Editing Linear Tape-Open (section)

== Cartridges ==
[[File:LTO2-cart-wo-top-shell.jpg|thumb|LTO-2 cartridge with the top shell removed, showing the internal components. Top right corner: tape access gate. Bottom left corner: write-protect-tab. Bottom right corner: cartridge memory chip]]

[[File:Sony LTO Ultrium 3 Data cartridge LTX400G - details.jpg|thumb|LTO-3 cartridge with the top shell removed, showing the internal components. Top right corner: write-protect-tab. Bottom left corner: cartridge memory chip. Bottom: tape access gate.]]

Throughout the history of the format, there have been six compliance-verified, licensed manufacturers of LTO technology media: [[EMTEC]], [[Imation]], [[Fujifilm]], [[Maxell]], [[TDK Corporation|TDK]], and [[Sony]].<ref name="ultrium-lto-licensees"/> All other brands of media are (or were) manufactured by these companies under contract. Since its bankruptcy in 2003, EMTEC no longer manufactures LTO media products. Imation ended all magnetic tape production in 2011,<ref name="imation-closes-last-tape-plant"/> but continued making cartridges using TDK tape for a while. In 2017 they withdrew from all data storage markets, renaming themselves Glassbridge Enterprises. TDK withdrew from the data tape business in 2014.<ref name="Dissolution"/> Maxell produced cartridges up to and including generation 6 in 2012, but has since withdrawn from the market. [[Verbatim Corporation|Verbatim]]<ref name="emtec-imation-verbatim"/> and [[Quantegy]]<ref name="fujitsu-quantegy"/> both licensed LTO technology, but never manufactured their own compliance-verified media.

{{As of|2019}}, only Fujifilm and Sony continue to manufacture current LTO media.<ref name="sony-and-fujifilm"/>

In addition to the data cartridges, there are also Universal Cleaning Cartridges (UCC), which work with all drives.

=== Dimensions ===

All formats use the same cartridge dimensions, {{convert|102.0|x|105.4|x|21.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="fujifilm-cartridge"/>

=== Colors ===
The colors of LTO Ultrium cartridge shells are mostly consistent, though not formally standardized; HP is the notable exception. Sometimes similar, rather than identical, colors are used by different manufacturers (slate-blue and blue-gray; green, teal, and blue-green; dark red and burgundy).

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: smaller;"
|-
!
! UCC
! LTO-1
! LTO-2
! LTO-3
! LTO-4
! LTO-5
! LTO-6
! LTO-7
! LTO-8
! LTO-9
! LTO-10
|-
! align=left| Typical color
| Black <ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.allbound.com/iq-ab/2020/02/LTO-Ultrium-Datasheet-DS00383A.pdf|title=Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet|website=cdn.allbound.com}}</ref>
| Black <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge">{{Cite web|title=IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge| website=[[IBM]] |url=https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/ts4500-tape-library/1.8.0.3?topic=media-lto-data-cartridge}}</ref>
| Purple <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Slate-blue / Blue-gray <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Green / Green-gray / Teal <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Dark red / Burgundy <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Black <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/>
| Purple <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quatum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.allbound.com/iq-ab/2020/02/LTO-Ultrium-Datasheet-DS00383A.pdf|title=Quatum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet|website=cdn.allbound.com}}</ref>
| Dark red / Burgundy <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet"/>
| Green <ref name="IBM TS4500 tape library - LTO data cartridge"/><ref name="Quantum LTO Ultrium Media Datasheet"/>
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
! align=left | HP color
| Orange <ref name="HP C7978A-60010">{{Cite web|url=https://partsurfer.hpe.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=C7978-60010|title=C7978-60010|website=partsurfer.hpe.com}}</ref>
| Blue <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives">{{Cite web|url=http://cdn.cnetcontent.com/8b/94/8b940c1f-e3af-48e3-8694-c81cfd2af2f3.pdf|title=HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives|website=cdn.cnetcontent.com}}</ref>
| Dark red <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Yellow <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Green <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/>
| Light blue <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/><ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet">{{Cite web|title=HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet|url=https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/PSN34648USEN?jumpid=in_hpesitesearch}}</ref>
| Purple <ref name="HP StoreEver LTO Ultrium Tape Drives"/><ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Slate blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Green <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| Light blue <ref name="HPE LTO Ultrium Cartridges Data sheet"/>
| style="background:lightgrey"|
|-
|}

WORM (write once, read many) cartridges are two-tone: the top half of the shell is the normal color of that generation for that manufacturer, and the bottom half of the shell is a light gray.<ref name="HPE LTO-6 ULTRIUM 6.25TB WORM DATA CARTRIDGE (C7976W)">"{{Cite web|title=HPE LTO-6 ULTRIUM 6.25TB WORM DATA CARTRIDGE |url=https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/PSN5378429USEN?jumpid=in_hpesitesearch}}</ref>

=== Memory ===
[[File:LTO-3 cartridge memory chip.jpg|thumb|LTO cartridge memory]]

Every LTO cartridge has a cartridge memory chip inside it. It is made up of 511, 255, or 128 blocks of memory, where each block is 32 bytes for a total of 16&nbsp;KiB for LTO-6 to 8; 8&nbsp;KiB for LTO-4 and 5; and 4&nbsp;KiB on LTO-1 to 3 and cleaning cartridges.<ref name="fujispecs"/> This memory can be read or written, one block at a time, via a non-contacting passive 13.56&nbsp;MHz RF interface. This memory is used to identify tapes, to help drives discriminate between different generations of the technology, and to store tape-use information. Every LTO drive has a cartridge memory reader in it. The non-contact interface has a range of 20&nbsp;mm.<ref name="LTO-CM_13.56_MHz"/> External readers are available, both built into tape libraries and PC based. One such reader, Veritape, connects by USB to a PC and integrates with analytical software to evaluate the quality of tapes.<ref name="veritape"/> This device is also rebranded as the Spectra MLM Reader<ref name="Spectra MLM"/> and the Maxell LTO Cartridge Memory Analyzer.<ref name="Maxell-LTO"/> [[Proxmark3]] and other generic RFID readers are also able to read data.<ref name="proxmark"/>

=== Labels ===
[[File:LTO-6 sample label.png|thumb|An example of an LTO-6 label]]

The LTO cartridge label in [[tape library]] applications commonly uses the bar code symbology of [[Code 39|USS-39]].<ref name="LabelSpecification"/><ref name="Barcode"/> A description and definition is available from the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) specification Uniform Symbol Specification (USS-39) and the ANSI MH10.8M-1993 ANSI Barcode specification.

=== Leader pin ===
[[File:LTO-leader-pin.jpg|thumb|Leader pin on the end of a length of LTO tape]]

The tape inside an LTO cartridge is wound around a single reel. The end of the tape is attached to a perpendicular leader pin that is used by an LTO drive to reliably grasp the end of the tape and mount it in a take-up reel inside the drive. Older single-reel tape technologies, such as [[9-track tape]] and [[Digital Linear Tape|DLT]], used different means to load tape onto a take-up reel. When a cartridge is not in a drive, the pin is held in place at the opening of the cartridge with a small spring. A common reason for a cartridge failing to load into a drive is the misplacement of the leader pin as a result of the cartridge having been dropped. The plastic slot where the pin is normally held is deformed by the drop and the leader pin is no longer in the position that the drive expects it to be.

=== Erasing ===
The magnetic servo tracks on the tape are factory encoded. Using a bulk eraser, degaussing, or otherwise exposing the cartridge to a strong magnetic field, will erase the servo tracks along with the data tracks, rendering the cartridge unusable. Erasing the data tracks without destroying the servo tracks can be done with an LTO drive or with special equipment. The erasing head used in these erasers has four magnetic poles that match the width and the location of the data bands. The gaps between the poles correspond to the servo tracks, which are not erased. Tapes erased by this equipment can be recorded again.<ref name="THIC"/>

=== Cleaning ===
[[File:LTO2-internal-head-cleaning-brush-detail.jpg|thumb|Internal head cleaning brush from an IBM LTO-2 FH drive. Swipes once for every insert and eject]]

Although keeping a tape drive clean is important, normal cleaning cartridges are abrasive and frequent use will shorten the drive's lifespan. LTO drives have an internal tape head cleaning brush that is activated when a cartridge is inserted. When a more thorough cleaning is required the drive signals this on its display and/or via Tape Alert flags.<ref name="tapealert"/> Cleaning cartridge lifespan is usually from 15 to 50 cleanings. There are 2 basic methods of initiating a cleaning of a drive: robot cleaning and software cleaning. In addition to keeping the tape drive clean, it is also important to keep the media clean. Debris on the media can be deposited onto drive components that are in contact with the tape. This debris can result in increased media wear which generates more debris. Removing excessive debris from tape can reduce the number of data errors. Cleaning of the media requires special equipment.<ref name="HPE Cleaning"/> These cleaners are also used by Spectra Logic to clean new media that is marketed as "CarbideClean" media.<ref name="Certified"/> HP LTO Gen.1 drives have a cleaning strategy<ref name="HP cleaning strategy"/> that will prevent the drive from using the cleaning tape if it is not needed. In a change of strategy, HP LTO Gen 2, 3 and 4 drives will always clean when a Universal Cleaning Cartridge is inserted, whether the drive requires cleaning or not.<ref name="HP cleaning strategy" />