Overview
ISO/IEC 16382:2000 defines the Digital Linear Tape 6 (DLT 6) format for 12.7 mm (0.5 in) wide, 208‑track magnetic tape cartridges. The standard specifies the physical, mechanical and magnetic characteristics of the cartridge and tape to ensure physical interchangeability between drives, plus the recorded‑signal quality, data format, and a recording method to enable reliable data interchange. Used together with labelling rules (for example ISO 1001), ISO/IEC 16382 allows full interchange of DLT 6 cartridges between compliant drive systems.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Physical media: cartridge and tape geometry, tape width (12.7 mm), reel, leader, and cartridge mechanical tolerances to ensure reliable loading and transport.
- Magnetic recording characteristics: definitions of physical recording density (example: reference density shown in the standard), flux transition spacing, average signal amplitude and overwrite/peak‑shift requirements.
- Track and format structure: 208 physical tracks organized into logical tracks, channel bit‑cell lengths, calibration and directory areas, guard areas, data area layout and direction of recording.
- Data format and error control: block, entity and envelope structures; preamble/sync/data/EDC/CRC/CF fields; use of CRC, EDC, and ECC for error detection and correction.
- Conformance and interoperability: requirements for generating systems (compression algorithm registration per ISO/IEC 11576) and receiving systems to handle any compliant recording.
- Reference tapes and calibration: Master and Secondary Standard Reference Tapes (Master established by Quantum Corporation), Standard Reference Amplitude (SRA), test recording current definitions, and calibration procedures.
- Environment, safety and handling: operating/storage conditions, tape durability, abrasion, friction, and handling/transport recommendations (annexes include measurement and test procedures).
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 16382 is relevant to:
- Tape drive and media manufacturers ensuring physical and electrical compatibility for DLT 6 cartridges.
- Data centers, backup and archival operations deploying DLT media for long‑term storage and interchange.
- Hardware and firmware developers implementing read/write, calibration, error‑correction and compression/decompression features.
- Test laboratories and quality assurance teams performing media qualification, conformance testing and tape calibration.
- Archivists and IT procurement specifying interoperable tape media and drives for vendor neutrality and data preservation.
Key search terms: ISO/IEC 16382, DLT 6, 12.7 mm magnetic tape, 208‑track cartridge, data interchange, tape format, magnetic recording standard.
Related standards
- ISO 1001 - Magnetic tape labelling (recommended for full interchange).
- ISO/IEC 11576 - Registration procedure for lossless compression algorithms (referenced for compression ID requirements).