| 1985 | IBM 3480 Model A22 Control Unit & Model B22 Tape Unit |
| Multiple data stream fault tolerance – two out of 18 heads could fail. |
Why it's important
The 3480 new error correction code significantly improved reliability over previous drives. The level of redundancy is equivalent to what later was named RAID 6.
Discussion:
Since the introduction of magnetic tape in 1951, the majority of high-end tape systems used a 10.5” round tape reel. The IBM 3480 introduced a new cartridge form factor measuring 4” x 5” which was about one-fourth the size of a round reel. The number of recording tracks was doubled to 18-tracks with a linear density of 38 Kbpi – six times the previous density of 9-track technology. The 3480 used the first magneto-resistive recording head for storage devices.
Additional Information
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