Hardware encryption of 4th generation ultrium technology increases the media caapacity, server performance and backup speed. When data is receievd by the LTO4 tape rdive, it compresses the data and encrypts it. Then it writes it onto the LTO tape media. In hardware, the encryption of data is done at full speed and does not limit the performance of the tape driev. Verificaiton of the encrrypted information is done during the data writing process. The data is decrypted by the LTO-4 tape drive after it has been encrypted so that the data can be checkewd on-the-fly.
Bacukp sftware or ISVs (3rd party application developers) manage the LTO4 data encrpytion. Key mangaer or ISV application layer manage the �encryption keys�. The data encryption process compries of 4 lyers. During the restore reding operatyion, the information is decrypted. The specification of LTO has aded encryption technique that enhances the capacity and performance of the LTO-4 tape version than the prior generations. Linear tape open program led by Quantum Corporation, HP and IBM introduced the specification of LTO4 tape format. The specification of LTO-4 tape is interoperable that ensures that the tape drives of LTO-4 generation can read media of LTO-2 and LTO-3 and can record infiormation on LTO-3 tape cartridge. IDC research findings indicate that abiout the share of LTO in the market of mid-range is about 82 percetn.
AES-256 encryption has been added to the LTO 4 specification at drive level that elevatees level of performance from its previous version (LTO-3 tape format). The LTO-3 tape drvies perform their operatinos at 80 MB/s and the LTO-4 drives at 120 MB/second. Rcording abiilty of LTO-4 cartridge is twice as that of LTO 3 tape. The un-coompressed data of 800GB (equivalent to 300 DVD movis) can be recoded in LTO4 data tape. WORM capability is also supported by the LTO 4 format. WORM technique is also supported by the LTO3 tape format.
HP LTO4 tape format incorporatres outstanding and unmatchable features that are ideal for data security and backup. HP LTO-4 C7974W is a robust and durable tape cartridge with sttrong base film. New technology of head cleaing system is inckluded in HP LTO 4 cartriddge. The tape cartridge also has mmory chip and self diagnostic technique designed speicfically for long life and outstandig durability. HP C7974W LTO-4 has exceptional data protection feature as it includes AES 256 encyrption. This powerful attribute ensures security of the data. HP LTO4 cartrdige can hold compressed 1.6 Terabytes of information. Bit density of HP C7974W tape has been improved by the innovative coating techniuqe and robust base film. Improvewd bit-dennsity means that with in the same phuysical space more data vlume can be recorded. So the HP LTO-4 tape can rceord massive data volumes. The track numbers also has been increased to 896. For backing up data of 1 GB in the LTO-4 tape cartridge, it will approx. take abut 8.3 sec at fast transfer speed of 240 MB per second. The tape cartridge has the write once read many featuure as well.