3M E Cart 3490E Compatible Tape Cartridge 36-Track 1100 ft IBM Mainframe

3M E Cart 3490E Compatible Tape Cartridge 36-Track 1100 ft IBM Mainframe

The 3M E Cart is a 3490E-compatible magnetic tape cartridge designed for use with IBM 3490E-format tape drives. This cartridge is 1100 feet in length and formatted for 36-track recording, making it a standard media choice for IBM mainframe data storage and backup operations. Price listed is for a single cartridge.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: 3M
• Product Line: E Cart
• Compatibility: 3490E-compatible
• Number of Tracks: 36-Track
• Tape Length: 1100 ft
• Storage Technology: Magnetic tape cartridge
• Form Factor: Standard 3490-style cartridge shell with colored index label tabs and write-protect mechanism
• Quantity: Single cartridge (1 unit)

Applications

The IBM 3490E tape format was a widely used magnetic tape standard in IBM mainframe data centers from the late 1980s through the 1990s and into the 2000s. These cartridges were used with IBM 3490E-compatible tape drives for mainframe backup, data archival, job output storage, and offsite disaster recovery. The 3490E format succeeded earlier 3480-format cartridges and offered higher capacity on the same physical cartridge form factor. Many IBM mainframe shops — running MVS, OS/390, and z/OS environments — relied on 3490E media as a core part of their tape library infrastructure. 3M was one of the primary OEM suppliers of 3490E-compatible cartridges, sold alongside IBM-branded media. These cartridges remain sought after by organizations still maintaining legacy mainframe tape libraries and archival systems.