1. IBM Systems Storage™
June, 2011
IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
by Lloyd Wiebe
Tape Performance
IBM Tucson

2. IBM System Storage TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 1
Contents Introduction
Introduction/Overview 1 The purpose of this white paper is to examine the performance of the IBM
System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive (TS1140 Tape Drive) in an open
Performance Overview 2 systems environment. A short description of the TS1140 Tape Drive follows.
Performance Evaluation 3
TS1140 Tape Drive Overview
Write/Read Performance 4
The TS1140 Tape Drive is the fourth generation of the IBM 3592 family of
Tape Capacity 8 enterprise level tape drives, and the successor to the TS1130 Tape Drive. As
Locate/Rewind Performance 8 such, it incorporates all of the features of the TS1130 Tape Drive while
enhancing performance and including new features.
Load/Unload Performance 10
Compared with other IBM tape products, the TS1140 Tape Drive provides
FastSync/SkipSync 11 higher levels of performance and cartridge capacity than its 3 predecessors:
Backhitchless Backspacing 12 the TS1130 Tape Drive (3592 E06 Tape Drive), the TS1120 Tape Drive
(3592 E05 Tape Drive), or the IBM TotalStorage® 3592 Model J1A Tape
Conclusion 13 Drive. In addition, the TS1140 Tape Drive is compatible with existing tape
References 20 libraries, helping customers to protect their investment in tape automation.
Supported environments include IBM Power™ Systems, System i™, System
p™, System z™, and System x™ servers; selected Sun and Hewlett Packard
servers; and Intel® servers running supported versions of Microsoft®
Windows® or Linux.
The TS1140 Tape Drive includes a dual-ported 8-Gbps Fibre Channel (FC-8)
interface for attachment to supported host bus adapters (HBAs) in supported
The TS1140 Tape Drive includes all IBM and non-IBM servers or supported 1, 2, 4 or 8 Gbps switched fabric or
the features of the TS1130 while arbitrated loop Storage Area Network (SAN) components.
enhancing data rate performance and
cartridge capacity. The native data rate of the TS1140 Tape Drive is 250 MB/sec and its native
capacity with the IBM 3592 JC tape cartridge is 4 TB (500 GB with the JK
cartridge). Actual tape drive data rate and cartridge capacity will vary
depending on factors such as data compression, server and disk performance
variables.

3. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 2
Performance Overview
The TS1140 Tape Drive achieves a The TS1140 Tape Drive improves on many of the performance features of the
leap in performance over the TS1130 TS1130 Tape Drive. These enhancements include:
due to a large number of hardware • Increased native data rate of 250 MB/sec (from 160 MB/sec)
and firmware improvements and
additions. • Increased cartridge capacity of 4 TB for the new JC/JY Data and
WORM media (from 1 TB on JB/JX media ) and support of 500 GB
Short cartridge (JK media)
• Ability of the drive to write and read a higher density format (Gen4
format) with the new JC/JY/JK-type media.
• Increased cartridge capacity of 1.6 TB for JB/JX type media (with
Gen4 format)
• Ability of the drive to write and read to/from JB/JX media in Gen3
(TS1130) format and Gen4 (TS1140) format
• Improved digital speed matching (more speed variations)
• Improved small file performance with a better FastSync function
• Improved large file performance with improved SkipSync function
These technology enhancements and additional supplementary information on
existing technology are described in the complementary white papers listed in
the references section at the end of this white paper.
Like its predecessor, the TS1140 Tape Drive also includes hardware-based data
encryption capabilities within the drive itself, helping to avoid the need for host-
based encryption of data and the resulting drain on host performance.
This whitepaper examines the performance benchmarks of the TS1140 Tape
Drive and associated features, particularly in comparison to the performance of
the TS1130 Tape Drive.
The performance benchmark test results do not specifically reference the
hardware-based encryption capability of the tape drive, either because
encryption has no impact on the performance or the impact is unchanged from
TS1130. For more details on encryption performance characteristics, refer to
the TS1130 Tape Drive Performance Whitepaper.

4. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 3
Performance Evaluation
All of the performance benchmarks were run on an IBM System x Model 3755
The TS1140 Tape Drive is backward running Linux Suse 11. An 8-Gbps PCI-E FC host bus adapter (HBA) was used
format and media compatible with its to connect to the tape drives. The results in the following charts reflect
3592 predecessor, and introduces a measurements made on both Emulex and Qlogic 8-Gbps HBAs.
new higher density format that
increases both data rate and capacity The majority of the performance benchmark tests examine the relative
on the same 3592 media. performance of the different TS1140 Tape Drive read/write format/media
options. The TS1140 has the following media/format support:
• G4-JC: Gen4 write/read format with JC-type media. This is the new
Gen-4 32-channel logical format supported for write, append or read
operations with the new JC/JY/JK media types
• G4-JB: Gen4 write/read format with JB-type media. This is the new
Gen-4 32-channel logical format supported for write, append or read
operations on legacy JB and JX media types
• G3-JB: Gen3 write/read format with JB-type media. This is the legacy
Gen-3 (TS1130) 16-channel logical format supported for write, append
or read operations on legacy JB and JX media types
• G2-JB: Gen2 write/read format with JB-type media. This is the legacy
Gen-2 (TS1120) 16-channel logical format supported for read-only
operations on legacy JB and JX media types. The performance of this
mode was not included in the scope of this report
• G1/G2/G3-JA: Gen1, Gen-2, and Gen-3 write/read formats with JA-
type media. JA-type media (JA/JJ/JW/JR) is not currently supported on
the TS1140, but support may be available in post-GA releases for read
operations from these formats/media types. Please consult your IBM
representative for more details. The performance of this mode was not
included in the scope of this report
In addition, some of the evaluation charts shown in this whitepaper also include
results from the TS1130 Tape Drive with JB media. These results will be
labeled TS1130 or TS1130-JB in the charts.

5. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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Maximum Read/Write Performance
The TS1140 Tape Drive maximum The following chart compares the maximum streaming read and write
streaming read and write data rates performance of the three test modes mentioned above for the TS1140 with the
show a clear performance TS1130. Four different files with different compression characteristics were
enhancement for each format and tested with known 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and maximum (95:1) compression ratios. The
media type over the TS1130 Tape chart shows a clear performance improvement for the first two read/write modes
Drive data rates. of the TS1140 over the TS1130 at all compression ratios, and similar or better
(at high compression ratios) of the G3-JB throughput over the TS1130. The
reason the TS1140 Tape Drive performance is so much better at high
compression than the TS1130 Tape Drive is, in part, due to the greater
throughput of the 8 Gbps FC attachment over the 4Gbps FC attachment of the
TS1130.
TS1140 Maximum Data Rates
800.0
700.0
Data Rate (MB/s)
600.0
500.0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
1:1 Read 2:1 Read 3:1 Read Max 1:1 Write 2:1 Write 3:1 Write Max
Read Write
G4-JC G4-JB G3-JB TS1130-JB
Streaming Write Performance
The TS1140 Tape Drive streaming The following three charts detail the streaming write data rate performance at
write data rates reflect the expected varying block sizes (from .5 KB to 512 KB) and varying compression ratios
differences when accounting for (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, Maximum) for each of the three TS1140 write format/media
block size and compression ratios modes.
at each of the four format/media
options.

6. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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TS1140 Write Data Rates - JC Media G4 Format
700
600
500
max
400 3:1
300 2:1
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512
TS1140 Write Data Rates - JB Media G4 Format
700
600
500
max
400 3:1
300 2:1
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512

7. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 6
TS1140 Write Data Rates - JB Media G3 Format
700
600
500
max
400 3:1
300 2:1
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512
Streaming Read Performance
The TS1140 Tape Drive streaming As with the write charts, the following three charts detail the streaming read data
read data rates reflect the expected rate performance at varying block sizes (from .5 KB to 512 KB) and varying
differences when accounting for compression ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, Maximum) for each of the four TS1140 read
block size and compression ratios format/media modes.
at each of the four format/media
options.
TS1140 Read Data Rates JC Media G4 Format
700
600
500
max
400 3:1
300 2:1
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512

8. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 7
TS1140 Read Data Rates - JB Media G4 Format
700
600
500
max
400 3:1
300 2:1
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512
TS1140 Read Data Rates - JB Media G3 Format
800
700
600
max
500
3:1
400
2:1
300
1:1
200
100
0
0.5 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512

9. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 8
Tape Capacity
The following chart displays native (uncompressible data) capacity
Due to the higher density of the measurements for the TS1140 Tape Drive. The chart shows the capacity for the
Gen4 format used with the TS1140 three format/media modes compared with the TS1130 Tape Drive. Included here
Tape Drive, tape capacity is are JC, JB, and JK media written in G4 format.
considerably enhanced for both JC
and JB media.
TS1140 Capacity
4.5
4
4.021
3.5
Capacity (TB)
3
2.5
2
1.5
1.608
1
1.06 1.005
0.5 0.503
0
G4-JC G4-JB G3-JB JK TS1130-JB
Tape Media
Tape Locate Performance
The TS1140 Tape Drive’s 12.4 m/s The following two charts show the average and maximum locate times for the
tape speed results in excellent TS1140 Tape Drive for the JC, JB, and JK tape media. They also show the
average and maximum “locate to locate times for a 20% scaled JC media.
block” times.
BOT locate means the time for the drive starting at the beginning of the tape to a
random location on the tape. To determine the average and maximum times,
locates were made to many random locations on a completely filled tape.
TS1140 BOT Locate Times
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0 JC
Seconds
50.0 JB
40.0 JK
30.0 JC20%
20.0
10.0
0.0
Avg BOT Locate Max BOT Locate

10. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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Random locate means the time for the drive starting at some random location on
a tape to another random location on the tape. To determine the average and
maximum times, locates were made from/to many random locations on a
completely filled tape.
TS1140 Random Locate Times
70.0
60.0
50.0
JC
Seconds
40.0 JB
30.0 JK
JC20%
20.0
10.0
0.0
Avg Random Locate Max Random Locate
Tape Rewind Performance
The TS1140 Tape Drive features In addition to locate performance, rewind performance is also exceptional in the
excellent rewind performance, also TS1140 Tape Drive by using the superior 12.4 m/s maximum tape speed. The
due to the superior 12.4 m/s tape following chart shows the excellent average and maximum (nominal) rewind
speed. performance times of the TS1140 Tape Drive.
Similar to the locate times above, the rewind times were determined by locating
first to many random block locations on the tape, then measuring the rewind
time back to the beginning of tape.
TS1140 Rewind Times
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0 JC
Seconds
JB
40.0
JK
30.0 JC20%
20.0
10.0
0.0
Avg Rewind Max Rewind

11. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 10
Cartridge Load/Unload Performance
Cartridge load and unload times are The following chart displays the Load and Unload times for the TS1140 Tape
similar for the TS1140 when Drive with JC, JB, and JK media.
compared with the TS1130 Tape
Drive. TS1140 Load/Unload Times
25.0
20.0
Seconds
15.0
Load
Unload
10.0
5.0
0.0
G4-JC G4-JB G3-JB JK
Format/Media

12. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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FastSync and SkipSync Performance
Fast Sync and Skip Sync performance The function known as ‘virtual backhitch’ improves performance by minimizing
for the TS1140 Tape Drive is the effects of start/stop write processing (tape synchronizing events). Virtual
enhanced due to the better data rate Backhitch, also called FastSync or recursive accumulating backhitchless flush
performance over the TS1130. (RABF), can greatly improve write performance through backhitch reduction.
This function is more fully described in a separate white paper listed in the
appendix matter. In short, by temporarily reserving portions of physical tape for
cache areas, virtual backhitching can significantly improve the average write
throughput to tape with synchronized data transactions.
The chart below illustrates the usage of the FastSync function for both the
TS1140 and TS1130 Tape Drives, displaying the relative data rates and the
FastSync invocations for each. It is clear from the chart that at most dataset
sizes, the TS1140 features improved performance over the TS1130.
In addition, the chart shows the effect of a function introduced with the TS1130
called SkipSync. Briefly explained, SkipSync turns on when FastSync turns off
(at or just under 200 MB transaction size) and, rather than backhitch after a sync
operation, continues the tape forward motion until more data is received from
the host, in effect trading a small amount of tape capacity for an increase in data
rate performance. The drive does this only when it determines the time to
receive data after a sync operation is small enough that it will have a minimal
effect on tape capacity – not to exceed a 2% capacity penalty. As shown in the
chart, the sync data rate performance when SkipSync is invoked can be greater
than three times the normal data rate.
TS1140 Fast Sync/Skip Sync Performance
JC Media
240
200
Data Rate (MB/s)
160
TS1140
120
TS1130
80
40
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
Transaction Size (MB)

13. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 12
Backhitchless Backspacing Performance
The ‘backhitchless backspacing’ function improves performance by minimizing
Backhitchless Backspacing the effects of writing/re-writing multiple trailer labels. Backhitchless
performance is enhanced in the backspacing can help greatly improve write performance by virtualizing some
TS1140 Tape Drive for transaction backspace operations while in FastSync mode, allowing these operations to be
sizes from 1-200 MB when compared processed logically rather than physically.
with the TS1130 Tape Drive.
This function is more fully described in a separate white paper listed in the
appendix matter.
As described in the previous section, compared with the TS1130 Tape Drive the
TS1140 enhances performance by a general increase in the data rate
performance.
TS1140 Backhitchless Backspacing Performance
70
60
Data Rate (MB/s)
50
40 TS1140
30 TS1130
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
Transaction Size (MB)

14. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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Conclusion
The introduction of the award winning TS1120 encrypting tape drive brought
the industry’s first fully encrypting data drive with high levels of security to
small, medium and large businesses alike.
The TS1130 Tape Drive incorporated all the features of the TS1120 with major
performance enhancements to most of those features. A native data rate
improvement of 60%, increase in cartridge capacity to 1 TB with JB media, and
better transaction processing performance due, in part, to a larger data buffer and
functional enhancements made the TS1130 a very successful next step to the
family of IBM tape drives.
Now, with the release of the TS1140 Tape Drive, IBM has taken the next major
step in that family of enterprise level tape drives. A huge capacity jump from 1
TB to 4 TB on new media, native data rate improvement of over 56% with an
even greater increase in throughput of compressible data, legacy media support
at higher capacity and performance, and further performance enhancements to
small and large file processing make the TS1140 a very worthy addition to the
IBM 3592 family of enterprise level tape drives.

15. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
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References
IBM System Storage TS1130 Tape Drive
Non Volatile Caching Whitepaper
Christine Knibloe, IBM Performance Analyst
IBM System Storage TS1130 Controller
Performance Whitepaper
Stella Lee, IBM Performance Analyst
IBM TotalStorage 3592 Tape Drive Model J1A
Performance Whitepaper
Justin Hildebrandt, Program Director, IBM Tape Marketing
IBM System Storage TS1120 Tape Drive
Encryption Performance Whitepaper
Lloyd Wiebe, IBM Performance Analyst
IBM System Storage TS1130 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Lloyd Wiebe, IBM Performance Analyst
TS1140 IBM Enterprise Tape Drive – Technology, Feature, and Function
Overview
James Karp, IBM Development Engineer

16. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 15
© International Business Machines Corporation 2008
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17. IBM System Storage™ TS1140 Tape Drive
Performance Whitepaper
Page 16
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