© 2012 IBM Corporation IBM Linear Tape File System (LTFS) Overview and Demo

© 2012 IBM Corporation 2 Agenda  LTFS Overview  Cartridge Layout  Examples of Use  Demo

© 2012 IBM Corporation 3 What is LTFS? 1) Open Format for data which is written to tape  Developed and disclosed by IBM  Describes the format of data and meta data stored on tape  Meta data is based on XML schema  Applicable to LTO5, LTO6 and TS1140  Requires tape partitioning 2) File System support (code) to R/W tapes in LTFS format  Externalizes the LTO5 / LTO6 / TS1140 tape as file system  Enables standard applications to write/read LTFS tapes  Supports update, edit, and delete of files on LTFS tape  Supports partial recall  Available on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows Makes tape look and work like any removable media (e.g., USB drive, removable disk)

© 2012 IBM Corporation 4 LTFS – Easy Exchange of Data – Share Data across Platforms LTO5, LTO6 TS1140

© 2012 IBM Corporation 5 LTFS-LE (Library Edition) Schematic Example  Mount point is the library  Cartridges are subdirectories  LTFS mounts cartridges into drive to service file access requests  Easy usage, no ISV required  Caching of tape indices in memory –For searching and displaying tape contents without needing a mount

© 2012 IBM Corporation 6 Rich Media Archives  Very Large –Large base of existing content to be digitized + continuous growth –Accessible by the media asset workflow tools & network –Scalability key  Long term – years  Self-describing data containers required –Out of system content management –Portability – need to distribute content to many users –Protection from loss of archive due to corruption/loss of central meta- data/index

© 2012 IBM Corporation 7  Self-Describing cartridge –Remove requirement to commit long term to tape software application –Content protection in event of database corruption or loss  Improve content interchange/distribution –Eliminate need for common tape software across enterprise and/or interchange locations –Reduce cost of data interchange vs provideo  Partial Recall –Eliminate time penalty in moving large video content to tape in event of need small part of video content (ie. Goal in game)  $/GB, Power –Reduce cost of digital storage – power and $/min  Open Standards –Large diverse infrastructure requires open standard –Standard/support of MXF video  Long Term Content Archive Life –Archive life desire for years LTFS Value Proposition

© 2012 IBM Corporation 8 Agenda  LTFS Overview  Cartridge Layout  Examples of Use  Demo

© 2012 IBM Corporation 9 Logical View of LTFS Volume BOTBOT EOTEOT Index Partition Data Partition Guard Wraps LTFS Index XML File  LTFS utilizes media partitioning (new to LTO5, LTO6 and TS1140)  The tape is logically divided “lengthwise” (think C: & D: drives on single hard disk unit)  LTFS places the index on one partition and data on the other

© 2012 IBM Corporation 10 Partition Layout  Index Partition  Data Partition VOL 1 Label LTFS Label Index … File Mark VOL 1 Label LTFS Label Index … File Mark Index File Mark ABC

© 2012 IBM Corporation 11 Agenda  LTFS Overview  Cartridge Layout  Examples of Use  Demo

© 2012 IBM Corporation 12 LTFS LE – Simple File Storage  Simple deployment  Access files directly from server with LTFS LE by client or application  Export LTFS file system as network file system (NFS, CIFS) to any client capable of remotely mounting file system LTFS Linux or Windows Server Tape Library Tape Appliance CIFS NFS Windows Linux Etc.

© 2012 IBM Corporation 13 Simple Archive LTFS Linux Server Tape Library xcopy / rsync  Daily copy of changed data to tape  Use LTFS with as remote file system –Copy files using standard OS tools  Advantages –Easy integration in customer network

© 2012 IBM Corporation 14 LTFS Storage Manager LTFS-LE Linux Server Tape Library LTFS SM  Web GUI to manage files archived in LTFS tapes  Simplifies access  GUI admin for operations like importing, exporting and formatting tapes  Utilize metadata provided with the files to manage files  Tag files with text  Inside and outside the tape library  Partial file restore  Automated Storage Management

© 2012 IBM Corporation 15 Linear Tape File System – Weblinks: LTFS Homepage LTFS Redbook LTFS LE Info Center LTFS Format Specification: Almaden Research Project: Wikipedia:

© 2012 IBM Corporation 16 Agenda  LTFS Overview  Cartridge Layout  Examples of Use  LTFS Demo

© 2012 IBM Corporation 17 LTFS LE – Demo LTFS Linux or Windows Server Tape Library Tape Appliance CIFS NFS Windows Linux Etc.