DLT

DLT

Digital Linear Tape

DLT

(Digital Linear Tape) A magnetic tape technology originally developed by Digital for its VAX line. The technology was later sold to Quantum, which makes it available to other manufacturers. DLT uses half-inch, single-hub cartridges similar to IBM's 3480/3490/3590 line. It writes 128 or 208 linear tracks, depending on model, and provides native capacities from 40 to 80GB. DLT usage started to grow rapidly in the mid-1990s and has been widely used on medium to large-scale LANs.

SuperDLT (SDLT) provides native capacities of 110GB (SDLT 220), 160GB (SDLT 320) and 300GB (SDLT 600). SDLT designations are compressed ratings, which are twice the native capacity. Native transfer rates for DLT are from 3 to 8MB per second, while SDLT is 11 to 36MB/sec. SDLT drives can read DLT IV cartridges. For more information, visit www.quantum.com. See magnetic tape.

DLT and SDLT Cartridges
Like IBM tapes, DLT/SDLT uses half-inch linear recording in a single-hub cartridge. After insertion, the tape is pulled from the cartridge onto the take-up reel inside the drive.

Single-hub Cartridges
DLT, Magstar and SAIT all use half-inch, single-hub cartridges in which the tape is fed onto a take-up reel inside the drive. While DLT and Magstar use linear recording, SAIT uses helical scan.