Why move your tape library to LTO-10?
An LTO-10 tape library stores 30 TB native per slot with standard LTO-10 cartridges, or 40 TB with the LTO-10 40 TB cartridge. That is 66–122% more than LTO-9 in exactly the same slots, so you can grow capacity without adding frames, floor space or power.
- Fewer slots for the same data — a 1 PB archive needs 34 LTO-10 slots instead of 56 LTO-9 slots.
- Faster backups and restores — 400 MB/s native per drive, up to 1,200 MB/s compressed on 32Gb Fibre Channel drives.
- Air-gapped by design — cartridges in slots are offline until loaded, with AES-256 encryption and WORM options.
LTO-10 library capacity
| Licensed slots | LTO-10 (30 TB) | LTO-10 (40 TB) | LTO-9 (18 TB) for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1.2 PB | 1.6 PB | 720 TB |
| 80 | 2.4 PB | 3.2 PB | 1.44 PB |
| 240 | 7.2 PB | 9.6 PB | 4.32 PB |
| 560 | 16.8 PB | 22.4 PB | 10.1 PB |
| 1,000 | 30 PB | 40 PB | 18 PB |
Native capacity. Compressed capacity is up to 2.5× higher, depending on the data.
LTO-10 ready tape libraries
| Library | Class | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Qualstar Q40 | Mid-range, modular | 40 to 640 slots, 3U to 48U |
| Qualstar Q80 | Enterprise, modular | 80 to 560 slots, 6U to 42U |
| Qualstar Q1000+ | Rack-scale | Up to 1,115 slots per 48U rack |
| IBM TS4500 | Enterprise | Up to 23,170 slots and 128 drives |
| IBM Diamondback | Hyperscale | Single-frame, high-density archive |
LTO-10 options for Quantum Scalar, HPE StoreEver MSL and Spectra Logic libraries are model and firmware dependent — ask us for the current list.
Upgrading an existing library to LTO-10
Many current libraries accept LTO-10 drive sleds, but LTO-10 drives cannot read LTO-9 or older tapes. The usual approach is to partition the library: an LTO-10 partition for new data and an LTO-9 partition for restores from your existing tapes, then migrate older data over time. We will check your library model, firmware, backup software and HBA before you buy.
What is the capacity of LTO-10 tape?
A standard LTO-10 cartridge stores 30 TB native and up to 75 TB compressed (2.5:1). The newer LTO-10 40 TB cartridge stores 40 TB native and up to 100 TB compressed, using a thinner Aramid base film to fit more tape in the same shell.
Is LTO-10 backward compatible with LTO-9?
No. LTO-10 drives read and write LTO-10 cartridges only. If you need to restore from LTO-9 or LTO-8 tapes you will need to keep an LTO-9 drive, or run a mixed library with separate LTO-9 and LTO-10 partitions.
Will the 40 TB LTO-10 cartridge work in my LTO-10 drive?
The 40 TB cartridge is designed for the same LTO-10 drives as the 30 TB cartridge. Some drives may need a firmware update to recognise the new media — we will confirm compatibility for your specific drive or library when you request a quote.
How fast is LTO-10?
LTO-10 drives transfer up to 400 MB/s native — roughly 1.44 TB per hour per drive — and up to 1,200 MB/s with compressible data on 32Gb Fibre Channel drives. SAS drives typically top out a little lower.
Is LTO-10 secure against ransomware?
Yes. LTO-10 supports hardware AES-256 encryption, WORM (write once, read many) cartridges and, crucially, true air-gap protection: a cartridge removed from the drive is offline and cannot be reached by malware over the network.
Get an LTO-10 tape library quote
New library or drive upgrade — we'll size slots, drives and media and quote the same working day.