LTO universal cleaning cartridges
An LTO cleaning tape removes debris from the read/write heads of your LTO tape drive, keeping error rates low and backups reliable. The LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge works in every LTO drive generation — LTO-1 to LTO-10 — from any manufacturer, in standalone drives, autoloaders and tape libraries.
| Brand | Product | Part number | Life | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPE | LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge | C7978A | 50 cleans (typical) | Quote |
| IBM | LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge | 35L2086 | 50 cleans (typical) | Quote |
| Quantum | LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge | MR-LUCQN-01 | 50 cleans (typical) | Quote |
| Fujifilm / Sony | LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge | Ask for current part numbers | 50 cleans (typical) | Quote |
All media supplied new and sealed. Single cartridges, 5-packs, 20-packs and pre-labelled library packs available — ask for volume pricing.
When to clean an LTO tape drive
Clean only when the drive asks for it. LTO drives monitor head performance and display a clean request when needed; unnecessary cleaning simply wears the heads. In autoloaders and tape libraries, enable auto-clean and keep a cleaning cartridge with a CLN barcode label in a reserved slot.
- Each universal cleaning cartridge typically gives around 50 cleans; the drive reports when it has expired.
- Store cleaning tapes in the same conditions as data cartridges.
- If a drive requests cleaning repeatedly, contact us — it may indicate a damaged tape or a drive fault.
LTO cleaning tape FAQ
How often should I clean an LTO drive?
Only when the drive requests it. Over-cleaning wears the heads. In libraries and autoloaders, enable automatic cleaning and keep a universal cleaning cartridge in a reserved slot.
Is the LTO universal cleaning cartridge compatible with all generations?
Yes. The LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge works in all generations of LTO drive from any manufacturer. Each cartridge typically gives around 50 cleans and the drive will report when it has expired.
Order LTO cleaning tapes
Single cartridges or packs, with CLN barcode labels for libraries.