5.25 inch, Full-Height [[drive bay]]. ]]

=== Data transfer rates ===
[[File:IO-speed-comparo.svg|thumb|300px|Max I/O speeds of LTO and other technologies]]
Minimum and maximum data transfer rates vary by generation and by drive. Half height drives may not attain the same speeds as full-height drives of the same generation.

If data compression (or decompression) is being performed, the average speed between the drive and the computer would be higher than the speed between tape and the drive.

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" />

=== 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]]

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"/>

=== Libraries ===
[[file:Ibm3584.PNG|thumb|left|upright=.8|IBM 3584 tape library with LTO-1 (Ultrium) tapes visible]]

[[file:ADIC Scalar 100 tape library.jpg|thumb|upright|ADIC Scalar 100 [[tape library]] interior]]
These drives are frequently packaged into external desktop enclosures or carriers that fit into a robotic tape library.

As of 2025, large automated tape libraries are available from IBM,<ref>[https://www.ibm.com/solutions/tape-storage (IBM) Tape storage solutions]</ref> [[Spectra Logic]],<ref>[https://spectralogic.com/products/tape-solutions/ (SpectraLogic) Automated tape libraries]</ref> Oracle [[StorageTek]],<ref>[https://www.oracle.com/storage/tape-storage/ (Oracle) StorageTek tape libraries]</ref> and Quantum (formerly [[Advanced Digital Information Corporation|ADIC]]).<ref>[https://www.quantum.com/en/products/tape-storage/ (Quantum) Scalar Tape Libraries]</ref>  Smaller libraries and autochangers are available from other vendors too, including many rebranded units originally manufactured by BDT.<ref>[https://www.bdt.de/en/products-solutions/storage-automation/ BDT Storage Automation]</ref>  Currently available libraries can hold up to two thousand LTO cartridges in the volume of a typical [[data center]] rack.<ref>[https://www.digitalpreservation.gov/meetings/DSA2025/010401_gadomski_FUJIFILM%20for%20DSA%20031525.pdf FUJIFILM: Tape Technology Update] March 24, 2025, Presented at Designing Storage Architecture Conference at The Library of Congress.  Slide 7</ref>  Total storage per unit can exceed tens of Petabytes with I/O rates exceeding hundreds of Terabytes per day.

== 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
| 2026 = '''''LTO-10''''' - 40 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) in some use cases, and its continuous improvement has prevented the predicted "death of tape".<ref name="dying" />

=== LTO Sales ===
[[File:Lto-media-shipments-2000-2023.png|thumb|left|upright=1.3|LTO media shipments, 2000–2023]]

Since its inception, over 5 Million LTO drives and 500 [[Exabytes|EB]] of media capacity have been sold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lto.org/what-is-lto/ |website=LTO SIG |title=What is LTO tape technology? }}</ref>

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|post=,}} there are only two manufacturers developing media, Sony and Fuji, and only IBM is developing mechanisms.

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. Units shipped annually peaked at about 800,000 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" />

=== Comparison to disk storage ===
{{Main|Magnetic-tape data storage#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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalpreservation.gov/meetings/DSA2025/010404_blyweert-heinle_Building%20a%20100-year%20Archive%20-%20v2.pdf |title=Quantum: Building a 100 year Archive |website=DigitalPreservation.gov |at=Slide 3: "Majority of archival storage is on LTO Tape" }}</ref><ref>[https://www.networkworld.com/article/966544/tape-vs-disk-storage-why-isnt-tape-dead-yet.html  Tape vs. disk storage: Why isn't tape dead yet?], Curtis Preston, Networkworld</ref>

=== Comparison to flash storage ===

[[Solid-state drive|SSD]]s  based on [[flash memory]] have also been declining in cost and seeing increased usage.  A key benefit of SSDs is the fast seek times and data transfer rates, easily besting LTO and disk options.  However, LTO never competed in the primary storage space where SSDs excel.  In the offline archival storage market, SSDs do not yet compete with LTO in terms of long term stability or low cost per unit of data storage.<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/news/theres-one-crucial-way-tape-still-trounces-ssds-and-hard-drives-when-it-comes-to-storage Tech Radar: There's one crucial way tape still trounces SSDs and hard drives when it comes to storage...]</ref>

== See also ==

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

{{Clear}}

== 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 = March 6, 2005 |title=Super tape drive shipments double in | access-date= March 29, 2013}}</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=March 6, 2005 |title=New Freeman Study Projects Major Shifts In Compact Tape&nbsp;— Industry Growth In Units, Revenue Seen | access-date = March 29, 2013}}</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=October 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113034635/http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/news_11_04_97.html |archive-date=November 13, 2006 }}</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=January 23, 2003 |publisher=IBM |access-date=March 29, 2013}}</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=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108131038/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_55898372 |archive-date=January 8, 2016}}</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 = September 11, 2002 | access-date =March 29, 2013}}</ref-->

<ref name="EMTEC">{{cite web | archive-date = May 9, 2005 |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 = May 9, 2005 | url-status = usurped |access-date= March 29, 2013}}</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=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |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=December 27, 2015 |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |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=September 21, 2015 |first= Enrico |last=Signoretti |work=The Register |access-date=September 24, 2015}}</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=September 14, 2015 |access-date=September 15, 2015}}</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=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 10, 2020}}</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=April 25, 2021}}</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=June 11, 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=June 26, 2011 }}</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=October 13, 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=September 11, 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=September 16, 2015 |first=Chris |last=Mellor |work=The Register |access-date=September 22, 2015}}</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=April 15, 2010 |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=April 9, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014143536/http://downloads.quantum.com/lto7hh/6-68132-02_Quantum%20LTO-7%20HH%20SAS%20Users%20Guide.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<!-- unused Refs:
<ref name="Barium Ferrite">{{cite web|title=LTO-8|url=http://www.storagedna.com/lto8/|access-date=March 2, 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=December 26, 2017}}</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="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="lto6-performance">{{cite web |first1=Rogelio |last1=Rivera |first2=Gustavo |last2=Vargas |first3=Marco |last3=Vázquez |date=September 2012 |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=August 11, 2013 |title=IBM System Storage LTO Ultrium 6 Tape Drive - Tape Drive Performance White Paper |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=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |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=January 31, 2016 }}</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=October 3, 2012 |publisher=[[IBM]] |access-date=November 5, 2012 |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=January 8, 2016 |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=December 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213719/https://iq.quantum.com/exLink.asp?10444458OP44N16I37407297 |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |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=April 4, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2016}}</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=July 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108010203/http://support2.imation.com/downloads/imn/LTO/Usage_Life_Imation_Media.pdf |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |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=March 29, 2013}}</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 = October 4, 2011 | access-date = March 29, 2013 | archive-date = April 30, 2009 | 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=April 4, 2010 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306224356/http://www.lto.org/technology/primer3.html |archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</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=July 27, 2011}}.</ref>

<ref name="SLDC">{{citation |url=http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/ecma-321.htm |publisher = ECMA | title = Standard | id = 321 | access-date = September 23, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060924074349/http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-321.htm | archive-date = September 24, 2006 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<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 = September 23, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061008152806/http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-321.pdf | archive-date = October 8, 2006 | 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=March 13, 2006}}.</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=June 6, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313023149/http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/stor-sys/matrix/PVMatrix/lto3_400.jpg |archive-date=March 13, 2012}}</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=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213118/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=March 29, 2013 |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=November 12, 2013}}</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=November 20, 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=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113034424/http://www.ultrium.com/newsite/html/licensing_certified.html |archive-date=November 13, 2006 }}</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 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |archive-date=May 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504230458/http://lto.org/pdf/980803.pdf |url-status=dead }}</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 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |archive-date=May 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502015349/http://lto.org/pdf/981021.pdf |url-status=dead }}</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 = March 29, 2013 |archive-date = May 11, 2013 |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=December 27, 2015}}</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=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |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= June 15, 2010 | access-date= March 29, 2013}}</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=November 15, 2007 |access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="Maxell-LTO">{{cite web|url=http://www.maxell-usa.com/index.aspx?id=2;108;628;0 |title=Maxell LTO Cartridge Memory Analyzer |publisher=Maxell |place=US |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305004420/http://www.maxell-usa.com/index.aspx?id=2%3B108%3B628%3B0 |archive-date=March 5, 2013 }}</ref>

<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=December 21, 2019 }}</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 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231105649/https://qsupport.quantum.com/kb/flare/content/Scalar_i6000/docCenter/Specs_Barcode_Requirements.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="THIC">{{Cite web| title=Erasing LTO Tapes | url=http://www.thic.org/pdf/August07/MEII_8-21-07.Groel.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820033357/http://www.thic.org/pdf/August07/MEII_8-21-07.Groel.pdf | archive-date=August 20, 2008}}</ref>

<ref name="tapealert">{{Citation | url = http://www.tapealert.org/ | title = Tape alert | access-date = March 29, 2014 | archive-date = March 30, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140330022858/http://www.tapealert.org/ | url-status = dead }}</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>

<ref name="Certified">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectralogic.com/products/spectra-logic-certified-tape-media/|title=Certified Tape Media |website=Spectra Logic|language=en-US|access-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

<!--unused refs
<ref name="HP cleaning strategy">{{cite web |url=http://www.sundds-lto.com/uploadLinks/LTO%20cleaning%20white%20paper_rev3.1.pdf |title=HP cleaning strategy |publisher=Sundds LTO |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219133950/http://www.sundds-lto.com/uploadLinks/LTO%20cleaning%20white%20paper_rev3.1.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2012 }}</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>
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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. |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126195939/https://edge.spectralogic.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=home.displayFile&DocID=5088 |url-status=dead }}</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>

}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [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
* [https://ecma-international.org/publications-and-standards/standards/ecma-319/ 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]]