TDK LTO Ultrium 5 Data Cartridge Passes Certification Testing

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Development of High-Capacity 1.5 TB Data Cartridge Completed, Mass Production Starts

March 19, 2010

TDK Corporation announced today that it completed development of the LTO Ultrium 5, the fifth-generation LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Ultrium format data cartridges and the cartridges recently passed certification testing by the LTO compliance verification entity (CVE). TDK has now started mass production of the LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridges.

TDK has long been an expert in the development of recording media and frequently works in close collaboration with various drive manufacturers during the initial tape and cartridge design stages to develop optimal products for each recording format. It was thanks to this extensive track record that the LTO Ultrium 5 passed the strict certification testing by the CVE.

The rapid development and expansion of digital networks resulting from the spread of cloud computing has caused the volume of data handled by data storage systems in large-scale data centers and other facilities to expand enormously, and even higher-capacity, faster data systems are needed. The LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridge, the fifth-generation LTO product, has a capacity of 1.5 TB (3.0 TB with 2:1 compression) and a high-speed data transfer rate of 140 MB/s (280 MB/s with 2:1 compression) maximum. LTO Ultrium 5 is an optimal data storage system for high-speed, high-capacity servers in today's era of large data volumes.

To achieve this tremendous data storage capacity, the LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridge, the recording media for LTO Ultrium 5 data storage systems, uses tape that is 12.65 mm wide and has 1,280 recording tracks (compared to 896 tracks for LTO Ultrium 4). In addition, the tape thickness has been reduced to make it possible for a single cartridge to hold more tape. As a result, the tape must meet even stricter precision, performance, and durability standards.

The LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridge, which TDK recently began mass-producing, incorporates cutting-edge magnetic material and tape technologies that TDK, a recording media manufacturer, has accumulated through the development of numerous magnetic recording media including LTO Ultrium products. The LTO Ultrium 5 format achieves stable read and write signals by using high-output, ultrafine metal particles designed specifically for LTO Ultrium, ultra-thin, dual-layer tape coating technology that controls the thickness of the magnetic layer on the nanometer order, and a special servo writer used to record high-precision servo signals.

In addition, a high-precision cartridge mechanism that seeks high-performance and high precision in every component including a high-precision leader pin and a reel hub that enhances the straightness of the drum is used to ensure precise drive access.

Thanks to these features and technologies, the LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridge is a highly durable, high-reliability data storage medium that meets today's most demanding needs for high capacity and high-speed storage solutions.

LTO Ultrium 5 Data Cartridge Specifications

• * Without data compression. Capacity and transfer rate doubled with 2:1 compression.
• ** Without condensation.
• *** Short-term conditions refer to storage up to six months; long-term conditions refer to storage of more than six months.
  Do not expose to ambient magnetic fields greater than 4,000 A/m.
  Dimensions are nominal.
  
  Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO Logo, Ultrium, and the Ultrium logo are trademarks of Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Quantum in the United States and other countries.

For further information, contact Mr. Kogure in the Corporate Communications Dept.
Tel.: 81-3-6778-1055
E-mail: TDK.PR@tdk.com