What is linear serpentine recording?
DLT drives read and write multiple parallel tracks on each tape — 128 tracks, addressed in 64 pairs, for the DLT 2000 and DLT 4000. These multiple tracks, and the unique DLT read/write heads, mean that when the drive reaches the end of the tape, it does not need to rewind, but can continue simply by stepping to the next track and reversing the direction of the tape. This back and forth tape pattern can be thought of as a very wide S-shaped or serpentine path. One advantage of serpentine recording is that the drive can reach files quickly by stepping to the appropriate tracks on the tape. If the file is in the “middle” of a full cartridge, the drive can access it by shifting the heads to the appropriate track, greatly reducing the need to search through the tape.
