IBM 3590
Tape Data Recovery - IBM 3590
IBM 3590 refers to a series of tape drives and corresponding magnetic tape data storage media formats developed by IBM. These tape drives were popular owing to their speed, reliability, durability and media cost. Additionally, they offered high levels of transferability. Tapes recorded with one tape drive were readable on another drive, including those from other manufacturers.
IBM 3590 tape format had ½ -inch tape spooled onto 4 inch x 5 inch x 1 inch data cartridges containing a single reel. A take-reel was also fitted inside the drive. The first drive in the series with product number 3590 was released in 1995 under the nickname Magstar. They were available in three models: 3590 B Model (3590 B11/B1A), 128 tracks; 3590 E Model (3590 E11/E1A), 256 tracks; and 3590 H Model (3590 H11/H1A), 384 tracks.
The High-Performance cartridge had a tape length of 320 m and had capacities 10GB, 20GB, and 30GB for the three models - 3590 B, 3590 E, and 3590 H respectively. The higher version, Extended High-Performance cartridge had a tape length of 634m and the corresponding capacities for three models were 20GB, 40GB and 60GB.
High Performance 3590 cartridges used Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the base material, whereas the Extended 3590 cartridges used Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) as the base material.
The 3590 series of tape drives and media were not compatible with the IBM 3592 line of drives that followed. In September 2006, IBM withdrew from marketing the 3590 Enterprise Tape Drive.
