LTFS in brief
- Makes an LTO-5 to LTO-10 cartridge self-describing: the file index is stored on the tape itself
- Mount the tape and drag and drop files, just like a USB drive
- Cross-platform: works on Windows, macOS and Linux
- An open standard (ISO/IEC 20919), readable without proprietary backup software
What is LTFS?
The Linear Tape File System (LTFS) is an open format that lets an LTO cartridge be used like a disk. It was first developed by IBM and relies on the partitioning feature introduced with LTO-5. One partition holds an index of every file and folder on the tape (names, sizes, timestamps and locations). The other holds the file data.
When you load an LTFS tape, the drive reads the index and your operating system shows the cartridge as a mounted volume. You can browse folders, search file names and copy files on and off with your normal file manager. Because the index is cached in memory once mounted, browsing and searching need no tape movement.
Why LTFS matters
Before LTFS, a tape could normally only be read by the backup application that wrote it. That is a real problem for sharing data with other organisations, or for archives that need to outlive a software licence. LTFS removes the dependency:
- No lock-in: any LTFS-capable system can read the tape, today or decades from now.
- Simple data interchange: hand a cartridge to a partner and they can open it on Windows, Mac or Linux.
- Self-describing archives: the catalogue travels with the data.
- Low cost: free, open-source LTFS implementations are available from drive vendors.
Who uses LTFS?
LTFS is the standard in film, TV and post-production. Camera originals and rushes are copied to LTO on set and shipped to the edit house, and finished projects are archived for decades. Tape stores files sequentially, which suits very large video files (2K, 4K, 8K and 3D). Research institutions, genomics labs, CCTV operators and oil and gas companies also use LTFS to move and archive large data sets.
Supported LTO generations
LTFS works with LTO-5, LTO-6, LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9 and LTO-10, as well as IBM 3592 enterprise tape. Remember that each LTO drive can only read certain generations. An LTFS tape written on LTO-7 cannot be read in an LTO-9 or LTO-10 drive, for example. For long-term archives, keep a note of the generation and plan migrations. See the compatibility guide.
Backup vs archive
Backup
A copy of current data, used to recover deleted files or restore systems after hardware failure, corruption or attack. Backups run daily or weekly and older copies are overwritten after a set retention period.
Archive
Data that is no longer changing is moved off primary storage and kept for years, often for legal, regulatory or business reasons. As a rule of thumb, most data becomes inactive within a year of being created. Archiving it frees up primary disk, shrinks backup windows and speeds up restores.
LTFS is most often used for archive and data interchange. For backup, most organisations use a backup application writing to tape in its own format, often alongside an LTFS archive.
LTFS drives and software
Any current LTO drive supports LTFS. You need the free LTFS software for your operating system, from IBM, HPE or Quantum, or an LTFS-aware application. For post-production, desktop Thunderbolt or SAS LTO drives are the usual choice. For larger archives, LTFS can run in a tape library through archive software such as Spectra StorCycle or Archiware P5.
From a single desktop drive to a complete LTFS library solution, we can specify and supply it.