LTO-8 Tape Drives
SymplyPRO LTO-8 tape drives and libraries
LTO-8 stores 12 TB native (30 TB compressed) per cartridge at up to 300 MB/s, and reads and writes LTO-7 tapes. SymplyPRO LTO-8 tape drives are available as compact desktop units, 1U rackmount systems and XTL tape libraries.
LTO-8 at a glance
| LTO-8 | |
|---|---|
| Native capacity | 12 TB |
| Compressed capacity (2.5:1) | 30 TB |
| Native transfer rate | Up to 300 MB/s (half-height) |
| Drive types | Half-height |
| Backward compatibility | Reads and writes LTO-7 media; does not read LTO-6 |
| Media initialization | Not required |
| Encryption | AES-256 hardware encryption |
| WORM | Supported |
| LTFS | Supported |
Choose your SymplyPRO LTO-8 tape drive
Desktop LTO-8 tape drives
| Model | Drives | Connectivity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SymplyPRO Thunderbolt / USB4 | 1 half-height | Thunderbolt / USB4, plus SAS | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt / USB4 | 1 or 2 half-height | Thunderbolt / USB4, plus SAS | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO SAS / XTH SAS | 1 or 2 half-height | SAS (requires a SAS HBA) | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO XTH Ethernet | 1 or 2 half-height | 10GbE iSCSI | Learn more |
Rackmount LTO-8 tape drives
| Model | Drives | Connectivity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt / USB4, SAS, Ethernet | 1 or 2 half-height | Thunderbolt / USB4, SAS, or 10GbE iSCSI | Learn more |
LTO-8 tape libraries
| Model | Format | LTO-8 drives | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SymplyPRO XTL 8 | 1U, 8 slots | 1 half-height | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO XTL 24 | 2U, 24 slots | 1 or 2 half-height | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO XTL 40 | 3U modular, up to 640 slots | Half-height | Learn more |
| SymplyPRO XTL 80 | 6U modular, up to 560 slots | Half-height | Learn more |
Every standalone SymplyPRO LTO-8 tape drive includes Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software, plus SymplyATOM2 for diagnostics and firmware updates, and a 3-year warranty.
Where to buy: order SymplyPRO LTO-8 tape drives through our reseller partners; find one on our Where to Buy page or contact our team. In North America, LTO-8 tape libraries are also available online from the Symply Store.
Why choose LTO-8?
- Works with your LTO-7 archive: read and write LTO-7 tapes in the same drive.
- No media initialization: new cartridges are ready to use straight away.
- Lower drive cost than LTO-9: a cost-effective way into LTO.
- Compact half-height drives: including single-drive desktop units and 1U rackmounts with two drives.
- Mix generations in one system: dual-drive XTH and 1U models can pair LTO-8 with an LTO-9 or LTO-7 drive.
LTO-8 or LTO-9?
| LTO-8 | LTO-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Native capacity | 12 TB | 18 TB |
| Native transfer rate | 300 MB/s (half-height) | 300 MB/s (half-height), 400 MB/s (full-height) |
| Reads and writes | LTO-8, LTO-7 | LTO-9, LTO-8 |
| Media initialization | Not required | One-time, on first load |
LTO-8 suits teams with LTO-7 archives or tighter budgets. LTO-9 offers 50% more capacity per tape, and it still reads and writes your LTO-8 tapes, so you can upgrade later without losing access. LTO-10 can’t read LTO-8 tapes; see our LTO-10 migration guide. Compare on our LTO-9 Tape Drives page.
Need help choosing an LTO-8 setup? Contact our team, or compare the full SymplyPRO LTO range. Have more questions? Read our LTO Tape FAQ.