IBM 3590 Extended High-Performance Cartridge Tape continues the IBM focus on tape technology by doubling the length and providing twice the capacity of IBM 3590 High-Performance Cartridge Tape. These tape products increase the data storage capacity of half-inch cartridge tape. In addition, both types of cartridges can reside in the same physical space as IBM 3490 cartridges; they can also coexist in an IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape Library 3494.
Higher capacity cartridges can help reduce the amount of equipment as well as the number of cartridges and tape mounts required in the tape environment. A reduction in the number of cartridges required for backup and restore operations can help lower operational costs throughout the enterprise.