IBM TS4300 Modular Tape Library
Long-term data storage in a highly scalable tape library
IBM TS4300 Modular Tape Library Inside View
IBM TS4300 Modular Tape Library Expansion
IBM TS4300 Modular Tape Library
Overview
Requirements for secure, long-term data retention—especially in the financial services, healthcare and life sciences industries—are common and increasingly stringent, with data volumes growing massively as a result. And data stored on tape kept offline, or on write-once media, is nearly impervious to hacking.
IBM TS4300 Tape Library is a high-density, highly scalable, easy-to-manage tape library designed to keep data securely stored long-term, while helping reduce the costs associated with data center space and utilities.
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The IBM TS4300 Tape Library modular design enables users to increase cartridge and drive capacity as needed. Built around a 3U-high modular base library, TS4300 can scale vertically with up to sixteen modules—including the base library—with expansion for Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium cartridges, drives and redundant power supplies. A single robot manages all modules in the stack. In a sixteen-module configuration, TS4300 offers a capacity of up to 640 LTO cartridges. A wizard for installation and configuration enables users to install, expand and service the library without special training.
To help meet security and compliance requirements, TS4300 supports write-once-read-many (WORM) cartridges to enhance data protection and provides library-managed encryption with IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager. Additionally, you can improve business continuity with IBM TS4300 Tape Library-supported features like automatic control-path and data-path failover to provide automatic control in the event of a loss of a host adapter or control path.
TS4300 uses IBM Storage for direct, intuitive and graphical access to data stored in IBM tape drives and libraries by incorporating the IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) format standard. LTFS compatibility allows tape-stored data to be accessed as if it were on disk or flash storage.
Highly scalable solution with one 3U base module and up to fifteen expansions
The TS4300 base library contains all the necessary robotics and intelligence to manage the base library system, with a maximum of 40 slots of LTO cartridge capacity per module, up to five input/output (I/O) slots, and support for three combinations of full- and/or half-height (FH or HH) LTO drives per module. The TS4300 base library is rack or tabletop mountable. Module expansions are rack mountable only.
Simplify tape storage deployment and management
TS4300 is based on an embedded, open-source software architecture to help speed deployment and simplify management. Best-in-class error recovery and reporting, library health monitoring and alerting, and auto recovery features help to speed diagnostics and resolution. An automation drive interface significantly increases drive communication speed for faster code updates and log downloads. IBM offers diverse management software solutions for TS4300 to enhance the use of multipath architecture, as well as the use of a single TS4300 library. The library software includes application programming interface (API) hooks that enable easy integration of IBM software.
Conclusion
The IBM TS4300 Tape Library stands out as an excellent choice for small and midsize businesses where long-term data retention is common and increasingly stringent, and with data volumes growing massively. Tape storage offers a less costly long-term storage option than disk drives or flash drives. Its high-density, scalability, and easy-to-manage tape library makes IBM TS4300 Tape Library a secure option to keep data securely stored long-term, while helping reduce costs.
Product Specifications
- Get highly scalable solution with one 3U base module and up to fifteen expansions.
- Provide secure, long-term data storage.
- Simplify tape storage deployment and management.
- Help reduce data center costs with a high-density solution.
Technical specifications
TS4300 Tape Library at a glance:
- Tape drives: 18 TB native/45 TB compressed (Ultrium 9); 12 TB native/30 TB compressed (Ultrium 8)
- Hot-swap components: power supplies, tape drives
- Systems management: Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S) enabled
- Limited warranty: Three-year in-warranty coverage of select parts
- Weight: Base unit maximum 28 kg (61.5 lb); Expansion unit maximum 22.6 kg (49.6 lb)
- Dimensions (H x W x D) 114 mm (4.48 in.) x 446 mm (17.56 in.) x 873 mm (34.37 in.)
Software requirements
Management software options include:
- IBM Storage Archive™
- IBM Storage Protect™
Hardware requirements
IBM TS4300 Tape Library configurations for base model and with 6 expansion modules:
- Maximum LTO Ultrium cartridges 40/640
- Maximum LTO Ultrium I/O slots 5/80
- Max tape drives (base model) 1 FH LTO, 3 HH LTO, or 1 FH and 1 HH LTO
- Max tape drives (w/15 expansion modules) 16 FH LTO or 48 HH LTO HH/FH drive mixture range 46/1 or 16/16
- Total physical capacity 720 TB/11.52 PB
- Maximum logical libraries 1/48