| Linear Tape Open is a data storage system that | | | | issues. DLTs were popular in libraries. |
| which is comprised by a magnetic tape. LTO has | | | | An Ultrium drive is designed to have two main |
| been used as a data storage unit for the past fifty | | | | functions; to read data from its card and to write |
| years, but it was only relatively recently, within the | | | | data. The Ultrium will read data from different |
| 1980s that Linear Tape Open was put into a single | | | | generations and it will also write data to a cartridge |
| reel, enclosed cartridge. | | | | from the immediate generation and prior generation |
| Although both IBM and DEC were both involved in | | | | formats. |
| the progression to LTO into a single reel, enclosed | | | | One of the main problems that this technology can |
| cartridge, it was later sold to Quantum. This form of | | | | face is to do with its Leader Pin. The leader pin holds |
| data storage was the optimum choice for those | | | | the cartridge in place. When a cartridge is not in a |
| wishing to store high capacity, high speed tape | | | | drive, the pin is kept in place with the help of a small |
| storage for both the PC and UNIX systems. | | | | spring. When the cartridge is being used, the pin |
| Linear Tape Open was initially designed to in two | | | | allows the reader to get a great and reliable grasp on |
| form factors. These are Ultrium and Accelis. | | | | the tape, meaning you can access your data. |
| For super fast access, the Accelis is the perfect | | | | The problem in this arises when the pin falls out of |
| form for LTO. It allows fast access to data through | | | | place, this is usually an issue when the cartridge has |
| its two reel cartridge. The tape itself is only 8mm | | | | been dropped or damaged. This usually results in the |
| wide which aids speed and reduces the time it takes | | | | cartridge being unable to load. Another reason why |
| to access the data. This was initially thought of | | | | the cartridge may not load is due to the plastic casing |
| through IBM. Their Megstar MP product was the first | | | | which the Linear Tape Open has deformed and can |
| of its kind to pioneer this. Unfortunately, this style of | | | | no longer hold the pin securely. There have been |
| LTO was short lived and never commercially | | | | some different alterations, and there have been |
| produced. | | | | some LTOs that do not use leader pins in an attempt |
| Linear Tape Open Ultrium and was designed as a | | | | to solve this issue. Punching a hole through the casing |
| replacement for DLT and has a very similar format | | | | is one solution that DLTs took, this enables the drive |
| both with a half inch wide tape and a single reel | | | | to grasp the end of the tape without the use of the |
| cartridge. This was perfect for those who used DLTs | | | | leader pin. |
| to convert to LTO without any major dramas or | | | | |