IBM 3590
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Data storage |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Products | Magnetic tape data storage media and tape drives |
| Parent | IBM |
The IBM 3590 lineup consists of magnetic tape data storage media and tape drives created by IBM, launched in 1995 under the designation 3590 and commonly referred to as Magstar. This series followed the IBM 3480 tape drive family from the 1980s and 1990s but does not maintain compatibility with the subsequent IBM 3592 series. The 3590 drives provide a maximum uncompressed storage capacity of 60 GB.
This format employs half-inch tape housed on cartridges measuring 4 by 5 by 1 inch, containing a single reel; the drive itself incorporates the take-up reel. Praised for its speed, robustness, longevity, and economical media costs, the 3590 remains a sought-after solution. Its architecture enables interchangeability, allowing tapes recorded on one drive to be read by others, including those manufactured by different companies. The Magstar drives and tapes are available in configurations of 128, 256, and 384 tracks.
Each tape is recorded at the density specific to the drive model used and can only be read by that model or a more advanced one: tapes created on an H model require an H drive for reading; E model tapes can be accessed by both E and H drives; B model tapes are readable on B, E, or H drives. Unlike formats such as DLT, LTO, or IBM’s own 3592 series, the 3590 does not support writing at densities below its native setting.
The naming conventions can sometimes lead to misunderstandings: drives are commonly identified as 3590B, 3590E, and 3590H. Media is offered in two varieties—standard length (frequently called 3590 or 3590B) and extended length (often referred to as 3590E). Both types of media are compatible across all three drive models, with extended-length cartridges also supported by the Ultra version of the 3590B drive.
Drives
- Model 3590 B (3590 B11/B1A), featuring 128 tracks and a native data transfer rate up to 9 MB/s. Introduced in April 1995.
- Model 3590 E (3590 E11/E1A), equipped with 256 tracks and supporting native data rates up to 14 MB/s. Released in April 1999.
- Model 3590 H (3590 H11/H1A), offering 384 tracks with a native data rate up to 14 MB/s. Launched in July 2002.
Notes
Media
| Tape length (m) | Model 3590 B | Model 3590 E | Model 3590 H | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "High-Performance" cartridge | 320 m | 10 GB | 20 GB | 30 GB |
| "Extended High-Performance" cartridge | 634 m | 20 GB | 40 GB | 60 GB |
Notes
- The "High Performance" cartridges measuring 320 meters utilize Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as their base material.
- The "Extended" cartridges of length 634 meters are constructed with Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) base material.
- Datasheet for IBM’s 3590 media