IBM 3592 - Re-usable Media

Re-usable Media

Unlike many other tape standards, the 3592 format allows an extensive re-use of cartridges already owned:

Older generation tapes can be reformatted to higher capacities with every new drive generation, according to the table below. Cartridges are expected to operate in read and write mode across at least three drive generations. The observed media replacement rate in large archives is therefore lower than with most other standards.

Technically, reformatting a cartridge means increasing its track density (only), as the linear bit density is limited by the tape coating. In the table below, a 'JA' type cartridge can be reformatted from 300GB initially to 640GB in the TS1130 drive. A later 'JB' type cartridge will carry 1TB since its better coating also permits a higher linear bit density. Generally speaking, linear density is limited by material, semiconductor and signal processing technologies, whereas track density is limited by the servo technology that prevents track runout.