#117: Developments in LTO Tape Hardware and Software

LTO (Linear Tape Open) is an industry standard format for tape drives and media. To begin this talk we will give a brief overview of LTO tape: how data is recorded and accessed on tape, and some characteristics that make it very different from earlier forms of computer tape storage. We will then discuss the current state of LTO tape, including “feeds and speeds”, backwards/forwards drive and media compatibility, and the LTO Consortium’s roadmap for the future. Finally, we’ll discuss the Linear Tape File System (LTFS): what it is, how it works, and what benefits it provides. We’ll end with a detailed description of the latest important feature in LTFS version 2.5, Incremental Indexes, including a discussion of the impetus for Incremental Indexes, the benefits they provide, and an explanation of how they work. This talk is suitable for newcomers to tape storage as well as those who are already taking advantage of LTO tape and LTFS. Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the operation and current state of LTO tape storage, and its roadmap for the future; 2) Understand the use and benefits of the Linear Tape File System (LTFS); 3) Learn how adding Incremental Indexes to LTFS improves performance and storage efficiency while preserving backwards compatibility.