IBM breaks tape storage record for fifth time since 2006

---

This record density is more than 20 times greater than supported in commercial tape drives and could enable 330Tbyte of uncompressed data to be stored on a tape cartridge that would fit in the palm of your hand. This is equivalent to the text in 330million books.

The data was stored on a prototype sputtered magnetic tape developed by Sony Storage Media Solutions.

In order to store 201Gbit/sq in, the researchers needed to develop several new technologies, including:

• Innovative signal-processing algorithms for the data channel, based on noise-predictive detection principles
• A set of advanced servo control technologies that, when combined enable head positioning with an accuracy of better than 7nm. When combined with a 48nm wide hard disk drive read head, this enables a track density of 246,200 track/in.
• A novel low friction tape head technology that permits the use of very smooth tape media

IBM Fellow Evangelos Eleftheriou said: “While sputtered tape is expected to cost a little more to manufacture than current commercial tape that uses barium ferrite, the potential for very high capacity will make the cost per Tbyte very attractive, making this technology practical for cold storage in the cloud.”
IBM’s first commercial tape product was the 726 Magnetic Tape Unit, announced more than 60 years ago. It used reels of 0.5in wide tape that could store about 2Mbyte.