LTO-8 tape for enterprise backup
LTO-8 tape stores 12 TB native and up to 30 TB compressed at a native transfer rate of 360 MB/s. LTO-8 drives read and write LTO-7 tapes (including LTO-7 Type M, formatted at 9 TB), and LTO-8 cartridges can be read and written by LTO-9 drives — giving LTO-8 media a long, useful life.
LTO-8 tape specifications
| Specification | LTO-8 Ultrium |
|---|---|
| Native / compressed capacity | 12 TB / 30 TB |
| Native / compressed speed | 360 MB/s / 900 MB/s |
| LTO-8 drive compatibility | Reads and writes LTO-8 and LTO-7 (incl. Type M) |
| Forward compatibility | Readable and writable in LTO-9 drives |
| Encryption / WORM / LTFS | AES-256 / Yes / Yes |
LTO-8 tape part numbers
| Brand | Product | Part number | Capacity (native / compressed) | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPE | LTO-8 Ultrium data cartridge | Q2078A | 12 TB / 30 TB | Quote |
| IBM | LTO-8 Ultrium data cartridge | 01PL041 | 12 TB / 30 TB | Quote |
| Quantum | LTO-8 Ultrium data cartridge | MR-L8MQN-01 | 12 TB / 30 TB | Quote |
| Fujifilm | LTO-8 Ultrium data cartridge | 16551221 | 12 TB / 30 TB | Quote |
All media supplied new and sealed. Single cartridges, 5-packs, 20-packs and pre-labelled library packs available — ask for volume pricing.
Also available: LTO-8 WORM tape (HPE Q2078W, Quantum MR-L8MQN-02) and LTO-7 and older LTO tapes for legacy drives.
Should I still buy LTO-8 tape?
Yes, if you run LTO-8 drives or libraries — LTO-8 media remains available from all major manufacturers. If you are replacing drives, consider LTO-9: it reads and writes your existing LTO-8 tapes while adding 50% more capacity per cartridge.
LTO-7 and legacy LTO tapes
We continue to supply LTO-7 (6 TB), LTO-6 (2.5 TB) and LTO-5 (1.5 TB) media for older drive estates and long-term archive restores.
| Brand | Product | Part number | Capacity (native / compressed) | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPE | LTO-7 Ultrium data cartridge | C7977A | 6 TB / 15 TB | Quote |
| IBM | LTO-7 Ultrium data cartridge | 38L7302 | 6 TB / 15 TB | Quote |
| Quantum | LTO-7 Ultrium data cartridge | MR-L7MQN-01 | 6 TB / 15 TB | Quote |
| Fujifilm | LTO-7 Ultrium data cartridge | 16456574 | 6 TB / 15 TB | Quote |
| Sony | LTO-7 Ultrium data cartridge | LTX6000G | 6 TB / 15 TB | Quote |
All media supplied new and sealed. Single cartridges, 5-packs, 20-packs and pre-labelled library packs available — ask for volume pricing.
LTO tape storage FAQ
How should LTO tapes be stored?
For long-term archive storage keep cartridges at 16–25 °C and 20–50% relative humidity, upright in their cases, away from magnetic fields, direct sunlight and dust. Allow 24 hours to acclimatise before use after moving tapes between environments.
Is tape cheaper than disk or cloud?
For large volumes of data that are kept for months or years, yes. LTO tape has the lowest cost per terabyte of any mainstream storage medium, uses no power when idle in a slot or on a shelf, and has no cloud egress or retrieval fees.
How does tape protect against ransomware?
Tape cartridges that have been ejected from the drive — or are sitting in library slots — are offline. Malware cannot encrypt or delete what it cannot reach over the network. Combined with WORM media and AES-256 encryption, tape gives you an immutable, air-gapped copy for the 3-2-1-1 backup rule.
What is LTFS?
The Linear Tape File System (LTFS) lets an LTO-5 or later cartridge mount like a disk, with drag-and-drop file access and no proprietary backup software — ideal for media, research and data interchange.
Get an LTO-8 tape quote
Tell us the brand and quantity — we'll reply the same working day.