Linear Tape Open, the collaborative tape format effort between IBM Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co and Seagate Technology Inc, has reached its next milepost, with the availability of a secondary standard reference tape for the Ultrium format. That provides a physical benchmark against which product compliance to LTO program format can be measured. Measurement Analysis Corp, of Torrence, California, which has been hired by LTO to provide independent compliance verification, will use the SSRT for technical testing and analysis of submitted licensee products. Ultrium tape cartridge products will be accepted for testing by early fall.
LTO encompasses two formats, the single-reel, 100Gb native capacity, 20Mb/s native data transfer rate Ultrium, and the dual-reel Accelis, designed for fast access (less than 10 seconds) rather than high access. Both formats have a roadmap stretching to four generations. So far, there are around 18 licensees, some undisclosed, including four for full manufacturing rights (the three founders plus Fujitsu Ltd), four or five for media licenses and the rest viewing licenses, giving access to the detailed spec. The main competition for LTO is Quantum Corp’s DLT digital linear tape technology. Sony Corp is also developing a data storage tape capable of storing up to 100Gb, the AIT-3.
