History of LTO Tape Drives

With so many different formats for tape drives, it can be daunting for business owners considering a data backup solution for their small business. When you search online for tape drives, you will see esoteric names like AIT, Mammoth, VXA, Data8, 8mm, DDS, DAT, 4mm, SLR, QIC, Ditto, SAIT, Travan, Magstar, DLT, SDLT, ADR, TX-2, and the list goes on! No wonder why it is so confusing for business owners considering data storage backup solutions.

One popular format adopted by many companies, is the LTO, which stands for Linear Tape-Open. LTO technology utilizes a magnetic tape cartridge that is four inch square cartridge with a thickness of half an inch. There are three corporations that started the LTO Consortium: HP, IBM, and Certance (now Quantum).

In the earlier days of tape storage during the mid 1980s, the DLT format was the de-facto half inch cartridge used in the industry. Then LTO format was released as a replacement to this DLT format. The similarity of size and shape of the new LTO half-inch cartridges made it easy for robotic tape libraries to migrate from DLT to LTO libraries.
LTO Ultrium is frequently used as the name for this open format technology. Each generation increases its native storage capacity. LTO-1 has 100GB, LTO-2 has 200GB, LTO-3 jumps up to 400GB, LTO-4 has 800GB, and LTO-5 has 1500GB.

New features are being added with each generation. The new LTO-4 and LTO-5 have encryption capabilities. So tape cartridges have the data within safely locked from intrusion by using Advanced Encryption Standard, known as AES Encryption Method 256 bit. Beginning with LTO-5, the fifth generation, there is now partitioning. By dividing up the LTFS (Linear Tape File System) into different partitions, this allows faster access times and also improved data management.

According to Christine M. Connery, President/CEO of Worldwide Computer Hardware, tape drives are the most economical data backup solution. Future generations of LTO will keep increasing the storage capacities. One day, just a single cartridge will hold multiple TERABYTES of data.

Please visit www.wwch.biz for more information on tape drives.

Worldwide Computer Hardware - Christine Connery CEO

WWCH.biz buys and sell computer hardware. We specialize in computer storage equipment. Tape, disk and optical. WWCH.biz carries has a warehouse of storage equipment such as Tape Drives, Tape Libraries, and Optical Libraries. We also carry IBM, HP, Dell and Sun Servers including Cisco networking equipment. We stock whole machines and parts from a variety of manufacturers: IBM, STORAGTEK, SUN, HP, PLASMON, QUANTUM, DELL, and Cisco. We also offer repair on all storage and archiving equipment. Call us today to reach one of our smiling representatives. 763-544-9909 ext. 201.

Our techs have over 100 years of combined experience helping customers, just like you, to upgrade their IT equipment.  We provide turnkey solutions for all your hardware needs. Our experienced sales staff is made up of hardware technicians that have worked in the information technology field, so when you call WWCH for your needs, we look at your present configuration to help determine what your immediate needs are, with a eye on your future needs as well, to maximize your investment.  Rest assured that when you call WWCH, you get prompt courteous service and accurate information from people that know the hardware and have the inventory on hand to give you the best prices in the industry!  Want more info?  Call us toll free at 1-866-770-9924 or send us an email to christine@wwch.biz.

Worldwide Computer Hardware is registered in many states to provide products and services to government agencies.  If your agency is in need of bulk computer hardware at discounted prices, then look no further, WWCH is here to help. We are available from 7am-7pm Monday-Friday. 24/7 online. :)
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