XenData Limited XenData6, User Manual

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XenData6 Workstation software writes to LTO tape using the open standard POSIX tar format. This is
important for long term archives because it means that files can be restored for decades to come using a
wide range of native Linux and Unix operating systems, Microsoft Services for Unix, as well as XenData
software. Tapes written with XenData6 Workstation software are interchangeable with server-based
systems running XenData6 Server software. Additional capabilities provided by XenData6 Workstation
software include the following.
 All file types are supported. This includes non-video files.
 Both rewritable and non-erasable WORM LTO tape cartridges are supported. For more information, see
About LTO (1.2) .
 LTO tapes may be grouped into XenData Volume Sets. This is particularly useful when tapes are
interchanged with server-based systems running XenData software.
1.2 About LTO
Linear Tape Open (LTO) is the leading tape format and uses technology developed by HP, IBM and
Quantum Corporation. The latest generation of LTO is LTO-5 which provides high storage capacity, high
speed file transfers and a long archival data life:
 Huge storage capacity Each tape cartridge stores 1.5 TB without any compression. For video files, this
represents over 65 hours at a 50 Mbits/s recording rate.

High speed file transfers LTO-5 tape drives write to and read from tape at up to 140 MBytes/s.
 Long archival data life LTO tape cartridges are available from multiple manufacturers that specify a 30
years archival data life.
LTO-5 tape drives are compatible with LTO-5 1500 GB, LTO-4 800 GB and LTO-3 400 GB tape cartridges.
LTO-5 and LTO-4 tapes are fully read-write compatible. Whereas LTO-3 tapes cannot be written but can be
read in LTO-5 tape drives.