Re: Can LTO ULTRIUM5 tapes be initialized to *ULTRIUM4 on an 8202-E4C POWER7?

I don't think you can initialize an LTO5 tape to LTO4 standards, you
have to use the correct cartridge for the tape density. The tape device
being an internal sled or one that is in a tape library has no real
bearing on it. The tape header which is written at the factory (and I
don't think can be overwritten) determines the density of the tape. The
color of the cartridge is for humans.

For grins I tried in on my 3573, and had the same result. Even tried it
with LTO3 and LTO2. Same thing, no joy.

Jim Oberholtzer
Chief Technical Architect
Agile Technology Architects


On 12/14/2012 5:20 PM, Eric Lehti wrote:

> Do you have a POWER7 8202-E4C with the integrated single-unit tape unit
> that is LTO Ultrium5?
> Can you run this test for me?
>
> Insert one of your Ultrium5 tapes.
> Try to INZTAP with parm DENSITY(*ULTRIUM4) instead of *DEVTYPE.
>
> Does it allow you to initialize your LTO Ultrium5 tape to *ULTRIUM4?
>
> I will soon need to purchase a bunch of new tapes and have yet not
> decided whether to purchase Ultrium5 or Ultrium4.
>
> I am able to continue using our old Ultrium4 tapes because I changed
> INZTAP command default from *DEVTYPE to *ULTRIUM4. (We were
> previously on a 8203 POWER6 machine)
>
> Tape capacity is not much of a consideration because we need only one
> Ultrium4 tapes for a full backup.
>
> --