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Key Features
Compatibility
Product Description
Tape storage makes economic sense at scale, and the HPE LTO-7 Ultrium cartridge is the proven entry point into enterprise-grade LTO infrastructure. At 6TB native (15TB compressed at 2.5:1), HPE LTO-7 provides four times the native capacity of LTO-5, in the same physical form factor, at a cost-per-terabyte that disc-based storage cannot match over a 30-year lifespan. For broadcast archives, healthcare records retention, financial compliance storage, and research data preservation, LTO-7 remains a dependable, well-understood standard that is still supported by a wide installed base of tape drives and libraries worldwide.
HPE manufactures this media to enterprise quality standards with Barium Ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particle technology — providing better long-term magnetic stability and a lower error floor than older metal particle (MP) formulations. The built-in LTO-CM (Cartridge Memory) chip records full cartridge history — load counts, write cycles, error statistics — that intelligent tape libraries use to predict media issues before they cause data loss. HPE backs this product with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Under recommended storage conditions, LTO-7 tape is rated for a 30-year archival life — longer than most organisations' compliance retention requirements.
Key Features
- 6TB native capacity | 15TB compressed (2.5:1 ratio)
- LTO-7 format — compatible with LTO-7 drives | readable and writable on LTO-8 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: Black/Dark
- RoHS compliant
LTO-7 drives support backward read/write compatibility with LTO-6 media, which means an LTO-7 drive can access your existing LTO-6 cartridge stock — useful if you are upgrading infrastructure without immediately replacing all legacy media. LTO-8 drives will also read and write LTO-7 cartridges, giving LTO-7 media a useful second life if you are already running a newer-generation library. The distinctive black shell makes LTO-7 cartridges visually distinct from other generations during tape handling.
What's in the Box
- HPE LTO-7 Ultrium 15TB RW Data Cartridge (1 cartridge)
Product Q&A
Q: Which tape drives are compatible with this cartridge?
A: The HPE LTO-7 cartridge is designed for LTO-7 tape drives. Per the LTO standard, LTO-8 drives will also read and write LTO-7 media (backward compatibility guaranteed). LTO-7 cartridges are not compatible with LTO-6 or earlier drives, nor with LTO-9 drives or later. Always confirm your drive generation before ordering.
Q: What is the difference between 6TB native and 15TB compressed capacity?
A: Native capacity (6TB) is the raw, uncompressed data the tape stores. Compressed capacity (15TB) assumes a 2.5:1 compression ratio — the standard LTO benchmark figure. Files that are already compressed (video, encrypted archives, ZIP files) will see little additional compression. Use native capacity as your planning figure for accurate capacity estimation.
Q: Can I mix LTO-7 and LTO-6 cartridges in the same library?
A: Yes, if your library has LTO-7 drives. An LTO-7 drive can read and write both LTO-7 and LTO-6 media, so mixing generations is supported and common during transitions. If your library has LTO-8 or LTO-9 drives, those drives can read and write LTO-7 (and LTO-8 for LTO-9) but cannot access LTO-6 or earlier media.
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. Always allow tapes to acclimatise to operating temperature before use.
Q: Is this cartridge WORM?
A: No. This is a standard rewritable LTO-7 cartridge. WORM variants exist in the LTO range for compliance and legal hold applications but are sold separately. Contact us if you need WORM media for your archive workflow.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| SKU | C7977A |
| Media Format | LTO Ultrium 7 (LTO-7) |
| Native Capacity | 6.0 TB |
| Compressed Capacity | 15.0 TB (2.5:1) |
| Read/Write Speed | Up to 300 MB/s (compressed) |
| Magnetic Particle | Barium Ferrite (BaFe) |
| Cartridge Memory | LTO-CM chip |
| Rewritable | Yes |
| WORM | No |
| Archival Life | 30 years |
| Colour | Black |
| Warranty | HPE Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| RoHS | Compliant |
Compatibility
| Drive Generation | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| LTO-7 drives | Read and Write ✓ |
| LTO-8 drives | Read and Write ✓ (backward compatible) |
| LTO-6 drives | Not compatible |
| LTO-9 and later | Not compatible |
Shipping, Returns & VAT
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