HP StoreEver Ultrium Tape Drives - Manual (Page 5)

1 Introduction
This guide provides information about HP StoreOpen Automation software, which is an application
for reading and writing Linear Tape File System (LTFS) tapes on some versions of Linux and MacOS.
HP StoreOpen Automation makes tape self-describing, file-based, and easy to use. The software
provides the ability to use standard file operations on tape media for accessing, managing and
sharing files with an interface that behaves similarly to a hard disk. In addition, HP StoreOpen
Automation provides the ability to share data across platforms, as you would with a USB drive or
memory stick.
Features
•
Compliant with the LTFS 2.2.0 format specification
•
Provides software to use an HP tape library (or library partition) with LTO-5 or LTO-6 tape
cartridges as a file system.
•
Based on Open Source software
•
Supported on popular versions of Enterprise Linux and Mac OS X
Benefits
HP tape libraries with HP LTO-5 and LTO-6 tape drives already deliver a wide range of benefits,
such as encryption, partitioning, and TapeAssure. HP StoreOpen Automation extends these benefits
with:
•
Direct access to the data stored on tape: When a library is mounted, the files and directories
on each cartridge appear on the desktop or command console in the same way as a disk
directory listing.
•
Ease of use: HP StoreOpen Automation increases ease of use. Simply drag and drop files
between disk and tape. Or use familiar command line syntax, like cp and ls, to view and
access your data.
•
Compatibility across your environment: Tape media written using HP StoreOpen Automation
is self-describing and interoperable with other LTFS solutions from HP, and from other vendors.
•
Increased data mobility: Easily share content to increase data mobility; tapes written with HP
StoreOpen Automation can be exchanged more easily between users working in different
operating systems, using different software and in different locations.
•
A single storage media standard: Unify organization-wide file sharing with HP tape libraries,
and HP LTO-5 or LTO-6. Tapes can move across libraries and standalone LTFS installations
with the ease of video cassettes. Files on tape can be accessed using straightforward
drag-and-drop, and familiar command lines.
Intended usage
HP StoreOpen Automation presents the contents of tapes in a library as a file system volume.
However, it is important to bear in mind that it is not a disk and, therefore, there are some best
practices to ensure satisfactory performance and a good user experience.
1. HP StoreOpen Automation is designed to be used in a single-user environment, where the
user has unrestricted access to all tapes and resources of the tape library or partition. Attempting
to share the library or partition with multiple users or processes will result in poor performance
due to the sequential access nature of tape. More importantly, it is also possible for one user
Features 5