Symply’s LTO tape cartridges provide reliability, cost efficiency, and security. LTO tape, or Linear Tape-Open, also known as the LTO Ultrium format, is a powerful, scalable, adaptable open tape format optimized for high capacity, maximum storage density, and performance. It provides a secure and portable way to store multiple copies of your data, often complementing disk and flash-based storage systems by providing an offline backup and/or archive option that keeps your data safe.

Symply offers LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9, and the latest generation LTO-10 tape cartridges, all optimized for performance and reliability in either our Symply Desktop or Rackmount systems, or automated environments from any of the tape library vendors, for any backup and/or archiving application.

Every LTO tape cartridge we stock is listed below, from LTO-6 through the latest LTO-10 generation:

LTO Tape Media Specifications

	Type	Gen	Pre-Optimized	Material	Capacity Native	Capacity Compressed	Cartridge Color
	Data Cartridge	LTO-10	n/a	SrFe	40 TB	100 TB	Black
SYMED-IBM-03PL170	Data Cartridge	LTO-10	n/a	SrFe	30 TB	75 TB	Black
SYMED-IBM-02XW568	Data Cartridge	LTO-9	No	BaFe	18 TB	45 TB	Green
SYMED-IBM-02XW568-O	Data Cartridge	LTO-9	Yes	BaFe	18 TB	45 TB	Green
SYMED-IBM-01PL041	Data Cartridge	LTO-8	n/a	BaFe	12 TB	30 TB	Brick Red
SYMED-IBM-38L7302	Data Cartridge	LTO-7	n/a	BaFe	6 TB	15 TB	Purple
SYMED-IBM-00V7590	Data Cartridge	LTO-6	n/a	BaFe	2.5 TB	6.25 TB	Black

LTO-10 Tape Media

The LTO tape cartridge now comes in two LTO-10 capacities: the original 30TB/75TB version, and a newer 40TB/100TB version that uses a thinner, more stable tape substrate to fit extra length into the same cartridge shell. Both run on the same LTO-10 drive, so there’s no hardware upgrade needed to use the higher-capacity tape.

LTO Tape Cartridge Optimization

Good news for LTO-10 users: media optimization is gone. This LTO tape cartridge generation eliminates the calibration step LTO-9 required, so cartridges are ready to write to as soon as they’re loaded — no characterization cycle, no waiting around.

LTO-9 media Optimization, also referred to as Characterization is a new feature for LTO-9 tape drives. The increased number of tracks used to write data on the LTO-9 tape requires greater precision. Media optimization creates a referenced calibration for each cartridge that enables the tape drive’s intelligent alignment to optimize data placement, thus enhancing the LTO-9 tape’s long-term media durability. 

When LTO-9 tape media is used in an LTO-9 tape drive, it needs to undergo the optimization process. Media optimization applies only to LTO-9 tapes in an LTO-9 drive and is a one-time process that takes about 40 minutes to complete.  Although most media optimizations will complete within 60 minutes some media optimizations may take up to 2 hours.   

All the Symply LTO-9 media we ship bundled with the SymplyPRO LTO products, is pre-optimized and barcoded in our labs, saving you time and money.  Symply also sell pre-optimized LTO-9 media in packs of 5, via our webstore or via our network of value-added resellers. 

Unlike every previous generation, LTO-10 drives can’t read or write LTO-9 (or earlier) cartridges — there’s no backward compatibility this time. If you’re running mixed-generation archives, keep a compatible older drive on hand or migrate that data before retiring it.

Shop LTO tape cartridges directly on our US store — outside the US, find a reseller near you via Where to Buy.