LTO Drive Question

[gavin.970]

I have recently acquired a LTO 3 Drive system for use for home archival purposes, and my question is regarding the drive compatibility in the future in particular. I know that LTO drives are compatible with the two previous generations, but my question is if I were in the future were wanting to convert my LTO3 tape archive  to say LTO5 tapes, would I then be able to put those lto5 tapes on LTO6-7?

[leadeater]

LTO is actually read 3 (own - 2) generations and write 2 (own - 1) generations

 

Quote

• An Ultrium drive can read data from a cartridge in its own generation and the two prior generations.
• An Ultrium drive can write data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.
• An Ultrium drive cannot make any use of a cartridge from a more recent generation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Tape-Open#Compatibility

 

To convert to LTO-5 tapes you would need at a minimum an LTO-5 drive, maximum of LTO-6 drive to write an LTO-5 tape, and maximum of LTO-7 drive to read an LTO-5 tape but not write an LTO-5 tape.

 

http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/STCMML8/com.ibm.storage.ts3500.doc/ipg_3584_meudrca.html

[gavin.970]

Ok then so it would be possible to update a Lto 3 archive to LTO 5, and then on to LTO 6/7 after. Thank you for the reply

[leadeater]

3 hours ago, gavin.970 said:

Ok then so it would be possible to update a Lto 3 archive to LTO 5, and then on to LTO 6/7 after. Thank you for the reply

Usually it's cheaper and easier to just keep your LTO-3 equipment for existing backups and then upgrade straight to LTO-6/7. If you want to move existing data on LTO-3 tapes to your new LTO-6/7 tapes just connect both drives to a computer and copy the data over. Assuming you only have a small amount of tapes or if you have a lot, a nice backup tool that handles tapes properly.