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manmountain's avatar
manmountain
Level 5
12 years ago

Mix and Match LT05 and LT04 tapes

Hi there, 

Currently I have a LT05 tape drive using only LTO5 tapes. The LT05 tapes are configured as Media Type HCART2. The drives are configured as HCART2. 

I have been given LTO4 tapes so just wondering if it is possible to use these tapes in the current setup?

Thanks,

M

7.1.x and Earlier
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  • RamNagalla's avatar
    RamNagalla
    12 years ago

    COMPATIBILITY: LTO-5 drives are designed with backwards-compatible read-and-write capability with LTO-4 cartridges, and backward read capabilities with LTO-3 cartridges, helping to protect investments and ease implementation.

    Source :-http://www.trustlto.com/index.html

     

     

    What are the backward compatibility characteristics of the Ultrium format?
    The LTO Ultrium compatibility is defined with two concepts demonstrating investment protection: 1) An Ultrium drive can read data from a cartridge in its own generation and two prior generations. 2) An Ultrium drive can write data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.

    For example: 
    - An Ultrium format Generation 5 drive will read and write data on an Ultrium format Generation 4 cartridge as specified by the Generation 4 format and read data on an Ultrium format Generation 3 drive.

    - An Ultrium format Generation 4 drive will read and write data on an Ultrium format Generation 3 cartridge as specified by the Generation 3 format and read data on an Ultrium format Generation 2 drive

    Source:-http://www.ultrium.com/About/faq.html

    hope this helps.

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  • RamNagalla's avatar
    RamNagalla
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    COMPATIBILITY: LTO-5 drives are designed with backwards-compatible read-and-write capability with LTO-4 cartridges, and backward read capabilities with LTO-3 cartridges, helping to protect investments and ease implementation.

    Source :-http://www.trustlto.com/index.html

     

     

    What are the backward compatibility characteristics of the Ultrium format?
    The LTO Ultrium compatibility is defined with two concepts demonstrating investment protection: 1) An Ultrium drive can read data from a cartridge in its own generation and two prior generations. 2) An Ultrium drive can write data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.

    For example: 
    - An Ultrium format Generation 5 drive will read and write data on an Ultrium format Generation 4 cartridge as specified by the Generation 4 format and read data on an Ultrium format Generation 3 drive.

    - An Ultrium format Generation 4 drive will read and write data on an Ultrium format Generation 3 cartridge as specified by the Generation 3 format and read data on an Ultrium format Generation 2 drive

    Source:-http://www.ultrium.com/About/faq.html

    hope this helps.

  • Mark_Solutions's avatar
    Mark_Solutions
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Qucik answer is yes - they will be fine - they will only write at LTO4 speeds and obviously only have LTO4 capacity

    If they have different barcodes etc you will need to make sure that they show as the same density for them to actually be put into the drives and used by NetBackup

  • Nicolai's avatar
    Nicolai
    Moderator
    12 years ago

    Just note you may have difficulties to predict the number of scratch tapes you need because of capacity difference.

  • Marianne's avatar
    Marianne
    Level 6
    12 years ago

    Remember to config LTO4 media as HCART2 to allow NBU to load them into HCART2 drives.