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The LTO (and the 3592) cartridge was designed with automation in mind, and IBM was a key player in this effort. The cartridge contains automation handling features, such as the notches that are shown in Figure 13-24. The TS3500 tape library gripper takes advantage of the handling features and uses hooks to handle the cartridge. This approach offers significant performance improvements (as described in 13.4, “Performance” on page 406) and is more reliable than a catch-all gripper. 

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The use of a dual-gripper accessor reduces the time that is taken to move cartridges in the library and can improve overall performance on large libraries. It also increases redundancy and reliability. Library functions are controlled by host application software. To use the dual gripper function, the software must be able to use two grippers simultaneously. If it does not, the library functions as though it had only a single gripper. If only one gripper is used at a time, the library periodically switches between both grippers to balance use. 

