Ultrium LTO (Linear Tape Open) technology was developed jointly by HP, IBM and Certance (Seagate) now Quantum to provide a clear and viable choice in an increasingly complex array of tape storage options.
Ultrium LTO technology is an "open format" technology, which means that users will have multiple sources of product and media. The "open" nature of LTO technology also provides a means of enabling compatibility between different vendors' offerings.
The Ultrium LTO tape format is the implementation of the LTO (Linear Tape Open) Technology that is optimized for high capacity and performance with exceptional reliability in either a stand-alone or an automated environment. It uses a single reel cartridge to maximize capacity. Ideally suited for backup, restore, and archive applications, the Ultrium tape format will establish a new benchmark for large volume backup and archive. Ultrium products will meet the needs of the enterprise through single-server user on a roadmap, or migration path, that extends well into the next decade. LTO Gen 3 technology enables you to store up to 400 gigabytes of uncompressed data on a single cartridge, or up to 800 gigabytes with 2:1 data compression.
LTO Gen 1 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):100 GB; 200 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 1, LTO Gen 2, LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years
LTO Gen 2 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):200 GB; 400 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 2, LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years
LTO Gen 3 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):400 GB; 800 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years
Ultrium LTO technology is an "open format" technology, which means that users will have multiple sources of product and media. The "open" nature of LTO technology also provides a means of enabling compatibility between different vendors' offerings.
The Ultrium LTO tape format is the implementation of the LTO (Linear Tape Open) Technology that is optimized for high capacity and performance with exceptional reliability in either a stand-alone or an automated environment. It uses a single reel cartridge to maximize capacity. Ideally suited for backup, restore, and archive applications, the Ultrium tape format will establish a new benchmark for large volume backup and archive. Ultrium products will meet the needs of the enterprise through single-server user on a roadmap, or migration path, that extends well into the next decade. LTO Gen 3 technology enables you to store up to 400 gigabytes of uncompressed data on a single cartridge, or up to 800 gigabytes with 2:1 data compression.
LTO Gen 1 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):100 GB; 200 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 1, LTO Gen 2, LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years
LTO Gen 2 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):200 GB; 400 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 2, LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years
LTO Gen 3 tape cartridge
Capacity, native (uncompressed):400 GB; 800 GB (with 2:1 compression)
Supported tape drives:LTO Gen 3
Archival life:15–30 years