TDK has completed development of the LTO Ultrium 6, the sixth-generation LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Ultrium format data cartridges and as of November 20th the cartridges passed the verification testing by the LTO Compliance Verification Entity (CVE). TDK has now started production of the LTO Ultrium Generation 6 data tape cartridges.
The LTO Ultrium 6 realizes a cartridge capacity of 2.5 TB (6.25 TB with 2.5:1 compression) and a high-speed data transfer rate of 160 MB/s (400 MB/s with 2.5:1 compression).
The LTO Ultrium 6 data cartridge uses tape that is 12.65 mm wide and has 2,176 data tracks (compared to 1,280 tracks for LTO Ultrium 5).
The LTO Ultrium 6 data cartridge incorporates cutting-edge magnetic material and tape technologies that TDK has accumulated through the development of numerous magnetic recording media including DDS, LTO products. The LTO Ultrium 6 format achieves stable read and write signals by using high-output, ultrafine metal particles designed specifically for LTO Ultrium, ultra-thin, dual-layer tape coating technology that controls the thickness of the magnetic layer on the nanometer order, and a special servo-writer used to write high-precision servo signals.
In addition, the cartridge mechanism includes a high-precision leader pin and a reel hub that enhances the straightness of the drum to ensure precise drive linkage.
LTO Ultrium 6 Data Cartridge Specifications
| Item |
RW (ReWritable) |
WORM (Write Once-Read Many) |
| Basic specifications |
Magnetic material |
Metal Particle |
| Recording capacity |
2,500 GB |
| Data transfer rate |
~160MB/s |
| Cartridge color |
black |
black & light gray |
| Dimensions |
External cartridge Dimensions |
102.0 x 105.4 x 21.5 mm |
| Tape |
Width |
12.65 mm |
| Thickness |
6.4 µm |
| Length |
846 m |
| Operating conditions |
Temperature |
+10 to +45 °C |
| Humidity |
10 to 80 %RH |
| Max. wet bulb temperature |
+26 °C |
| Short-term storage conditions |
Temperature |
+16 to +35 °C |
| Humidity |
20 to 80 %RH |
| Max. wet bulb temperature |
+26 °C |
| Long-term storage conditions |
Temperature |
+16 to +25 °C |
| Humidity |
20 to 50 %RH |
| Max. wet bulb temperature |
+26 °C |