StoreEver Tape Storage
1748214 Members
3243 Online
108759 Solutions
New Discussion

Re: HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum Tape Library

 
Farshid_Moradi
Occasional Advisor

HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum Tape Library

Hi,

Can I use HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum LTO-8 Tape Library?

urgent reply would be appreciated.

regards,

Farshid

 

2 REPLIES 2
RinuRajan
HPE Pro

Re: HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum Tape Library

Hi Farshid,

Yes, you can use HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum LTO-8 Tape Library.
But you had not mentioned which LTO Tape you are using.


Do you have a new, unused LTO-7 media with you?
(** Only new, unused LTO-7 cartridges may be initialized as LTO-7 Type M. Once a cartridge is initialized as Type M it may not be changed back to a 6 TB LTO-7 cartridge.)
Or is this media  already initialized as an M8 media by an LTO-8 tape library
(**LTO-7 Type M cartridges are only initialized to Type M in an LTO-8 drive within a tape library.) 


Scenarios:
1) So, if you have an LTO7 media  already initialized as an M8 media by an LTO-8 tape library, then you can label it with the LTO-7 M8 barcode label for use with the LTO8 tape drive.

2) Or if you have new, unused LTO-7 cartridges, initialize it as an M8 media by an LTO-8 tape library, if the last two characters are “M8” it will be initialized as Type M, otherwise it will be initialized as a normal LTO-7 cartridge during first use, then you can label it with the LTO-7 M8 barcode label for use with the LTO8 tape drive.

3) Or if you are using an already used LTO7 tape, this will not be recognized as an M8 tape even if you apply an M8 bar code label. The cartridge memory will still contain the tables that include information on the track locations, the initializing drive and other housekeeping information written on first use as an LTO-7 tape. It will continue
to be recognized as an LTO-7 cartridge by tape devices and will even give error message "incorrect barcode label"

 

 

A small insight into  LTO-7 cartridge initialized as Type M8 media
The LTO Program is introducing a new capability in LTO-8: the ability of an LTO-8 drive in a tape library to write 9 TB native on a cartridge manufactured and logoed as LTO-7 Ultrium. This is instead of 6 TB as specified by the LTO-7 format.

Provided the following basic characteristics of LTO-7 Type M media are met:
• Can only be created from new, unused LTO-7 media. Only new, unused LTO-7 cartridges may be initialized as LTO-7 Type M. Once  a cartridge is initialized as Type M it may not be changed back to a 6 TB LTO-7 cartridge.
• Are only initialized by an LTO-8 tape library. LTO-7 Type M cartridges are only initialized to Type M in an LTO-8 drive within a tape library that has been configured to initialize cartridges with a M8 bar code to Type M; LTO-7 drives are not capable of reading LTO-7 Type M cartridges.
• Will not be compatible with LTO-9. The LTO Roadmap has not changed with the addition of LTO-7 Type M media and, as such, there is no commitment to support LTO-7 Type M media in LTO-9 drives. If LTO-9 backward compatibility is required, then the new LTO-8 12 TB native  media should be utilized.

I work for HPE

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! thumb below!
RinuRajan
HPE Pro

Re: HPE LTO-7 M8 barcode label for Quantum Tape Library

The three main LTO technology provider companies are - HPE, IBM, and Quantum.
These companies uses Tapes mostly manufactured by  Fujifilm and Sony.
They manufacture LTO 7, 8 tapes for all brands (IBM, Quantum, HPE and of course Sony and Fuji).

So if all critirea is met you should be able to use HPE LTO-7 M8 barcodes, in the Quantum LTO-8 Tape Library also. 

I work for HPE

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! thumb below!