DLT & SDLT FAQ

Short for Digital Linear Tape, a type of magnetic tape storage device originally developed by DEC and now marketed by several companies. DLTs are ½-inch wide and the tape cartridges come in several sizes ranging from 20 GB to over 40 GB. DLT drives are faster than most other types of tape drives, achieving transfer rates of 2.5 MBps.

Trust your mission critical data to the protection provided by DLT Technology tape media cartridges. Rest assured knowing that the exacting standards behind every DLT tape media cartridge ensures it will provide you with the data protection, compatibility, interchangeability and long-term durability characteristics you require.

DLT tape S4 Data Tape Cartridge

Designed for use with DLT-S4 drives, the DLT tape S4 cartridge delivers an industry leading 1.6 TB* storage capacity.  The increased capacity is through the use of DLT Technology’s eMP60™ tape technology to offer the lowest cost per gigabyte storage available today. As backup and archive environments become more complex, the need for capacity and manageability continues to grow. That’s why the new DLT tape S4 cartridge offers monstrous capacity and fully leverages the DLT Sage Management Suite giving IT professionals the tools they need to protect, secure and manage their data.  *Based on 2:1 compression

Super DLT II Data Tape Cartridge

Designed for use with the SDLT 600 and SDLT 600A tape drives, the Super DLT tape II media cartridge delivers a 600 GB* capacity. Incorporating DLT Technology’s new eMP60™ tape technology, the Super DLT tape II cartridge provides you with the highest reliability available.

Everything in the Super DLT tape II cartridge is designed to enhance reliability, capacity and performance to provide you with vast improvements in tape storage. And, with the added benefit of DLT Sage™ functionality, this new media cartridge puts the power of knowing that data is safe, secure and protected where it belongs, in your hands.

*Based on 2:1 compression

Super DLTtape I Data Tape Cartridge

DLT Technology’s Super DLT tape I media cartridge, designed for SDLT 320 and SDLT 220 drives, achieves a capacity of up to 320 GB*. It delivers scalability and value in a single media cartridge.

The Advanced Metal Powder formulation used on Super DLTtape media pushes technology and performance levels forward. Yet these advances maintain the one-reel design, the unstressed tape path and the stationary tape head, time proven to ensure you extra stability and reliability. And, with the added benefit of DLT Sage functionality, this new media cartridge puts the power of knowing that data is safe, secure and protected where it belongs, in your hands.

*Based on 2:1 compression

DLTtape VS1 Data Tape Cartridge

DLTtape® VS1 tape media cartridges boast a capacity of 320 GB* and are designed for use by the DLT-V4 and DLT VS160 tape drives. DLTtape VS1 media was developed to meet the needs of the mid-range tape market by providing the capacity and performance you require.

DLTtape VS1 media will exceed your expectations by using the latest magnetic and mechanical innovations to deliver high capacity and a low cost per gigabyte. The intent is to allow you to focus on protecting your data rather than managing your tapes. And, with the added benefit of DLTSage™ functionality, this new media cartridge puts the power of knowing that data is safe, secure and protected where it belongs, in your hands.

*Based on 2:1 compression

DLTtape IV Product Data Tape Cartridge

Designed for use by the DLT 8000, DLT 7000, DLT 4000 and DLT1 tape drives DLTtape® IV tape media cartridges provide a capacity of up to 80 GB*. In addition, the SDLT 320 and SDLT 220 drives are read compatible with DLTtape IV, offering additional data recovery security into the future.

The DLTtape IV cartridge is the only one that can be used across multiple generations of drives, simplifying the media purchasing and management process. The recording scheme employs shorter wavelengths, to allow future drive read compatibility.

*Based on 2:1 compression

DLT and Super DLT Cleaning Tape Cartridges

These DLT cleaning tape cartridges are designed to exacting specifications to ensure that they provide the right level of care for the tape drive head to keep your drive running long into the future.

DLT Cleaning Tape Cartridge Use

There are five important things to remember when cleaning your drive:

Clean your drive when cleaning is required through the cleaning indicator light or through your backup software. The drive constantly monitors its performance and will tell you when it needs to be cleaned.

Never use a cleaning cartridge if the cleaning indicator light is not on. Cleaning on a preset schedule, rather than waiting for a cleaning light, leads to excessive wear, diminishing drive life and performance.

Always mark the label on your cleaning cartridge. When the cartridge has been used 20 times it’s done.

Know your drive’s cleaning compatibility. There are different cleaning cartridges for drives that may use the same data cartridge, i.e. the DLT 8000 and DLT VS80 use different cleaning cartridges. The cleaning cartridges have been tuned to the read/write heads used in each drive.

Periodically check for drive firmware updates on the web. Updates to firmware may include improved cleaning algorithms or other improvements that will help keep your drive running at optimal performance.