Comparing tape solutions
The system supports various single tape devices, autoloaders, and tape libraries. Compare the various devices for a tape solution.
Note: 
Some of the older tape devices and tape libraries
that are shown are no longer supported on newer server models or newer IBM® i releases.
Some of the older tape devices and tape libraries
that are shown are no longer supported on newer server models or newer IBM® i releases.| Product name | Description | Media | Storage | Data transfer | Drives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single tape devices | |||||
| IBM Magstar® 3570 Tape Subsystem Model C00 | The 3570 Model C00 is a compact, high-capacity storage device. | 1 cartridge type | 7 GB (21 GB compressed) per cartridge | 7 MB per second (MBps) (15 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM 3580 Ultrium External Tape Drive | The 3580 is an external tape device that complies with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) specifications. | 1 cartridge type | Ultrium 1: Up to 100 GB (200 GB compressed) | Ultrium 1: Up to 15 MBps (30 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| Ultrium 2: Up to 200 GB (400 GB compressed) | Ultrium 2: Up to 35 MBps (70 MBps compressed) | ||||
| IBM 3580 Ultrium External Tape Drive | The 3580 is an external tape device that complies with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) specifications. Ultrium 4 (LTO 4) and newer drives support data encryption when they are in a tape library device. | 2 cartridge types 1 data 1 WORM |
Ultrium 3: Up to 400 GB (800 GB compressed) | Ultrium 3: Up to 80 MBps (160 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| Ultrium 4: Up to 800 GB (1600 GB compressed) | Ultrium 4: Up to 120 MBps (240 MBps compressed) | ||||
| Ultrium 5: Up to 1.5 TB (3.0 TB compressed) | Ultrium 5: Up to 140 MBps (280 MBps compressed) | ||||
| Ultrium 6: Up to 2.5 TB (6.25 TB compressed) | Ultrium 6: Up to 160 MBps (400 MBps compressed) | ||||
| Ultrium 7: Up to 6.0 TB (15 TB compressed) | Ultrium 7: Up to 300 MBps (600 MBps compressed) | ||||
| Ultrium 8: Up to 12.0 TB (30 TB compressed) | Ultrium 8: Up to 300 MBps (600 MBps compressed) | ||||
| IBM System Storage® Enterprise Tape Drive 3592 | The 3592 is a tape device that provides both fast access to storage and high-capacity storage. | 4 cartridge types 2 data 2 WORM |
J1A: 300 GB (900 GB compressed) per cartridge | J1A: 40 MBps (100 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM System Storage Enterprise Tape Drive 3592 | The 3592 is a tape device that provides both fast access to storage, high-capacity storage, and data encryption. | 12 cartridge types 7 data 5 WORM |
E05: 700 GB (2.1 TB compressed) | E05: 100 MBps (250 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| E06: 1.0 TB (3.0 TB compressed) | E06: 120 MBps (250 MBbs compressed) | ||||
| E07: 4.0 TB (12.0 TB compressed) | E07: 250 MBps (575 MBbs compressed) | ||||
| E08: 10.0 TB (30.0 TB compressed) | E08: 360 MBps (600 MBbs compressed) | ||||
| IBM 7206 Model VX2 External VXA-2 Tape Drive | The 7206 Model VX2 is a higher capacity, cost-effective alternative to DDS tape technology. | 1 cartridge type | 1 - 80 GB (160 GB compressed) per cartridge | 6 MBps (12 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM 7207 Model 122 4 GB External SLR5 QIC Tape Drive | The 7207 Model 122 is a quarter inch tape device. | 1 cartridge type | 4 GB (8 GB compressed) per cartridge | 1 - 380 KB per second (kbps) (760 kbps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM 7208 Model 342 External 8 mm Tape Drive | The 7208 Model 342 is an external tape device. It is backward compatible with ability to read 7 GB, 5 GB, and 2.3 GB 8 mm tape formats. | 1 cartridge type | 20 GB (40 GB compressed) per cartridge | Up to 3.0 MBps (6 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM 7208 Model 345 External 8 mm Tape Drive | The 7208 Model 345 is an external tape device. It is backward compatible with ability to read 7 GB, 5 GB, and 2.3 GB 8 mm tape formats. | 1 cartridge type | 60 GB (150 GB compressed) per cartridge | Up to 12.0 MBps (20 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| Tape libraries | |||||
| IBM 3490E Model F xx Tape Subsystem | The 3490E F series is a family of high-performance, high reliability streaming tape devices. It can handle from 1 up to 10 tapes. | 1 - 10 cartridges | Up to 800 MB (2.4 GB compressed) per cartridge | Sustained rate of up to 6.8 MBps with a maximum SCSI burst rate of 20 MBps. | 1 to 4 |
| IBM System Storage Enterprise Tape Library 3494 | The 3494 is a modular, flexible storage solution. It is expandable from 1 to 16 library frames and can handle from 1 up to 6240 tapes. | 1 - 6240 cartridges | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 to 76 |
| IBM Magstar 3570 Tape Subsystem | The 3570 models C01, C02, C11, and C12 provide a medium range tape storage solution. | 20 cartridges | 7 GB (21 GB compresses) | 7 MBps (15 MBps compressed) | C01 and C11: 1 C02 and C12: 2 |
| Magstar 3575 Tape Library Dataserver | The 3575 models are compact, high-capacity, integrated storage devices that are available as stand-alone units. | 1 - 324 cartridges (depending on model) | 7 GB | Up to 324 GB per hour | 1 to 6 (depending on model) |
| IBM System Storage LTO Ultrium Tape Autoloader 3581 | The 3581 is an automation solution that complies with LTO specifications. | 1 - 7 cartridges | Up to 100 GB (200 GB compressed) per cartridge. Total storage of 700 GB (1.4 TB compressed). |
Up to 15 MBps (30 MBps compressed) | 1 |
| IBM System Storage LTO Ultrium Tape Autoloader 35812U | The 35812U is an automation solution that complies with LTO specifications. | 1 - 8 cartridges | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 |
| IBM System Storage LTO Ultrium Tape Library 3582 | The 3582 is an ideal automation solution for handling the storage needs of small-to-medium sized environments. | 1 - 34 cartridges | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 - 2 |
| IBM System Storage TS2900 Tape Library | The IBM System Storage TS2900 Tape Autoloader Express® is designed for entry level automated backup for rack systems and small to midsize business environments. | Up to 9 cartridges | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 |
| IBM System Storage TS3100 and TS3200 Tape Library | The TS3100 and TS3200 provide for a wide range of backup, archive, and disaster recovery data storage needs. They comply with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) specifications. | 24 - 48 cartridges (depending on model) | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 - 4 (depending on model) |
| IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library | The TS3310 provides for a wide range of backup, archive, and disaster recovery data storage needs. It complies with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) specifications. | 36 - 402 cartridges (depending on model) | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 - 18 (depending on model) |
| IBM System Storage TS3400 Tape Library | The TS3400 provides an enterprise-class tape solution that provides the highest levels of performance and reliability with 3592 tape devices. | 18 cartridge slots | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 or 2 |
| IBM System Storage TS3500 Tape Library | The TS3500 provides for a wide range of backup, archive, and disaster recovery data storage needs. It complies with Linear Tape-Open (LTO) and 3592 Enterprise tape drive specifications. | Up to 15,000 cartridges (depending on model) | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 - 192 (depending on model) |
| IBM System Storage TS4300 Tape Library | The IBM TS4300 Tape Library is a high-density, highly scalable, easy-to-manage solution designed to keep data securely stored long term. | Up to 272 cartridges. | Varies according to drives. | Varies according to drives | 1 to 21 |
| IBM System Storage TS4500 Tape Library | The IBM TS4500 tape library is a storage solution that is designed to help midsize and large enterprises respond to storage challenges. | Up to 4690 cartridges (depending on model) | Varies according to drives | Varies according to drives | 1 - 60 (depending on model) |
| IBM System Storage Enterprise Tape System 3590 | The 3590 is an enterprise-class tape solution that provides the highest levels of performance and reliability of any IBM tape subsystem. | 1 - 10 cartridges | Up to 60 GB (180 GB compressed) per cartridge | Up to 14 MBps | 1 |
| IBM 7329 SLR100 Autoloader | The 7329 is a high-capacity tape autoloader with the ability to provide unattended backups. | 1 - 8 cartridges | Up to 50 GB (100 GB compressed) per cartridge | 5 MBps (10 MBps) | 1 |