Handbook

the upper limits of their potential, DLTtape technology is just hit-
ting its stride, with plenty of room to grow.
Half-inch tape simply offers more growth capacity than the much
smaller 4mm or 8mm formats (see Figure 4-2).Where 8mm and 4mm
are pushing their density limits,half-inch DLTtape technology isn’t even
close to maxing out.For example,the DLT 4000 drive uses 128 record-
ing tracks. The DLT 8000 drive uses the Symmetric Phase Recording
™
pattern,allowing it to lay down 208 tracks on the same half-inch tape.
The next generation of Super DLTtape systems increased track density
yet again,by a factor of more than 2X,to 448 tracks.
Track density is just one parameter.Another is the underlying tape
technology.Today, DLTtape IV cartridges use metal particle (MP)
media.Super DLTtape I cartridges use state-of-the-art Advanced
Metal Powder (AMP) media.AMP media offers increased media
capacity, ease-of-use,and lower cost of ownership.Designed to meet
the needs of multiple generations of Super DLTtape drives,AMP
DAT QIC-MC QIC-DC 8mm Half-inch DLTtape
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
DAT QIC-MC QIC-DC 8mm
Media Recording
Area (square inches)
Figure 4-2 Half-inch DLTtape Media leaves plenty of room
for capacity growth for future DLTtape drives. A single DLTtape
cartridge has a tape area of over 10,000 square inches.
WHY CUSTOMERS WANT DLTtape SYSTEMS4.8