HP StoreEver ESL G3 Tape Libraries - Manual (Page 22)

interlocked stacking that enables easier storage of the media when they are removed from the
library for external storage.
Support for WORM
The ESL G3 library supports WORM (write once, read many) technology in LTO-4 and later tape
drives.
WORM allows non-erasable data to be written once and provides extra data security by prohibiting
accidental data erasure.
Tape drives
Tape drives are enclosed in a universal drive sled. You can hot swap and hot add all supported
drives, regardless of type. The library supports HP LTO-4 and later FC Multi-mode tape drives.
The control module and expansion modules have upper and lower drive clusters. Each library must
have at least one tape drive. Each drive cluster can house up to six tape drives for a total of 12
drives. Additional drives can be added to standard EMs both consecutively and non-consecutively,
with a maximum of 192 drives per library, with current hardware and firmware.
NOTE: When you add drives, you lose storage slots.
For libraries shipped before May 2013 and running a library firmware version prior to 663H,
drives must be installed in bottom to top order in the CM, filling the module with 12 drives, before
any are added to the first EM. Additionally, the first EM must have all 12 drives installed in the
same order before adding any drives to the next EM..
For libraries shipped after May 2013 and running library firmware version 663H or later, drives
can be installed throughout the CM and EMs consecutively or non-consecutively, as long as the
control module contains at least one drive. However, drives should still be added to the CM and
any additional EMs in bottom to top order.
NOTE: The term drive cluster defines a grouping of up to six tape drives below or above the
middle X-axis rail.
Figure 7 (page 21) shows the locations of drives in the control module.
LTO drives
LTO drives are supported as shown in Table 2 (page 22) .
Table 2 LTO drive and cartridge compatibility
LTO-6 Cartridge LTO-5 WORM LTO-5 Cartridge LTO-4 WORM LTO-4 Cartridge
Not compatible Not compatible Not compatible Write Once, Read
Many Reads/Writes LTO-4 Drives
Not compatible Write Once, Read
Many Reads/Writes Write Once, Read
Many Reads/Writes LTO-5 Drives
Reads/Writes Write Once, Read
Many Reads/Writes Reads Reads LTO-6 Drives
All LTO cartridges are the same size, which means they use the same magazines in the library.
LTO drives can be directly attached to hosts but for full functionality they should be integrated in
a SAN.
22 Library overview