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LTO Professional practice questions

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Question 1LTO Technology Fundamentals

In LTO technology, what does the acronym LTO stand for?

  1. Linear Transfer Object
  2. Linear Tape-Open Correct answer.
  3. Layered Tape Operation
  4. Long-Term Optical

Explanation

LTO is the abbreviation for Linear Tape-Open, the open-format magnetic tape standard developed by a consortium of vendors. The name reflects both the linear recording method and the open licensing model.

Question 2LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which recording method gives LTO its name and writes data in parallel tracks along the length of the tape?

  1. Helical scan recording
  2. Optical phase-change recording
  3. Linear serpentine recording Correct answer.
  4. Perpendicular disk recording

Explanation

LTO uses linear serpentine recording, where heads write tracks along the tape length and reverse direction at each end, wrapping data back and forth. This differs from helical scan used by some other tape formats.

Question 3LTO Technology Fundamentals

An administrator needs a tape that can hold roughly 1.5 times the native capacity of an LTO-8 cartridge in a single volume. Which generation should be selected?

  1. LTO-6
  2. LTO-7
  3. LTO-9 Correct answer.
  4. LTO-5

Explanation

LTO-9 provides a native capacity of about 18 TB, which is 1.5 times the 12 TB native capacity of LTO-8. LTO-7 at 6 TB and earlier generations hold substantially less.

Question 4LTO Technology Fundamentals

What is the native capacity of an LTO-8 cartridge before compression is applied?

  1. 12 TB Correct answer.
  2. 18 TB
  3. 30 TB
  4. 6 TB

Explanation

An LTO-8 cartridge holds 12 TB natively, and vendor-quoted compressed figures of about 30 TB assume a 2.5:1 compression ratio. Native capacity is the uncompressed figure used for planning.

Question 5LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which LTO feature lets a drive read the tape's index and file marks without streaming through the entire cartridge?

  1. The servo tracks
  2. The leader pin
  3. The cartridge memory chip Correct answer.
  4. The write-protect switch

Explanation

Cartridge memory is a small non-volatile chip in the cartridge that stores metadata such as usage history and the tape directory. A drive can read it over a contactless interface in seconds, enabling fast loads and searches.

Question 6LTO Technology Fundamentals

What is the primary purpose of the servo tracks written on an LTO tape?

  1. To mark the physical end of the tape
  2. To store the cartridge memory contents
  3. To keep the read/write heads aligned precisely on data tracks Correct answer.
  4. To encrypt the user data blocks

Explanation

Servo tracks are factory-written patterns that the drive uses to position the heads accurately as tape stretches and shifts. This closed-loop tracking is essential for the very narrow, high-density data tracks in modern LTO generations.

Question 7LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which interface is specified for LTO-8 and later drives to support higher throughput than 6 Gb/s SAS?

  1. USB 3.0
  2. FireWire 800
  3. 6 Gb/s SATA
  4. 12 Gb/s SAS Correct answer.

Explanation

LTO-8 drives are offered with 12 Gb/s SAS or 8 Gb/s Fibre Channel interfaces to keep pace with higher native transfer rates. SATA and consumer interfaces do not meet the throughput or reliability requirements.

Question 8LTO Technology Fundamentals

What does the write-protect switch on an LTO cartridge do when it is moved to the locked position?

  1. It prevents the drive from writing data to the tape Correct answer.
  2. It disables the servo tracks
  3. It reduces the native capacity by half
  4. It erases the cartridge memory chip

Explanation

The write-protect switch is a physical slider that, when set to locked, makes the drive treat the cartridge as read-only. This protects archived data from accidental overwrite or erasure.

Question 9LTO Technology Fundamentals

A backup job writes 10 TB of already-compressed video to an LTO-8 tape. Why might the job require more than one cartridge even though the drive advertises 30 TB compressed capacity?

  1. Because incompressible data yields little or no compression benefit Correct answer.
  2. Because LTO-8 tapes cannot store more than 10 TB under any condition
  3. Because the cartridge memory limits each tape to 10 TB
  4. Because the drive compresses data a second time automatically

Explanation

Vendor compressed capacities assume a typical 2.5:1 ratio, which only holds for compressible data. Pre-compressed video sees little gain, so the effective capacity stays near the 12 TB native figure and may not cover large jobs on one tape.

Question 10LTO Technology Fundamentals

An LTO-7 drive is loaded with an LTO-6 cartridge. What is the expected behavior?

  1. The drive refuses to load the cartridge entirely
  2. The drive writes at LTO-7 density onto the LTO-6 media
  3. The drive reads and writes at LTO-6 capacity and speed Correct answer.
  4. The drive reads only and cannot write

Explanation

LTO drives are backward compatible for one generation, so an LTO-7 drive can read and write LTO-6 media but at the older generation's capacity and transfer rate. Two-generation-back media is read-only, and older still is unsupported.

Question 11LTO Technology Fundamentals

What does the LTO Ultrium roadmap practice of specifying multiple future generations in advance primarily give customers?

  1. Permanent read compatibility with all past generations
  2. Predictable capacity and performance growth for long-term planning Correct answer.
  3. Automatic migration of data between generations
  4. A guarantee that older drives will be upgraded for free

Explanation

The roadmap publishes expected native capacity and throughput for several future generations so organizations can plan archive growth and procurement. It does not promise free hardware or automatic data migration.

Question 12LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between an LTO tape's native transfer rate and its compressed transfer rate?

  1. They are identical because compression happens in the host
  2. The native rate applies only to reading, not writing
  3. The compressed rate is higher and assumes a typical compression ratio Correct answer.
  4. The compressed rate is lower because of processing overhead

Explanation

Drive specifications list a native rate plus a higher compressed rate that assumes the standard 2.5:1 ratio. Actual throughput depends on how compressible the data is and on the host and interface keeping the drive fed.

Question 13LTO Technology Fundamentals

What is the function of the leader pin in an LTO cartridge?

  1. It stores the tape directory for fast file access
  2. It provides a grab point so the drive can thread the tape Correct answer.
  3. It anchors the servo tracks at the start of tape
  4. It holds the cartridge memory chip in place

Explanation

The leader pin sits at the start of the tape and is captured by the drive's threading mechanism to pull the media into the tape path. Without a properly seated leader pin the cartridge cannot be loaded.

Question 14LTO Technology Fundamentals

Why does LTO use a linear serpentine pattern with many parallel wraps rather than a single continuous pass?

  1. To eliminate the need for servo tracking
  2. To allow the tape to be written in either direction only once
  3. To increase track density and capacity while keeping tape speed practical Correct answer.
  4. To reduce the number of read/write head elements needed

Explanation

Serpentine recording lets a small head assembly write a large number of narrow tracks by stepping across the tape width on each pass. This raises areal density and capacity without requiring impractically fast tape motion.

Question 15LTO Technology Fundamentals

A library operator notices a tape repeatedly producing read errors at the same logical position. Which LTO mechanism most directly helps the drive recover the data?

  1. Error correction code stored with the data Correct answer.
  2. The leader pin
  3. The cartridge label barcode
  4. The write-protect switch

Explanation

LTO media store error correction code alongside the data, allowing the drive to detect and correct a certain number of errors during reads. If errors exceed the correction capability, the drive reports a permanent read error.

Question 16LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which statement best explains why LTO cartridges include cartridge memory rather than relying solely on a barcode label?

  1. Cartridge memory stores detailed usage and media health data that a barcode cannot hold Correct answer.
  2. Cartridge memory replaces the need for tape data tracks
  3. Barcode labels cannot be read by automated libraries
  4. Cartridge memory is cheaper than printing a barcode

Explanation

Cartridge memory holds rich metadata such as load counts, error logs, and the tape directory, which barcode labels cannot represent. Libraries still use barcodes for fast volume identification, so the two serve complementary roles.

Question 17LTO Technology Fundamentals

What does the LTO specification's 'load/unload life' rating describe?

  1. The shelf life of an unopened cartridge
  2. The number of times a cartridge can be threaded and ejected before wear limits are reached Correct answer.
  3. The number of full backups a tape can hold
  4. The number of drives that can share one cartridge

Explanation

Load/unload life is the specified number of threading and ejection cycles a cartridge is rated to withstand. Exceeding it increases the risk of media and leader-pin wear and is tracked through cartridge memory.

Question 18LTO Technology Fundamentals

An administrator is planning a long-term archive and wants to minimize media migration. Which consideration is most relevant when choosing the LTO generation?

  1. Selecting the newest generation to maximize the interval before a future migration is required Correct answer.
  2. Selecting a generation that is already two generations behind the current drive
  3. Selecting a generation based only on the drive's interface type
  4. Selecting the oldest supported generation to reduce cost

Explanation

Newer generations provide higher capacity and a longer window before the media generation falls outside supported drive compatibility. This reduces how often data must be migrated to current media over the archive's lifetime.

Question 19LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which factor most limits the effective throughput of an LTO-9 drive during a backup?

  1. The color of the cartridge shell
  2. The drive's maximum native transfer rate when the host cannot supply data fast enough Correct answer.
  3. The number of barcode labels applied to the cartridge
  4. The length of the tape leader pin

Explanation

Tape drives stream data continuously and will reposition if the host cannot keep the buffer full, sharply reducing throughput. Matching host, SAN, and disk performance to the drive's native rate is essential to avoid shoe-shining.

Question 20LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which LTO generation introduced a native capacity of 18 TB per cartridge?

  1. LTO-8
  2. LTO-10
  3. LTO-7
  4. LTO-9 Correct answer.

Explanation

LTO-9 media provides 18 TB native capacity, continuing the roadmap's roughly doubling per generation. LTO-8 offers 12 TB and LTO-7 offers 6 TB native.

Question 21LTO Technology Fundamentals

A drive reports that it can read an older cartridge but cannot write to it. Assuming the write-protect switch is unlocked, what is the most likely explanation?

  1. The tape has reached its native capacity limit
  2. The cartridge memory chip is full
  3. The cartridge is two generations older than the drive Correct answer.
  4. The drive is operating in a lower speed mode

Explanation

LTO drives read media two generations back but write only one generation back. A cartridge two generations older is therefore readable but not writable in that drive, which matches the reported behavior.

Question 22LTO Technology Fundamentals

Why does LTO specify a minimum tape speed and use variable-speed operation rather than a single fixed speed?

  1. To increase the compression ratio automatically
  2. To reduce the number of servo tracks required
  3. To allow the cartridge to be loaded into older drives
  4. To match the data rate from the host and avoid excessive back-hitching Correct answer.

Explanation

Drives adjust tape speed to match the incoming host data rate, which reduces stop-and-start repositioning known as back-hitching or shoe-shining. This preserves media life and maintains efficient streaming.

Question 23LTO Technology Fundamentals

An engineer compares native and compressed capacity figures across LTO generations and notices the ratio is consistently about 2.5:1. What does this ratio represent?

  1. The ratio of tape length to cartridge shell size
  2. An assumed typical compression factor used for marketing capacity figures Correct answer.
  3. The maximum possible compression the drive hardware can achieve
  4. A guaranteed compression factor for every data set

Explanation

Vendor compressed capacities apply a standard assumed ratio, historically 2.5:1, to native capacity. Real-world results vary widely, and incompressible data may show almost no gain.

Question 24LTO Technology Fundamentals

What distinguishes LTO Ultrium from earlier proprietary tape formats in terms of licensing?

  1. It is an open format with multiple licensed media and drive manufacturers Correct answer.
  2. It is controlled by a single vendor with no third-party licensing
  3. It is only available for mainframe systems
  4. It requires a subscription to read archived data

Explanation

LTO is an open standard with multiple licensed manufacturers producing compatible drives and media, which encourages competition and interoperability. This openness is a defining characteristic of the Ultrium format.

Question 25LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which component inside an LTO Ultrium cartridge stores drive-usage statistics and cartridge attributes that a drive can read without mounting the tape?

  1. The leader pin assembly
  2. The write-protect switch
  3. The servo track band
  4. The cartridge memory chip Correct answer.

Explanation

Cartridge memory is a small non-contact memory device embedded in the cartridge that holds usage statistics, media attributes, and the tape index, and it is read over a short-range radio link when the cartridge is loaded. It lets automation and drives identify and evaluate a cartridge quickly without threading and streaming the media.

Question 26LTO Technology Fundamentals

What is the native (uncompressed) capacity of a single LTO-9 Ultrium cartridge?

  1. 30 TB
  2. 18 TB Correct answer.
  3. 12 TB
  4. 6.25 TB

Explanation

LTO-9 specifies 18 TB native capacity per cartridge, with a compressed capacity figure roughly two and a half times that under the standard 2.5:1 assumption. The 12 TB and 6.25 TB figures belong to earlier generations, and 30 TB is not the native specification for LTO-9.

Question 27LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which statement describes the compression assumption LTO vendors use when quoting a cartridge's compressed capacity?

  1. A 2:1 ratio applied to the native capacity
  2. A 4:1 ratio applied to the native capacity
  3. A 1.5:1 ratio applied to the native capacity
  4. A 2.5:1 ratio applied to the native capacity Correct answer.

Explanation

The LTO program quotes compressed capacity by applying a 2.5:1 compression assumption to the native capacity, so an 18 TB LTO-9 cartridge is advertised as 45 TB compressed. Actual results depend entirely on how compressible the data is, and already-compressed data will not achieve that ratio.

Question 28LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which recording method does an LTO drive use to write data as a series of parallel tracks in alternating directions across the tape width?

  1. Linear serpentine recording Correct answer.
  2. Perpendicular disk recording
  3. Optical phase-change recording
  4. Helical scan recording

Explanation

LTO is a linear tape format: data is written in many parallel longitudinal tracks, and the head moves to the next track and reverses direction at the end of the tape, producing a serpentine pattern. Helical scan is characteristic of formats such as DDS and AIT, not LTO.

Question 29LTO Technology Fundamentals

What does the LTO Ultrium format specification define for a compliant drive and cartridge pair?

  1. Physical, magnetic, and logical interoperability requirements Correct answer.
  2. Only the physical cartridge dimensions
  3. Only the compression algorithm
  4. Only the host interface command set

Explanation

The Ultrium format specification covers the physical media, magnetic recording characteristics, track layout, logical data format, and servo requirements so that any compliant drive can read a compliant cartridge of a supported generation. Interoperability across vendors is the central purpose of publishing the format.

Question 30LTO Technology Fundamentals

An LTO-9 drive is writing to an LTO-8 cartridge. What capacity and compatibility behavior should the administrator expect?

  1. The drive writes at LTO-8 capacity but at LTO-9 speed
  2. The drive writes at LTO-8 capacity and speed because the cartridge generation limits the result Correct answer.
  3. The drive refuses to load the cartridge because generations cannot mix
  4. The drive writes at full LTO-9 capacity because the drive defines the format

Explanation

LTO drives read one generation back and write two generations back, and when a newer drive uses an older cartridge the recording is limited to the older generation's format. Capacity, track count, and transfer rate therefore follow the cartridge generation, not the drive.

Question 31LTO Technology Fundamentals

A tape library reports that a specific slot consistently fails to mount cartridges, while the same cartridges mount correctly in other slots. Which component should be investigated first?

  1. The drive firmware level on all drives
  2. The backup software's media pool configuration
  3. The cartridge memory chip in each affected cartridge
  4. The picker or slot mechanism for that location Correct answer.

Explanation

Because the cartridges work in other slots, the fault follows the location rather than the media, pointing at the picker, slot, or transport mechanism serving that position. Isolating variables this way is the standard first step in library fault diagnosis.

Question 32LTO Technology Fundamentals

Why does an LTO drive perform a calibration or retension-style adjustment when it encounters a cartridge written on a different drive?

  1. To erase the cartridge memory and rebuild the index
  2. To change the cartridge's native capacity
  3. To convert the data to a different compression format
  4. To adapt servo and tracking parameters to the media and environmental conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Tape and head alignment vary between drives and with temperature and humidity, so the drive adjusts servo tracking and read equalization to recover data reliably from media written elsewhere. This adaptation is why interchange between drives is specified and tested rather than assumed.

Question 33LTO Technology Fundamentals

An administrator needs to confirm whether a tape has exceeded its rated usage before placing it back into a production rotation. Where is this information most reliably obtained?

  1. From the barcode label affixed to the cartridge
  2. From the physical wear visible on the cartridge shell
  3. From the cartridge memory usage statistics reported by the drive Correct answer.
  4. From the backup catalog entry for the last job

Explanation

The drive records load counts, thread counts, and error statistics in cartridge memory, and management software reads these through the drive. Barcodes and catalog records identify the volume but do not track physical wear.

Question 34LTO Technology Fundamentals

What is the purpose of the tape directory held in cartridge memory?

  1. To hold the encryption keys used for the cartridge
  2. To store a copy of the backed-up data as a redundancy measure
  3. To let the drive locate data quickly without reading the whole tape sequentially Correct answer.
  4. To record the drive's firmware version at last write

Explanation

The tape directory records where data sets and file marks sit on the media so the drive can seek directly to a position instead of streaming from the beginning. This greatly reduces positioning time for restores and random access.

Question 35LTO Technology Fundamentals

A drive reports 'cleaning required' after a sustained period of read errors. What is the correct operational response?

  1. Run a validated cleaning cartridge through the drive and log the event Correct answer.
  2. Reformat the affected cartridges to clear the errors
  3. Replace the drive immediately without further diagnosis
  4. Increase the compression setting on the backup job

Explanation

Sustained errors commonly indicate debris on the heads, and the specified remedy is a cleaning cartridge approved for that drive, followed by logging so excessive cleaning frequency can be trended. Repeated cleaning requests shortly after cleaning point to media or drive faults instead.

Question 36LTO Technology Fundamentals

Why must an LTO drive control tape tension precisely during read and write operations?

  1. To keep the tape in stable contact with the heads and maintain track alignment Correct answer.
  2. To allow the cartridge to be ejected without rewinding
  3. To increase the native capacity of the media
  4. To reduce the cartridge's power consumption

Explanation

The tape must be held at the correct tension so it contacts the heads consistently and the servo can follow narrow tracks without lateral deviation. Poor tension control causes signal loss, tracking errors, and media damage.

Question 37LTO Technology Fundamentals

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between an LTO drive's data rate and the host interface speed?

  1. The interface must exceed the drive's native rate so the drive is not starved of data Correct answer.
  2. The interface and drive rates are unrelated in practice
  3. The interface speed determines the tape's native transfer rate
  4. The interface may be slower because the drive buffers the entire cartridge

Explanation

If the host cannot feed or drain data faster than the drive's native rate, the drive must stop and reposition, which sharply reduces effective throughput. The interface and storage path are therefore sized above the drive's native rate to keep streaming continuous.

Question 38LTO Technology Fundamentals

A company must retain data for fifteen years and expects to migrate it several times. Which LTO practice best supports that plan?

  1. Refreshing media on a scheduled cycle and verifying readability before migration Correct answer.
  2. Relying on the compressed capacity figure for all planning
  3. Writing each cartridge only once and never reading it again
  4. Storing cartridges in uncontrolled warehouse conditions to save cost

Explanation

Long-term retention depends on periodic reading and copying to fresh media, because media and drives age and generations retire. Scheduled verification catches degradation before data is lost and keeps the migration chain intact.

Question 39LTO Technology Fundamentals

An engineer observes that an LTO drive slows down when writing small files from many concurrent streams. Which explanation best accounts for the reduced throughput?

  1. Frequent file marks and repositioning interrupt the streaming write pattern Correct answer.
  2. The cartridge memory cannot index more than a fixed number of files
  3. The drive automatically compresses small files more aggressively
  4. Small files are written to a separate reserved partition

Explanation

Linear tape performs best when data arrives as a continuous stream; interleaved small files generate many file marks and cause the drive to stop and reposition, which dominates the time budget. Larger aggregation or larger block sizes reduce this overhead.

Question 40LTO Technology Fundamentals

Why does the LTO format include a write-equalization or read-after-write verification function during recording?

  1. To encrypt the data as it is written
  2. To reduce the number of tracks required
  3. To double the effective capacity of the cartridge
  4. To confirm data was recorded correctly and flag marginal media immediately Correct answer.

Explanation

Read-after-write lets the drive immediately verify each block it records and mark or rewrite marginal areas, which preserves data integrity and identifies failing media early. It consumes some throughput but prevents silent corruption.

Question 41LTO Roadmap and Generations

In the published LTO generation roadmap, which generation introduced the Linear Tape File System as a standard feature of the format rather than an add-on?

  1. LTO-4
  2. LTO-6
  3. LTO-7
  4. LTO-5 Correct answer.

Explanation

LTFS was introduced with the LTO-5 generation and became the defining software feature of that generation, enabling file-level access to tape. LTO-4 predates LTFS, while LTO-6 and LTO-7 inherited and extended the capability rather than introducing it.

Question 42LTO Roadmap and Generations

Which LTO generation first added hardware-based drive-level encryption as a standard format capability?

  1. LTO-3
  2. LTO-5
  3. LTO-4 Correct answer.
  4. LTO-6

Explanation

LTO-4 introduced native AES-256 drive encryption, allowing data to be encrypted on the fly without host-side software. Earlier generations such as LTO-3 had no standard encryption mechanism, and later generations simply carried the LTO-4 encryption model forward.

Question 43LTO Roadmap and Generations

What is the native (uncompressed) capacity of a single LTO-8 cartridge?

  1. 30 TB
  2. 12 TB Correct answer.
  3. 6 TB
  4. 18 TB

Explanation

LTO-8 provides 12 TB native capacity per cartridge, which doubles to 30 TB with the standard 2.5:1 compression assumption. The 30 TB figure is the compressed capacity, and 6 TB and 18 TB correspond to other generations.

Question 44LTO Roadmap and Generations

The LTO Program roadmap has traditionally described capacity growth across generations using which approximate multiplier per generation?

  1. 2x every generation Correct answer.
  2. 3x every generation
  3. 1.5x every generation
  4. 4x every generation

Explanation

The roadmap has long been built on a doubling of native cartridge capacity with each new generation, which is why capacities follow a roughly 2x progression. This doubling assumption underpins the long-range projections published for future generations.

Question 45LTO Roadmap and Generations

Which LTO generation introduced the Linear Tape File System with dual partitions, allowing an index partition and a data partition on the same cartridge?

  1. LTO-5 Correct answer.
  2. LTO-4
  3. LTO-6
  4. LTO-7

Explanation

LTO-5 introduced LTFS together with the two-partition layout, where a small index partition holds file metadata and the data partition holds content. This partitioning is what makes fast file-level positioning possible.

Question 46LTO Roadmap and Generations

What is the native capacity of an LTO-9 cartridge?

  1. 12 TB
  2. 36 TB
  3. 18 TB Correct answer.
  4. 20 TB

Explanation

LTO-9 delivers 18 TB native capacity, which becomes 45 TB under the standard 2.5:1 compression assumption. The 12 TB figure belongs to LTO-8, and 36 TB is not a native capacity for any shipping generation.

Question 47LTO Roadmap and Generations

Which generation of LTO media introduced the use of barium ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particles in place of the earlier metal particle formulation?

  1. LTO-8
  2. LTO-5
  3. LTO-7 Correct answer.
  4. LTO-6

Explanation

LTO-7 media adopted barium ferrite particles, which support higher areal density than the metal particle media used in earlier generations. This media change is one reason LTO-7 achieved a larger capacity jump than a simple linear extension would allow.

Question 48LTO Roadmap and Generations

Which LTO generation introduced the tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) read head technology used to increase areal density?

  1. LTO-9
  2. LTO-6
  3. LTO-8 Correct answer.
  4. LTO-7

Explanation

LTO-8 drives introduced TMR heads, which provide a stronger signal response than the giant magnetoresistive heads used previously and enable higher track density. LTO-9 continues with TMR-based head designs.

Question 49LTO Roadmap and Generations

A customer wants to use LTO-8 drives but still has a stock of LTO-7 cartridges. What does the LTO-8 drive support for reading and writing LTO-7 media?

  1. Read LTO-7 media only, with no write capability
  2. Read and write LTO-7 media, but only at reduced speed Correct answer.
  3. Read and write LTO-7 media at full LTO-8 speed
  4. Neither read nor write LTO-7 media

Explanation

LTO-8 drives can read and write LTO-7 cartridges, but the media is written at a reduced transfer rate because the older media cannot sustain the LTO-8 native speed. Backward compatibility covers one prior generation for both read and write, with the speed penalty applied.

Question 50LTO Roadmap and Generations

An archive holds LTO-5 cartridges and plans to migrate them using a current LTO-9 drive. What compatibility limitation applies?

  1. The LTO-9 drive can read LTO-5 media only after a firmware unlock
  2. The LTO-9 drive cannot read LTO-5 media at all Correct answer.
  3. The LTO-9 drive can read LTO-5 media but cannot write it
  4. The LTO-9 drive can read and write LTO-5 media at reduced speed

Explanation

LTO drives read media two generations back and write media one generation back, so an LTO-9 drive reads LTO-8 and LTO-7 but not LTO-5. Migration from LTO-5 requires an intermediate drive generation that still supports that media.