LTO-9 tape drives
An LTO-9 tape drive writes 18 TB native (45 TB compressed) to each LTO-9 tape at up to 400 MB/s, and reads and writes LTO-8 cartridges too — the natural upgrade from LTO-8.
| Specification | LTO-9 tape drive |
|---|---|
| Capacity per cartridge | 18 TB native / 45 TB compressed |
| Transfer rate | 400 MB/s native / 1,000 MB/s compressed |
| Compatibility | Reads and writes LTO-9 and LTO-8 |
| Interfaces | 12Gb/s SAS, 8Gb/s Fibre Channel, Thunderbolt or USB (external models) |
| Formats | Internal half-height, external desktop, 1U rack-mount, library sled |
| Security | AES-256 hardware encryption, WORM support |
| LTFS | Supported |
LTO-9 drive options
- Internal SAS — fits a 5.25″ server bay; needs a SAS HBA.
- External SAS — desktop unit for servers without a free bay.
- External USB — the Unitex LTO-9 USB drive connects straight to a laptop or workstation.
- Rack-mount — one or two drives in a 1U enclosure.
- Automated — in an autoloader or tape library.
Remember that new LTO-9 cartridges are optimised the first time they are loaded — allow around 40 minutes per tape. Need more capacity? See LTO-10.
What is the capacity of LTO-9 tape?
LTO-9 stores 18 TB native and up to 45 TB compressed (2.5:1) — 50% more than LTO-8.
Can an LTO-9 drive read LTO-8 tapes?
Yes. LTO-9 drives read and write LTO-8 cartridges. They cannot read LTO-7 or earlier, and LTO-7 Type M (M8) cartridges are not supported in LTO-9 drives.
Why does a new LTO-9 tape take longer the first time it is loaded?
LTO-9 introduced media optimisation: the first time a new cartridge is loaded the drive characterises the tape to maximise reliability. This one-off process averages around 40 minutes per cartridge and can occasionally take up to two hours, so libraries should be configured to pre-initialise new media before backups are scheduled.
Should I choose LTO-9 or LTO-10?
Choose LTO-9 if you have an existing LTO-8 tape estate or want the lowest entry cost for drives. Choose LTO-10 for maximum capacity per slot, lower cost per terabyte and longer runway — especially for new archives and large libraries where slot count is expensive.
Get an LTO-9 tape drive quote
Drive, HBA, cables, media and software — quoted the same working day.