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We have a ML6000 Dell tape library with a LTO-3 drive (part number KU838).

Can this drive support LTO-5 or LTO-6 via firmware upgrade? I could not find any information about this on Dell pages.

Is it even physically possible to a LTO-3 driver read or write LTO-4?

Jonas Stein
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motobói
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2 Answers2

7

No, this is not possible.

Citing Wikipedia:

  • An Ultrium drive reads data from a cartridge in its own generation and at least the two prior generations.
  • An Ultrium drive writes data to a cartridge in its own generation and to a cartridge from the immediate prior generation in the prior generation format.
Sven
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2

I believe it is a hardware limitation, not software, so I don't think it can be upgraded. I've never seen any, they've always had to be replaced.

LTO drives are backwards compatible two generations for reading, meaning that an LTO-5 can read LTO-3 and LTO-4 (but not LTO-2 or below).

However they are only backwards compatible one generation for writing.

James
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lsd
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