AMIA 2024

LTO data tape is used by archives as a stable solution for backing up digital files. The current generation, LTO-9, has also introduced some challenges when there are differences in the physical environment of the writing location vs. that of the reading location. One of the noted features of the format since LTO-5, the LTFS open file system used for writing data to LTO tape, will no longer be supported by IBM past version 2.4.5 on PCs running Windows 10 or 11. Additionally, there is a trend by LTO tape library and software manufacturers to ignore LTFS and incorporate object storage technologies into LTO tape libraries, resulting in data on tape being locked into proprietary systems. This session will explain the implications of these changes in the LTO format as related to digital preservation, to help guide attendees’ future use of LTO data storage in their digital preservation planning.