LTO Ultrium Roadmap

Released Generations Include:
Generation 5
With capacity of 3 TB (assuming a 2:1 compression), the latest generation in the LTO family provides data transfer speed of up to 280 MB/s (assuming a 2:1 compression) and adds a new partitioning feature and Linerar Tape File System specification to provide enhanced file control and data management. The LTO Ultrium format generation 5 specifications were made available to licensees in January 2010.
Generation 4
Delivering 1.6TB (2:1 compression) and up to 800 GB native per cartridge, Ultrium format Generation 4 provides data transfer rates of up to 240 MB/second (2:1 compression), the LTO Ultrium format generation specification was made available to licensees in late December 2006.
Generation 3
Featuring capacities of 800 GB (2:1 compression) and up to 400 GB native per cartridge, Ultrium format Generation 3 provides data transfer rates of up to 160 MB/second (2:1 compression) for the third generation of the 8-channel version. Generation 3 licenses became available on July 26, 2004 with products appearing in late 2004.
Generation 2
With a cartridge capacity of up to 400 GB (2:1 compression) and up to 200 GB native, Ultrium format Generation 2 provides data transfer rates of up to 80 MB/second (2:1 compression). Licenses for Generation 2 became available in April 2002 with products appearing in late 2002.
Generation 1
First licensed in 1998, with product appearing in 2000, Ultrium format Generation 1 provides cartridge capacities of up to 200 GB (2:1 compression) and up to 100 GB native with data transfer rates of up to 40 MB/ second (2:1 compression).

Future Generations
Generation 6
Capacity: 8 TB (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)
Data transfer speed: up to 525 MB/s (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)
Generation 7
Capacity: 16 TB (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)
Data transfer speed: up to 788 MB/s (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)
Generation 8
Capacity: 32 TB (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)
Data transfer speed: up to 1,180 MB/s (assuming a 2.5:1 compression)