Overview

The IBM® TS3500 tape library is a highly scalable, stand-alone device that provides reliable, automated tape handling and storage for both mainframe and Open Systems environments.

Figure 1 shows a 6-frame version of the TS3500 tape library. An individual library, or library string, consists of one base frame and up to 15 expansion frames and can include up to 192 tape drives and more than 20 000 tape cartridges. The flexibility to connect multiple library strings to create a shuttle complex greatly increases opportunities for growth, as well as the maximum cartridge capacity. In addition to scalability, the TS3500 tape library offers the following enhancements:
  • Enhanced data accessibility through dual accessors that increase speed and provide failover protection
  • Enhanced data security through support for tape drive encryption and write-once-read-many (WORM) cartridges
  • Increased storage capacity with high-density (HD) frames that greatly increase capacity without requiring more floor space
  • Increased growth flexibility with shuttle technology, even in physically constrained environments
  • Greatly increased cartridge capacity in a shuttle complex without the need for additional tape drives
These features are explained in greater detail .
Figure 1. The TS3500 tape library
The TS3500 tape library comes with several tape drive, frame model, and feature options to meet your specific needs. Some additional features of the TS3500 tape library are listed here:
  • Ability to attach multiple simultaneous heterogeneous servers
  • Remote management using a web browser or the TS3500 Command Line Interface program
  • Remote monitoring using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
  • Multipath architecture
  • Drive/media exception reporting
  • In-depth reporting using the Tape System Reporter
  • Host-based path failover
  • Up to 224 I/O slots (16 I/O slots standard)
Table 1 gives potential library capacity based on supported frames and configurations.
Table 1. TS3500 tape library configurations
Supported configurations
A library including these models With these drives Can contain this many cartridges1, 2 And has this maximum native capacity3
L5x, D5x, and S54 Ultrium tape drives > 20 000 150 PB
(133.23 PiB)
L32, D32, and S544, 5 Ultrium tape drives > 20 000 50 PB
(44.41 PiB)
L2x, D2x, and S24 3592 tape drives > 15 000 150 PB
(133.23 PiB)
L5x, D5x, S54, and SC1 Ultrium tape drives > 300 000 1 800 PB
(1 598.72 PiB)
L32, D32, S54, and SC14, 5 Ultrium tape drives > 300 000 750 PB
(666.1 PiB)
L2x, D2x, S24, and SC1 3592 tape drives > 225 000 2.25 EB
(1.95 EiB)
Notes:
  1. In order to support code level 9500 or higher, all node cards in the library must be xx3-equivalent node cards. For xx2 models, this requires a xx3 model conversion OR the enhanced node card(s) feature (FC 1700 or 1701).
  2. In order to increase the maximum number of cartridges to more than 6 887, or to support a shuttle complex, logical libraries must use LTO Ultrium 4, 3592 E05, or later tape drives as control path drives. In order to support more than 6 887 cartridges, Ultrium 4 control path drives require a minimum code level of 97F0. For logical libraries with shuttle stations assigned, Ultrium 4 control path drives require a minimum code level of A480 and Ultrium 5 control path drives require a minimum code level of B170.
  3. The maximum native capacity figures are based on library configurations with high density (HD) frames and these drives:
    • For library configurations with no x32 frames, all Ultrium 7 or 3592 E08 tape drives.
    • For library configurations with x32 frames, all Ultrium 6 or 3592 E08 tape drives.
    In addition, the figures for libraries with Model SC1 (shuttle connection) are based on the maximum shuttle complex configuration.
  4. Ultrium 7 or 8 tape drives are not supported in model x32 frames.
  5. In order to support Ultrium 6 tape drives, libraries with an L32 frame require enhanced grippers (FC 2205 or 2304).

For detailed information regarding tape drives supported by the TS3500 tape library, and the data rate and capacity for these drives, see Supported tape drives. For information regarding supported tape media, refer to Supported tape cartridges. For details regarding frame models and frame capacity, see Structure of the library. For information about the shuttle complex and Model SC1, refer to Structure of the shuttle complex.