Automate your backup with a tape autoloader that provides a choice of LTO Ultrium tape drives, remote management, data encryption, and proactive drive and media health monitoring.
What level of encryption does the LTO-4 Ultrium Tape Drive configuration offer?
A1.
LTO-4 uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with the longest and most secure keys, 256 bits. AES-256 is implemented within Galois Counter Mode (GCM). This is a method of increasing AES security by efficiently adding Message Authentication Codes to ensure the integrity of the backup data stored on tape.
The HP LTO-4 Ultrium 1840 Tape Drive is designed to be compliant with the emerging standard for tape drive security, IEEE 1619.1.
Q2.
What are the benefits of hardware based encryption at the ASIC level of the tape drive?
A2.
The main benefit is performance. At normal block lengths (say 10KBytes and above), there will be no discernable performance loss due to encryption. This is in stark contrast to software encryption, where performance is significantly reduced. Also, LTO-4 tape drives implement hardware compression before encryption (compression of pre-encrypted data is impossible since it appears random). With software encryption, compression is not done causing significant capacity loss. Alternatively, at an even greater cost to performance, compression could be done in software. It is possible to buy “black box appliances” to do hardware encryption between computer and tape drive, but these significantly add to system complexity and cost, even if they are able to match tape drive encryption speeds.
Q3.
Can I encrypt LTO-3 tapes with the HP LTO-4 Ultrium Tape Drive configuration?
A3.
No, encryption is only supported in the LTO-4 and LTO-5 formats. The LTO-3 format does not support encryption. This is the same for all tape drive manufacturers. However, you can write unencrypted LTO-3 tapes with the HP LTO-4 Ultrium Tape Drive configuration.
Q4.
Is the 1/8 G2 Rack-to-Tabletop Conversion Kit needed if rubber feet are included with the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader?
A4.
The 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader ships as a rack-ready product. If you choose to use the unit on a desk or tabletop, rubber feet are included with the product for customer installation. HP recommends the use of the 1/8 G2 Rack-to-Tabletop Conversion Kit in order to provide additional structural rigidity to the product and fully enclose the unit. The conversion kit withstands a maximum load of 33 pounds (15 kilograms) being placed on top of the autoloader unit.
Q5.
What is the purpose of the user-enabled mail slot in the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader?
A5.
The 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader has a single user-enabled mail slot in its left magazine. This mail slot allows users to import or export a single cartridge at a time. Many data protection applications require this feature to perform certain library functions. If the customer does not use an application that requires this function, they can disable the import/export feature.
Q6.
Can a HP Network Storage Router be used with the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader?
A6.
No, the 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader has only been tested as a direct attach SCSI device and is not currently supported as a Fibre Channel device. The HP MSL2024 Tape Library offers installation options into either a SCSI or SAN environment.
Q7.
Is the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader supported by HP Library and Tape Tools?
A7.
Yes, HP Library and Tape Tools (L&TT) provides full diagnostic support for this product from the start. In addition to diagnostic and troubleshooting abilities, L&TT offers useful information about the product and the ability to automatically check the Web for the latest firmware. L&TT can be downloaded from the following URL: www.hp.com/support/tapetools
Q8.
Into which racks can the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader be installed?
A8.
Utilizing the 1/8 G2 Rack Kit, available by separate purchase, the 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader can be mounted into the HP 10000 series, 9000 series, 5000 series, or System/E racks.
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