A Helpful Illustrated Guide to Computer Tapes
LTO / Ultrium
LTO / Ultrium 1
LTO 2
LTO 3
LTO 4
LTO 5
LTO 6
LTO 7
LTO 8
LTO / Ultrium 1
The LTO (Linear Tape Open) Ultrium tape cartridge format was developed by Seagate, Hewlett-Packard and IBM (the “LTO Consortium”) as a high-perfomance alternative to proprietary tape formats. The first generation drive, the LTO1 (or Ultrium 1), was released in 2000. The data is written in 384 tracks onto half-inch wide tape packaged in a 102 x 105.4 x 21.5 mm plastic cartridge. This cartridge contains a single reel; there is a takeup reel inside the tape drive and has a native (uncompressed) capacity of 100GB.LTO 2
The LTO2/Ultrium2 was the next stage of evolution in the “Linear Tape Open” tape cartridge storage format. The drive was released in 2003 and writes data in 512 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-2 cartridges. It has a native (uncompressed) capacity of 200GB.LTO 3
The LTO3/Ultrium3 drive was released in 2005 and writes data in 704 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-3 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 400GB. It was the first generation Ultrium LTO drive to support WORM (Write Once Read Many).LTO 4
The LTO4 / Ultrium4 drive was released in 2007 and writes data in 896 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-4 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 800GB. It was the first generation Ultrium drive to support hardware encryption.LTO 5
The LTO5/Ultrium5 drive was released in 2010 and writes data in 1280 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-5 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 1.5TB. It was the first generation Ultrium drive to support LTFS (Linear Tape File System) format which allows the tapes to be mounted as a random access device (ie native file system volume) across many different environments (MacOs, Linux, Windows etc)LTO 6
The LTO6 Ultrium6 drive was released in 2012 and writes data in 2176 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-6 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 2.5TB.LTO 7
The LTO7 / Ultrium7 drive was released in 2015 and writes data in 3584 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-7 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 6TB.LTO 8
The LTO8 / Ultrium8 drive was released in 2017 and writes data in 6,656 tracks onto half-inch wide LTO-8 cartridges, which have a native (uncompressed) capacity of 12TB.DLT / SDLT
TK50 / CompacTape
TK70 / CompacTape II
TK85 / CompacTape III / DLTtapeIII
DLTtapeIIIXT
DLTIV
SDLT1
SDLT2
TK50 / CompacTape
The TK50 backup tape format was introduced along with the TZ-30 drive in 1984 by DEC. It featured a half inch (1/2″) wide tape packaged in a “CompacTape” plastic cartridge containing a single reel. The drive wrote 22 serpentine tracks, delivering a capacity of 94MB. TK70 / CompacTape II
The TK50 cartridge was superseded in 1987 with the introduction of the TK70 tape, which increased capacity to 294 MB by writing 48 tracks to an upgraded CompacTape II tape cartridge TK85 / CompacTape III / DLTtapeIII
In 1989, DEC superseded their previous cartridge types with the CompacTape III (later DLTtape III) format, which 128 tracks and a capacity of 2.6GB, which was later increased to 10 GB. DLTtapeIIIXT
In 1995 the DLTtape IIIXT was introduced along with the DLT2000XT drive. These had a native capacity of 15GBDLTIV
In 1994 the DLT IV was introduced along with the DLT4000 drive. These had a native capacity of 20GB. With the introduction of the DLT7000 & DLT8000 drives, native capacity was expanded to 40GBSDLT1
In 1997 the SDLT (or “Super DLT”) was introduced along with the SDLT220 drive. These had a native capacity of 110GB. In 2002, the SDLT320 drive increased native capacity of SDLT1 tapes to 160GBSDLT2
In 2004 the SDLT2 tape was introduced along with the SDLT600 drive. These had a native capacity of 300GB.4mm DAT / DDS
DAT/DDS 60/90m
DDS-2
DDS-3
DDS-4 / DAT40
DAT 72
DAT 160
DAT 320
DAT/DDS 60/90m
The Digital Data Storage (DDS) magnetic tape data storage format was developed by Sony and Hewlett Packard in 1989 as an evolution of Digital Audio Tape (DAT). The tape medium itself is nominally 4mm (actually 3.8mm) wide, packaged in a compact plastic cartridge containing dual reels, and was originally 60 or 90 meters long. Initial native (uncompressed) capacity was 1.3GB on a 60 meter tape, and 2GB on 90 meter tapes.DDS-2
1993 saw the release of the DDS-2 standard, with a native capacity of 4GB on 120m tape.DDS-3
1996 saw the release of the DDS-3 standard, with a native capacity of 12GB on 125m tape.DDS-4 / DAT40
1999 saw the release of the DDS-4 standard, with a native capacity of 20GB on 150m tape.DAT 72
2003 saw the release of the DAT-72 standard, with a native capacity of 36GB on 170m tape.DAT 160
2007 saw the release of the 8mm wide DAT 160 standard, with a native capacity of 80GB on 154m tape.DAT 320
2009 saw the introduction of the final version of DDS/DAT format: the DAT 320, with a native capacity of 160GB on 153m tape.8mm / Data8 / Exabyte / Mammoth
Exabyte 8mm Data8
Exabyte 8mm 160mXL
Mammoth EXB-8900
Mammoth 2 (M2)
Exabyte 8mm Data8
Originally developed from Video8, Data8 tapes were introduced with Exabyte’s EXB-8200 drive and come in a variety of lengths: 15m, 54m, 112m & 160m. Exabyte 8mm 160mXL
The 160mXL was the longest of the MP (Metal Particle) tapes designed for use with Exabyte’s EXB-82XX/85XX/87XX drives. Mammoth EXB-8900
Exabyte introduced their Mammoth drive in 1996. This uses Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) tapes that come in four lengths: 22m, 45m, 125m, and 170m. Mammoth 2 (M2)
Exabyte introduced the Mammoth 2 (M2) drive in 1999. This uses Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) “Smart Clean” tapes that include a 2m length of cleaning tape. They come in three lengths: 75m, 150m, and 225m.9-track reel-to-reel 1/2" tape
800 bpi / cpi
1600 bpi / cpi
3200 bpi / cpi
6250 bpi / cpi
800 bpi / cpi
800 bpi/cpi NRZI ½” reel-to-reel 9-track magnetic tape was introduced by IBM in 1964
1600 bpi / cpi
1600 bpi/cpi PE was the next generation ½” reel-to-reel 9-track magnetic tape 3200 bpi / cpi
3200 bpi/cpi DPE was the next generation ½” reel-to-reel 9-track magnetic tape6250 bpi / cpi
62500 bpi/cpi DPE was the final generation of ½” reel-to-reel 9-track magnetic tape
Exabyte / Ecrix VXA
Exabyte Ecrix VXA V6
VXA V10
VXA V17
VXA V23
VXA X6
VXA X10
VXA X23
Exabyte Ecrix VXA V6
Ecrix developed the VXA format and were bought by Exabyte in 2001. There were four generations of VXA drive: VXA-1, VXA-2, VXA-172, and VXA-320.
There were seven types of tape for these; the V6 had a capacity of 12/20GB.
VXA V10
The VXA V10 tape had a capacity of 20/40GB.VXA V17
The VXA V17 tape had a capacity of 33/60GB.VXA V23
The VXA V23 tape had a capacity of 80/160GB.VXA X6
The VXA X6 tape had a capacity of 20/40GB.VXA X10
The VXA X10 tape had a capacity of 40/86GB.VXA X23
The VXA X23 tape had a capacity of 80/160GB.Sony AIT
SDX1-25C
SDX1-35C
AIT1-Turbo
SDX2-50C
AIT-E-Turbo
SDX3-100C
SDX3X-150C
SDX4-200C
SDX5-400C
SDX1-25C
Sony released their first AIT drive in 1996. The SDX1-25C tape stores 25GB.SDX1-35C
The SDX1-35C tape stores 35GB.AIT1-Turbo
The Sony AIT1 Turbo stores 40GB.SDX2-50C
The SDX2-50C tape was released along with Sony’s AIT-2 drive and stores 50GB.AIT-E-Turbo
The Sony AIT E Turbo was a budget AIT tape that stores 20GB.SDX3-100C
The SDX3-100C tape was released along with Sony’s AIT-3 drive and stores 100GB.SDX3X-150C
The SDX3X-150C tape was an extended AIT-3 tape that stores 150GB.SDX4-200C
The SDX4-200C tape stores 200GB and was released with Sony’s AIT-4 tape drive.SDX5-400C
The SDX5-400C tape stores 400GB and was released with Sony’s AIT-5 tape drive.
1/2" IBM 3480/3490E/MAGSTAR 3590/3592/TS11XX
3480 / 3490
3490E
3590 B
3590 E
3590 H
3592
TS1120
TS1130
TS1140
TS1150
TS1155
3480 / 3490
The 3480 tape format is a half-inch wide magnetic tape developed by IBM in 1984. The tape is on a single reel packaged in a 4″x5″x1″ plastic cartridge. The data is written in 18 tracks and a single tape cartridge can store 200Mb. in 1986, IBM added a hardware-based data compression option, IDRC (Improved Data Recording Capability) which typically doubles capacity to 400Mb. 3480 tapes with IDRC are called 34903490E
In 1991 IBM released the 3490E, which has a native capacity of 800MB.3590 B
In 1995 IBM introduced the 3590 B Model (3590 B11/B1A), which has a native capacity of 10GB (20GB on extended cartridges) 3590 E
In 1999 IBM introduced the 3590 E Model (3590 E11/E1A), which has a native capacity of 20GB (40GB on extended cartridges) 3590 H
In 2002 IBM introduced the 3590 H Model (3590 H11/H1A), which has a native capacity of 30GB (60GB on extended cartridges) 3592
In 2003 IBM introduced the 3592-J1A (“Jaguar”), which has a native capacity of 300GB TS1120
In 2005 IBM introduced the TS1120 (3592-E05, also nicknamed “Jaguar”), which has a native capacity of 700GB TS1130
In 2008 IBM introduced the TS1130 (3592-E06), which has a native capacity of 1TB TS1140
In 2011 IBM introduced the TS1140 (3592-E07), which has a native capacity of 4TB TS1150
In 2014 IBM introduced the TS1150 (3592-E08), which has a native capacity of 10TB TS1155
In 2017 IBM introduced the TS1155 (3592-55E/F), which has a native capacity of 15TB QIC / Quarter Inch Cartridges
DC300
DC300XL
DC600A
DC6150
DC6250 / SLR1
DC6525 / SLR2
Magnus 1.2 / SLR3
Magnus 2.5 / SLR4
DC300
QIC tape is a quarter-inch wide, and packaged in a plastic cartridge on an aluminium base plate containing dual reels moved by a drive belt/capstan arrangement. DC300 tapes (QIC-11) are 300 feet long and have a capacity of 12MBDC300XL
DC300XL are extended length (450 ft) QIC-11 tapes with a capacity of 20MBDC600A
DC600A are 600 ft QIC-24 tapes with a capacity of 60MBDC6150
DC6150 are 620 ft tapes with a capacity of 120MB when written by a QIC-120 drive, or 150MB when written by a QIC150 driveDC6250 / SLR1
DC6250 (also called “SLR1” by Tandberg) have a capacity of 250MB when written by a QIC-250 / SLR1 driveDC6525 / SLR2
DC6525 (also called “SLR2” by Tandberg) have a capacity of 525MB when written by a QIC-525 / SLR2 driveMagnus 1.2 / SLR3
Magnus 1.2 (SLR3) tapes have a capacity of 1.2GBMagnus 2.5 / SLR4
SLR4 tapes have a capacity of 2.5GBSLR / MLR (Tandberg)
SLR5-8GB
SLR6/SLR24
MLR1/SLR32
SLR7/40
MLR3/SLR50
SLR60
SLR75
SLR100
SLR140
SLR5-8GB
SLR5-8GB tapes have a native capacity of 4GBSLR6/SLR24
SLR6 (also known as SLR24) tapes have a native
capacity of 12GBMLR1/SLR32
SLR32 (also known as MLR1) tapes have a native capacity of 16GBSLR7/40
SLR7 (also known as SLR40) tapes have a native capacity of 20GBMLR3/SLR50
SLR50 (also known as MLR3) tapes have a native capacity of 25GBSLR60
SLR60 tapes have a native capacity of 30GBSLR75
SLR75 tapes have a native capacity of 38GBSLR100
SLR100 tapes have a native capacity of 50GBSLR140
SLR140 tapes have a native capacity of 70GBMini-QIC / DC2xxx / QD2XXX / Irwin / colorado / DITTO/ TRAVAN
DECTape II TU58
DC2000 / XL
DC2080
DC2120
MC3000XL
TR1
QIC3020
TR2
TR3
TR4
TR5
DECTape II TU58
DECTape II (TU-58) cartridges were released by Digital Equipment Corporation in 1978. The tape is 0.150 in (3.8 mm) in width and they have a capacity of 256KBDC2000 / XL
QIC Mini Cartridge (MC)
were similar to the larger QIC tapes but in a smaller format (2 3⁄8 inches (60 mm) by 3 1⁄8 inches (79 mm) in size) originally released for use with QIC-40 drives. The DC2000 has a native capacity of 40MB. The longer 2000XL stores 60MB. Sony branded these tapes QD-2000
DC2080
DC2080 were released for use with QIC-80 drives. The DC2080 has a native capacity of 80MB. Sony branded these tapes QD-2080DC2120
DC2120 were released for use with QIC-80 drives. The DC2120 has a native capacity of 120MB. Sony branded these tapes QD-2120MC3000XL
MC3000XL were released for use with QIC-3010 drives. They have a native capacity of 340MB. Sony branded these tapes QW-3000XLBTR1
TR1 were released for use with Travan drives. They have a native capacity of 400MB. The longer TR1EX (“Extra”) tapes hold 500MBQIC3020
QIC-3020 drives also used MC3000XL tapes. They have a native capacity of 670MB. Sony branded these tapes QW-3020XLF/BTR2
TR2 were released for use with Travan 2 drives. They have a native capacity of 800MB. The longer TR1EX tapes hold 500MBTR3
TR3 were released for use with Travan 3 drives. They have a native capacity of 1.6GB. The longer TR3EX (“Extra”) tapes hold 2.2GBTR4
TR4 were released for use with Travan 4 and QIC-3095 drives. They have a native capacity of 4GB.TR5
TR5 were released for use with Travan 5 drives. They have a native capacity of 10GB.Sony DTF1 / DTF2
Sony GW-240S DTF
GW-730L
GW2-60GS DTF2
GW2-200GL
Sony GW-240S DTF
Sony released the Digital Tape Format in 1994. The GW-240S held 12GB
GW-730L
The GW-730L was the long-format DTF tape. It held 42GBGW2-60GS DTF2
Sony released the second generation Digital Tape Format (DTF-2) in 1999. The GW2-60GS held 60GBGW2-200GL
The GW2-200GL held 200GB