LTO vs DLT
Emerging as the new market leader, LTO, or Linear Tape Open has spent better part of this year stealing market share from DLT. Attempts by Quantum to maintain their leadership in the midrange backup arena have proved almost fruitless with their SDLT offerings.
Why has IBM’s LTO received such a warm welcome? A potent formula combining high capacity, high throughput storage with some of IBM’s key tape innovations from the last decade is the catalyst. Sporting 100gb native capacity cartridges and 3rd generation heads and servo tracks expanded from technologies developed as part of IBM’s Magstar product line, it’s no surprise that IBM’s LTO dealt such a vicious blow to Quantum.
Combating IBM has proven to be a true test of Quantum’s market strength and maneuverability; so far to no avail. Early in Q3 Quantum announced the SDLT roadmap, which seems to confirm that even they have accepted they cannot stand up to LTO with their current technology. This roadmap sets high expectations, and Quantum will be hard pressed to reach their goals. The SDLT roadmap shows plans for unprecedented strides in unproven technologies to reach their lofty goals. What does this mean? Such an aggressive stance has only been taken as an attempt to keep market share based on the promise of future enhancements. LTO is ready now, and promises to built on existing technologies providing a stronger base for future deliverables to be built upon.
IBM SDLT
Performance
Performance
Load Time( to BoT) 15s 15-40s
File Access Time (from BoT) 65s 70s – 142s
Unload time (from BoT) 10s 12s
Unload time (from BoT) 10s 12s
Reliability
MTBF at 100% Duty Cycle (Hours) 250,000 250,000
Uncorrectable error rate 1 in 10 to the 14 1 in 10 to the 17
Undetected Error Rate 1 in 10 to the 27
Head Life 60,000 Hours 30,000 Hours
Fibre Channel Native Yes N/A
Format and Features
Drive Memory Buffer 32MB 32MB
Media Ultrium Cartidge 1/2″ MP with factory written magnetic servo tracks, with memory trip SDLTtape 1/2″ AMP with factory written optical servo tracks
Native Media Capacities 100 GB 110 GB
Variable Tape speed No No
Data Compression Algorithm LTO ALDC DLZ
Dual Compression Nodes Yes No
Media Compatibility
Backwards Write Compatibility No No
RoadMap 4 Generations of tape up to 800 GB and 60MB /sec 3 Generations of 500 GB and 80 MB/Sec
RoadMap 4 Generations of tape up to 800 GB and 60MB /sec 3 Generations of 500 GB and 80 MB/Sec
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