IBM 3584-L53 TS3500 LTO Tape Library

The IBM 3584 TS3500 Tape Library Model L53 is a base frame designed for IBM TS1030 LTO Ultrium Fibre Channel Tape Drives and LTO data cartridges. The Model L53 base frame has 64 to 287 cartridge slots and support for up to 12 tape drives with an incremental reduction of storage slots for more than four drives or with the additional I/O station installed. This model has a smaller footprint than the Model L32. The TS3500 Tape Library Model L53 is designed with an optimized gripper for use with LTO or 3592 tape cartridges. Data capacity for the Model L53 depends on the types of LTO Ultrium cartridges, up to 230 TB of physical capacity (at 2:1 compression) using LTO-DC with Ultrium 3 data cartridges. Up to 12 logical libraries (one per tape drive) can be configured for each frame.

Each Model L53 library has a standard 16-slot cartridge I/O station for importing or exporting LTO tape cartridges from the library without requiring a re-inventory. An additional 16-slot cartridge I/O is optionally available for either LTO or 3592 data cartridges. Libraries containing a mixture of LTO and 3592 drive technologies must have one LTO I/O station and one 3592 I/O station. For bulk loading of tape cartridges, the library door can be opened. Each time the library door is closed, a bar code reader mounted on the autochanger is designed to scan the cartridge labels enabling a re-inventory of the cartridges in the library frame in as little as 60 seconds. A door lock is included to restrict physical access to cartridges in the library.