LTO-10 Magnetic Storage: Loss of Backward Compatibility Announced

IBM has announced the upcoming release of its Linear Tape Open 10 (LTO-10) magnetic tape drives and cartridges, set to debut on June 13. However, this release comes with two significant updates: the initial models will store only 30 terabytes (TB) uncompressed, rather than the anticipated 36 TB, and for the first time, LTO-10 units will not support backward compatibility with the previous generation, LTO-9 tapes (which offered capacities of 18 TB uncompressed and 45 TB compressed).

An IBM representative clarified that the lack of backward compatibility stems from two critical technological enhancements. The LTO-10 standard introduces a revised servo track format, allowing for more precise positioning of the read/write heads. Additionally, the read/write head is now designed to rotate as well as move vertically, which enhances its ability to read tapes that may have been affected by environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity.

One advantage of these improvements is that tapes will no longer require initialization, streamlining the usage process. The maximum data transfer rate remains at 400 megabytes per second (MB/s), maintaining efficient performance levels.

IBM also indicated that the design limitations posed by the compact Half-Height drives have constrained the storage capacity of LTO-10. There are prospects for higher-capacity LTO-10 cartridges in the future, potentially designed for Full-Height drives.

Moreover, the LTO-9 generation had already prompted the responsible consortium, which includes Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), IBM, and Quantum, to adjust their roadmap. Instead of achieving the initially projected 24 TB capacity, LTO-9 only managed 18 TB, deviating from the expected trajectory of doubling capacity with each new generation.

The new LTO-10 drives will be available with either dual SAS connections (each supporting 12 Gbit/s) or two Fibre Channel ports (each supporting 32 Gbit/s). Pricing details for LTO-10 cartridges and drives are yet to be disclosed.