- Servo and track layout technology
- Surface control guiding mechanism
- Robust drive components optimized for automation environments
- Separate writing of multiple filemarks
- LTO Data Compression (LTO-DC)
- LTO Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM)
- Statistical Analysis and Reporting System (SARS)
- Highly integrated electronics using IBM engineered copper technology
The Ultrium 4 uses LTO-DC, which is an implementation of a Lempel-Ziv class 1 (LZ-1) data compression algorithm. LTO-DC is an extension of Adaptive Lossless Data Compression (ALDC) and an improvement over previous IBM lossless compression algorithms. IBM's patented "Scheme-Swapping" compression is designed to look ahead at incoming data, and determine the most efficient storage method to help optimize data compression and increase data throughput.
The Ultrium 4 tape drive uses SARS to help isolate failures between media and hardware. SARS uses the cartridge performance history saved in the CM module and the drive performance history kept in the drive flash EEPROM to help determine the likely cause of failure. SARS is designed to cause the drive to request a cleaner tape, to mark the media as degraded, and to indicate that the hardware has degraded.