Spectrum Archive tape format compatibility with LTFS media versions

IBM Spectrum Archive™ tape format compatibility for Linear Tape File System™ (LTFS) versions 1 and 2.

IBM Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition uses the LTFS technology for storing files on tape, and complies with LTFS format specification version 2.2.0.

IBM Spectrum Archive can import tape cartridges that were formatted by earlier versions of LTFS-based software, and can work with media format versions 1 and 2 as described in Table 1.

Table 1 shows how the LTFS format version interacts with various media. The LTFS tape format version is continuously updated. For the most current version of the LTFS format specification go to: Linear Tape File System (LTFS) Format Specification.

Table 1. The LTFS format version's interaction with various media
LTFS format Version 2 Function of Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition Notes
Version 1.0 Read/Write 1  
Version 2.0-2.2 Read/Write

Version 2.0 - Supports the sparse file.

Version 2.1 - Supports symbolic links.

Version 2.2 - Published by SNIA and standardized as ISO/IEC 20919:2016.
Notes:
  1. The cartridge is automatically converted to version 2 format on write.
Attention: A medium that is formatted to version 2 cannot be converted to a version 1 format.