LTO (Linear Tape-Open) tape Cartridge Memory (CM) Analyzer
Linux bash script which converts LTO-CM binary data to human-readable cartridge information. To dump memory data from LTO-CM tag (also called MAM (Media Auxiliary Memory)), use RFID reader. Currently, RFID readers such as ACR122U, SCL3711 and Proxmark3 are able to dump data from the tag and save it to file. You can also use tape drive to do this. Check the following repos and websites for more information:
- RFID Reader: nfc-ltocm by Phil Pemberton
- RFID Reader: Proxmark3 Github repository by RfidResearchGroup
- Tape Drive: SCSI READ BUFFER
There are several LTO CM reader/analyzer in the market, however, these are proprietary solutions and they support Windows only.
$ ./lto_analyzer.sh lto-cm_dump.eml
-- LTO CM Manufacturer's Information --
LTO CM Serial Number: xxxxxxxx
CM Serial Number Check Byte: xx
CM Size: xx
Type: xxxx
Manufacturer's Information: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- LTO CM Write-Inhibit --
Last Write-Inhibited Block Number: xx
Block 1 Protection Flag: xx
Reserved: xxxx
-- Cartridge Manufacturer's Information --
Page Id: xxxx
Page Length: xxxx
Cartridge Manufacturer: xxxxxx
Serial Number: xxxxxxxx
Cartridge Type: xxxx
Date of Manufacture: xxxxxxxx
Tape Length: xxxx
Tape Thickness: xxxx
Empty Reel Inertia: xxxx
Hub Radius: xxxx
Full Reel Pack Radius: xxxx
Maximum Media Speed: xxxx
License Code: xxxxxxxx
Cartridge Manufacturer's Use: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CRC: xxxxxxxx
-- Media Manufacturer's Information --
Page Id: xxxx
Page Length: xxxx
Servowriter Manufacturer: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reserved: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CRC: xxxxxxxx
- Linux or WSL to run this script.
- bc (Basic Calculator) command line utility.
$ sudo apt install bc #Debian and Ubuntu
$ sudo yum install bc #RHEL and CentOS
$ sudo dnf install bc #Fedora
- LTO CM Manufacturer's Information
- LTO CM Write-Inhibit
- Cartridge Manufacturer's Information
- Media Manufacturer's Information
- Initialisation Data
- Tape Write Pass
- Tape Directory
- EOD Information
- Cartridge Status and Tape Alert Flags
- Mechanism Related
- Suspended Append Writes
- Usage Information 0 to 3
- Application Specific
Feed binary data to this script.
$ lto_analyzer.sh [*.eml or *.bin]
Just run the script. You may want to change file permission by chmod.
Since this script is based on LTO-1 specification, it may show wrong cartridge information for modern generations. Indeed, some parameters are not decoded correctly. See this issue.
- Cartridge memory Wikipedia
- LTO-1 Specification published from ECMA
- How to dump LTO CM manually Proxmark3 developers community
- Reading LTO-CM tape RFID Dangerous Things Forum
- libnfc