{"product_id":"hpe-lto-6-ultrium-6-25tb-rw-data-cartridge","title":"HPE LTO-6 Ultrium 6.25TB RW Data Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHPE 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2.5TB native capacity | 6.25TB compressed (2.5:1 ratio)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLTO-6 format — compatible with LTO-6 drives | readable and writable on LTO-7 drives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarium Ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particle formulation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilt-in LTO-CM cartridge memory chip for library management\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30-year archival life under recommended storage conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRewritable — not WORM\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHPE Limited Lifetime Warranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColour: Purple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoHS compliant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLTO-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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's in the Box\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHPE LTO-6 Ultrium 6.25TB RW Data Cartridge (1 cartridge)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Q\u0026amp;A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Which tape drives are compatible with this cartridge?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What is the difference between 2.5TB native and 6.25TB compressed capacity?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is LTO-6 still a viable archive medium in 2025?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: How should LTO tapes be stored for maximum archival life?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is this cartridge WORM?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSKU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eC7976A\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedia Format\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO Ultrium 6 (LTO-6)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Capacity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.5 TB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompressed Capacity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.25 TB (2.5:1)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead\/Write Speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 160 MB\/s (compressed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMagnetic Particle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBarium Ferrite (BaFe)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCartridge Memory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO-CM chip\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRewritable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWORM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArchival Life\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eColour\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePurple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHPE Limited Lifetime Warranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoHS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompliant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch5\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDrive Generation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO-6 drives\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead and Write ✓\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO-7 drives\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRead and Write ✓ (backward compatible)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO-5 and earlier\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot compatible\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLTO-8 and later\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot compatible\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"HPE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56749127008642,"sku":"C7976A","price":45.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0842\/5707\/9599\/files\/C7976A.jpg?v=1783160885","url":"https:\/\/flexxmemory.co.uk\/products\/hpe-lto-6-ultrium-6-25tb-rw-data-cartridge","provider":"Flexx International Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}