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Key Features
Compatibility
Product Description
The HPE LTO-6 Ultrium cartridge delivers 2.5TB of native storage (6.25TB compressed at 2.5:1) in the industry-standard LTO form factor. LTO-6 is a mature, proven generation — widely deployed in corporate, healthcare, and broadcast tape infrastructure worldwide — and remains the most cost-effective LTO option for organisations with existing LTO-6 drive hardware or for archiving lower-volume datasets where LTO-7 capacity would be underutilised. At 2.5TB native and with native transfer speeds of up to 160 MB/s, LTO-6 is well-suited to routine nightly backup jobs, secondary archive copies, and long-term records retention workflows that do not require the higher throughput of newer generations.
HPE manufactures this media with Barium Ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particle technology, which provides improved magnetic stability and recording density compared to older metal particle (MP) formulations used in LTO-5 and earlier. The built-in LTO-CM (Cartridge Memory) chip stores cartridge history — load cycles, error statistics, write counts — used by tape library management systems to track media health and optimise slot assignment. HPE backs this product with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Under recommended storage conditions, LTO-6 tape is rated for a 30-year archival life — reliably exceeding most regulatory retention periods.
Key Features
- 2.5TB native capacity | 6.25TB compressed (2.5:1 ratio)
- LTO-6 format — compatible with LTO-6 drives | readable and writable on LTO-7 drives
- Barium Ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particle formulation
- Built-in LTO-CM cartridge memory chip for library management
- 30-year archival life under recommended storage conditions
- Rewritable — not WORM
- HPE Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Colour: Purple
- RoHS compliant
LTO-6 makes practical sense in two scenarios: you are running LTO-6 drives today and need to expand your media pool cost-effectively, or you have a secondary archive where per-cartridge cost matters more than maximum density. LTO-7 drives support LTO-6 cartridges for both read and write, so LTO-6 media can coexist with an LTO-7 drive upgrade — useful if you are extending the life of a current tape library rather than replacing the entire infrastructure at once. The purple shell is the standard LTO-6 colour, making it visually distinct from LTO-7 (black) and LTO-8 (dark green) cartridges when handling mixed stock.
What's in the Box
- HPE LTO-6 Ultrium 6.25TB RW Data Cartridge (1 cartridge)
Product Q&A
Q: Which tape drives are compatible with this cartridge?
A: The HPE LTO-6 cartridge is designed for LTO-6 tape drives. Per the LTO standard, LTO-7 drives will also read and write LTO-6 media (one generation of backward read/write compatibility). LTO-6 cartridges are not compatible with LTO-5 or earlier drives, nor with LTO-8 or later drives. Always confirm your drive generation before ordering.
Q: What is the difference between 2.5TB native and 6.25TB compressed capacity?
A: Native capacity (2.5TB) is the raw, uncompressed data the tape stores. Compressed capacity (6.25TB) assumes a 2.5:1 compression ratio — the standard LTO benchmark. Files that are already compressed (video, encrypted archives, ZIP files) will see little or no additional compression. Native capacity is the reliable figure for capacity planning.
Q: Is LTO-6 still a viable archive medium in 2025?
A: Yes, for organisations already running LTO-6 infrastructure. LTO-6 media remains available, supported, and fully functional. If you are designing a new tape infrastructure from scratch, LTO-7 or LTO-8 would be a more future-proof choice — but for maintaining or expanding an existing LTO-6 library, these cartridges remain a cost-effective option. The 30-year archival life means cartridges written today will remain readable for decades, regardless of when the hardware generation eventually reaches end-of-support.
Q: How should LTO tapes be stored for maximum archival life?
A: For long-term archival (up to 30 years), store cartridges at 16°C to 25°C and 20% to 50% relative humidity, away from direct sunlight and magnetic fields. For working storage, operating conditions are 10°C to 45°C at 10% to 80% non-condensing humidity. Allow tapes to acclimatise to operating temperature before use.
Q: Is this cartridge WORM?
A: No. This is a standard rewritable LTO-6 cartridge. WORM variants exist in the LTO range for compliance and legal hold use cases but are sold as a separate product. Contact us if you need WORM media for your workflow.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| SKU | C7976A |
| Media Format | LTO Ultrium 6 (LTO-6) |
| Native Capacity | 2.5 TB |
| Compressed Capacity | 6.25 TB (2.5:1) |
| Read/Write Speed | Up to 160 MB/s (compressed) |
| Magnetic Particle | Barium Ferrite (BaFe) |
| Cartridge Memory | LTO-CM chip |
| Rewritable | Yes |
| WORM | No |
| Archival Life | 30 years |
| Colour | Purple |
| Warranty | HPE Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| RoHS | Compliant |
Compatibility
| Drive Generation | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| LTO-6 drives | Read and Write ✓ |
| LTO-7 drives | Read and Write ✓ (backward compatible) |
| LTO-5 and earlier | Not compatible |
| LTO-8 and later | Not compatible |
Shipping, Returns & VAT
- Free UK Shipping: Delivered in approx. 2 working days
- Express Options: Faster methods available at checkout
- Free Shipping to Ireland: For orders over £100.00
- International Delivery: Times vary by destination; shipped via FedEx or DHL
- 30-Day Returns: Return within 30 days from order date
- UK, Ireland and EU Customers: Free return label provided
- Full Return Policy: Read Here
- Full Shipping Details: Read Here
VAT & Duties Information
UK & EU Customers: The price shown on our website is the final price you pay. No additional VAT, customs duties, or import fees will be charged upon delivery.
Orders are dispatched from Northern Ireland, allowing us to serve customers across the United Kingdom and the European Union without unexpected import charges.
Non-UK and non-EU destinations: Local taxes, customs duties, and import fees may apply and are the responsibility of the recipient.
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