IBM's Magstar MP Fast Access Linear Tape cartridge is the functional heart of the IBM Magstar MP Tape Subsystem. Designed for use in midrange and server-based multi-user environments, Magstar MP tape offers much faster data access times while improving cartridge handling reliability and data integrity over traditional tape technologies.

Magstar MP tape revolutionizes how applications can use tape storage.Traditionally, tape has been used primarily for write-intensive operations such as backup, archive, and data interchange--operations that do not require frequent reading of stored information. Today, however, applications that require both write- and read-intensive operations can take advantage of lowercost tape storage.

With an industry-leading design that enables exceptionally fast data access, Magstar MP tape cartridges can be used as an alternative to direct access storage for some types of near-online applications that require high-performance data access. To facilitate fast data access, the Magstar MP tape cartridge contains two tape spools with the tape positioned at its midpoint. Because of this design, the system, on average, has to search only one quarter the length of a tape to access data--significantly reducing search times. After data has been located and processed, the cartridge then spools the tape back to the midpoint in preparation for unload. In this way, the midpoint load feature halves average access times to data.