Maxell LTO Ultrium 4 Data Cartridge FAQ’s

1. What is the LTO Ultrium 4 data cartridge?
The LTO Ultrium 4 data cartridge is the fourth generation of LTO Ultrium technology. The LTO 4 data cartridge extends native capacities to 800GB native (1.6TB compressed), an improvement of 100% over LTO3 (400GB native). The LTO 4 data cartridge utilizes the same form factor as LTO products.
The LTO Ultrium roadmap shows LTO5 data cartridge (1.6TB native, 3.2TB compressed) and LTO6 data cartridge (3.2TB native, 6.4TB compressed).

2. What is the compliance verification test?
The TPC (Technology Provider Companies) conducts the compliance verification testing that involves licensee’s media undergoing an exhaustive series of tests which cover compatibility with drives and media. This insures that the LTO 4 drives and media are compatible across all manufacturer products.

3. Why was Maxell able to develop and bring to market LTO 4 media product before any other media manufacturer?
Maxell has several advantages over competing media manufacturers. These include superior technology, vast experience with the development of products such as SDLT and close co-operation with the drive manufacturer.

4. What is the advantage of new PET base film?
A new smooth, high-rigidity PET base film strengthens tape, improves SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio), delivering increased durability and higher dimensional stability.

5. What is the LTO 4 Cartridge color?
LTO 4 data cartridge color is Teal.
LTO 4 WORM cartridge color is Teal / Gray

6. What is load/unload/calibrates?
Load/unload is loading the cartridge in a drive. This is a measure of durability in a library since they are moving tapes in and out of drives frequently. LTO 4 data cartridge ensures 20,000 load/unload.
 
7. How much is the expected media market size?
A world wide total of 1.6-1.7 million units in the year of 2007.

8. Which is more often used, native or compressed?
How the data get recorded in a media depends on the size and/or format of the customer data. The same reliability of the data recording is ensured for both native and compressed recording, since the data compression is managed by the drive’s data algorism. The actual magnetic recording pattern, such as recording wavelength and track density are unchanged.

9. What is Encryption?
Encryption helps to protect the storage and transport of sensitive information by encrypting data to the LTO Ultrium data cartridge. (This is a new feature of LTO4 drive.)

10. What is WORM?
WORM stands for Write Once Read Many.
LTO 4 drives are equipped with WORM capability to address regulatory requirements for archiving data.

11. About WORM cartridge
Two-tone color cartridge is used for identification. Top shell color is teal, and bottom shell is gray color is used for bottom shell. WORM cartridges must be used in drives equipped with WORM functionality.
 
12. Compatibility
Can I use LTO 4 media in my LTO 1, 2 and 3 drives?
No. LTO1, 2 and 3 drives are unable to read or recognize LTO4 media. LTO4 media can only be used in LTO4 drives.

Can I use LTO 1, 2 and 3 media in my LTO 4 drive?
According to drive manufacturer, LTO 4 format is backwards compatible with LTO 2 and 3 data cartridges only. This means LTO 2 and LTO 3 media may be both read in an LTO 4 drive, but backwards write compatibility is limited to LTO3 media.

LTO 4 WORM cartridge:
LTO 4 WORM cartridge can only be used in an LTO4 drive equipped with WORM functionality.

13. What cleaning cartridge should I use in my LTO 4 drive?
Maxell LTO Universal cleaning cartridges may be used in LTO4 drives for cleaning purposes.

14. How long can LTO 4 media be kept in storage if data is to be successfully restored?
Under optimum operating and storage conditions, Maxell LTO 4 media is expected to have an archival life of more than 30 years.

Operation Environment
Ambient Temperature 50F to 113F (10C to 45C)
Relative Humidity 10% to 80%

Storage Environment (non-archival)
Temperature 61F to 95F (16C to 35C)
Relative Humidity 20% to 80%

Storage Environment (archival)
Temperature 61F to 77F (16C to 25C)
Relative Humidity 20% to 50%
 
15. How often should I replace my LTO 4 media?
Under optimum operating and storage conditions, Maxell LTO4 media is expected to be able to perform 250 full back-ups. Maxell recommends replacement of the media once 250 full backups have been performed.

16. How does Maxell guarantee the quality of Maxell LTO 4 media?
All Maxell data storage media is subject to rigorous and comprehensive testing to ensure that each and every cartridge leaving the factory is of the highest quality. (Factory is ISO9001 certified.)

17. Can I degauss/bulk erase LTO 4 tapes for future re-use?
Do not degauss/bulk erase any generation LTO tape. This will erase magnetic servo signals pre-written on the tape, thus making the tape unusable.

18. Where can I find help and/or technical support for LTO 4 media?
In the US and Canada, contact techsupp@maxell.com or 1800- 377-5887. For LTO4 drive related issues, please contact your drive manufacturer.

19. Where can I find further information about Maxell and Maxell products?
Additional information may be found at the company’s worldwide website: www.maxell.com

20. Where can I find further information about LTO 4 data cartridge?
Further details, such as an LTO Ultrium roadmap may be found at the official LTO Ultrium website: http://www.ultrium.com

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