Product Description
IBM 3573-8444 LTO Ultrium 7 Full-High Fibre Channel Tape Drive
The IBM 3573-8444 LTO Ultrium 7 Full-High Fibre Channel Tape Drive (feature code 8444, also known as part of TS3100/TS3200 libraries or equivalent to TS2270 in some contexts) is a full-height internal tape drive module designed for integration into IBM TS3100 (3573-L2U) and TS3200 (3573-L4U) tape libraries. It uses LTO-7 Ultrium technology, delivering up to 6 TB native / 15 TB compressed capacity per cartridge at a native transfer rate of 300 MB/s (up to 750 MB/s compressed with 2.5:1 ratio). Equipped with an 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interface (single port), it supports hardware AES-256 encryption, LTFS for file-level access, WORM media, media partitioning, and backward compatibility with LTO-6 (write/read) and LTO-5 (read only). This drive provides secure, high-capacity automated backup and archiving with strong ransomware protection via air-gapped offline storage.
Key Features
- Capacity and Speed: 6 TB native / 15 TB compressed per LTO-7 cartridge; 300 MB/s native transfer rate.
- Interface: 8 Gbps single-port Fibre Channel for high-speed library connectivity.
- Form Factor: Full-High (internal module for TS3100/TS3200 tape libraries).
- Security: AES-256 hardware encryption (application-managed), WORM support, LTFS for intuitive access.
- Media Management: Partitioning for efficient utilization; backward compatible with prior LTO generations.
- Reliability: Enterprise-class design for automated library environments; supports path failover in multi-drive setups.
- Library Integration: Specifically for IBM TS3100 (up to 1 drive) and TS3200 (up to 2 drives) tape libraries.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model / Feature Code | 3573-8444 (8444) |
| Technology | LTO-7 Ultrium |
| Native Capacity (per cartridge) | 6 TB |
| Compressed Capacity (per cartridge) | 15 TB (2.5:1 typical) |
| Native Transfer Rate | 300 MB/s |
| Compressed Transfer Rate | Up to 750 MB/s |
| Interface | 8 Gbps Fibre Channel (single port) |
| Form Factor | Full-High (internal for TS3100/TS3200 libraries) |
| Media Compatibility | LTO-7 (write/read), LTO-6 (write/read), LTO-5 (read only) |
| Encryption | AES-256 (hardware, application-managed) |
| LTFS Support | Yes |
| WORM Support | Yes |
| Warranty | 60 days |
This tape drive is a library-specific module (not standalone external) and requires installation in compatible IBM TS3100/TS3200 tape libraries with appropriate firmware (D.00 or higher recommended). It supports automated robotic operation and cannot be used as a standalone desktop drive.
Compatibilities
The IBM 3573-8444 LTO-7 Full-High Fibre Channel Tape Drive is compatible with:
- IBM TS3100 (3573-L2U) and TS3200 (3573-L4U) tape libraries.
- IBM Power Systems servers (Power10, Power9, Power8, Power7+ via Fibre Channel adapters).
- IBM i operating system (supported with appropriate FC adapters and IBM i versions).
- AIX, Linux, Windows, and other platforms via FC connectivity.
- Major backup and archiving software (IBM Spectrum Protect, Veeam, Commvault, Veritas NetBackup, etc.).
- LTO-7, LTO-6, and LTO-5 media (following backward compatibility rules).
- 8 Gbps Fibre Channel HBAs/switches for connectivity.
Enhance your automated tape library backup and archiving with this full-high LTO-7 drive, offering high-capacity, secure offline storage for IBM i and enterprise environments.
