SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt / USB4 – Rackmount LTO Tape Drive
1U Thunderbolt LTO tape drive in a rugged all-metal rackmount chassis, with one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8 or LTO-9 drives. Works with Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 computers and 40Gbps USB4 ports, with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy-chaining, SAS Host and Expansion ports, SymplyCABLELESS drive upgrades, a rack kit, and your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software included.
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Product Details
1U Thunderbolt LTO Tape Drive for the Rack
SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt is a rackmount LTO tape drive that holds one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in a robust 1U all-metal chassis. Start with one drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput—and the drives don’t need to match, so you can mix LTO generations in the same chassis.
Every chassis integrates a premium power supply and efficient front-to-back cooling, and ships with a rack kit for straightforward installation. SymplyCABLELESS™ architecture means drives slide in and out with no internal cabling, so adding a second drive, upgrading, or swapping a drive for service is quick and simple.
Two Thunderbolt™ 3 ports support daisy-chaining and work with Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5 computers, as well as 40Gbps USB4 ports. SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) let you connect to a non-Thunderbolt server or workstation, or attach other SAS devices to your Thunderbolt computer.
Every purchase includes your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software. The 1U Thunderbolt is also compatible with leading backup and archive applications, including Archiware P5, Veeam Backup & Replication, Commvault, and Cohesity NetBackup. SymplyATOM2, Symply’s free management software for macOS and Windows, handles drive diagnostics, verified firmware updates, and LTFS tape check and repair. AES-256 hardware encryption and LTO WORM media support help enforce retention policies, and ejected cartridges stay fully offline for an air-gapped copy.
- One or two drives — start with a single half-height drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput.
- Mix LTO generations — combine LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in one chassis.
- SymplyCABLELESS™ — drives install and remove with no internal cabling, for fast upgrades and servicing.
- Thunderbolt™ 3 with SymplyLOCK™ — dual Thunderbolt 3 ports with daisy-chain support, compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 5 hosts and 40Gbps USB4 ports; SymplyLOCK keeps the cable secure.
- 12Gb SAS connectivity — SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) connect to non-Thunderbolt servers and workstations or attach additional SAS devices.
- Capacity & speed — up to 18 TB native / 45 TB compressed per LTO-9 cartridge, and up to 300 MB/s native per drive.
- Rack-ready — 1U all-metal chassis with front-to-back cooling and an integrated power supply; rack kit included.
- Archive software included — choose Hedge Canister (macOS or Windows, perpetual license with one year of maintenance) or YoYotta (macOS, one-year subscription) at no extra cost.
- SymplyATOM2 — free drive management software for macOS and Windows — diagnostics, verified firmware updates, LTFS check & repair, and full-tape write tests.
- LTFS support — tapes are written in the open LTFS format for simple, cross-platform interchange.
- Compatible with leading software — Hedge Canister, YoYotta, Archiware P5, Veeam Backup & Replication, Acronis Cyber Protect, Commvault, Cohesity NetBackup, Arcserve, Retrospect, and Bacula.
- Security & compliance built in — AES-256 hardware encryption and LTO WORM media support for non-erasable, non-rewritable retention.
- Air-gapped by design — supports the 3-2-1-1-0 best practice with an offline copy for ransomware resilience.
- Compliance & certifications — CE, UKCA, FCC Class A, RoHS.
- Warranty — 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty, with an optional 2-year extension.
- SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt rackmount chassis with 1 or 2 half-height LTO drives (LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9, as ordered)
- 1x LTO data cartridge
- 1x LTO cleaning cartridge
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) Thunderbolt 3 cable
- 1x SymplyLOCK™ Thunderbolt cable lock
- 1x rack kit
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) power cable
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) IEC-to-IEC power cable
- Hedge Canister or YoYotta license (claim within 90 days of purchase)
- SymplyATOM2 management software (free download)
- 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty
Model
| Drive Form Factor | Half-height |
| Number of Drives | 1 or 2 |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9 (any mix) |
| Host Interface | 2x Thunderbolt 3, 1x SAS Host (SFF-8644) |
| Expansion Interface | 1x SAS (SFF-8644) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 43.5 x 48.2 x 4.4 cm (17.1 x 19.0 x 1.7 in) |
| Weight | 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) |
| Power Supply | 350W internal (110–240V), typical 166W |
Configurations
| Part Number | Included Drive | Capacity Native (Compressed) | Performance Native (Compressed) |
| SYPR1-RT3L9H2B-AT | LTO-9 Half-Height | 18 TB (45 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPR1-RT3L8H2B-AT | LTO-8 Half-Height | 12 TB (30 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPR1-RT3L7H2B-AT | LTO-7 Half-Height | 6 TB (15 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
** Compressed figures assume a 2.5:1 compression ratio.
Second Drive Upgrades
| Part Number | Upgrade Drive |
| SYLTO-iSRL9HH1 | LTO-9 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSRL8HH1 | LTO-8 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSRL7HH1 | LTO-7 Half-Height |
Reliability
| Drive Type | MTBF (Hours) | MSBF (Mean Swaps Before Failure) | Load / Unload Cycles |
| Half-Height | 250,000 @ 100% Duty Cycle | 100,000 | 80,000 |
Media Compatibility
| LTO-9 Media | LTO-8 Media | LTO-7 Media | LTO-6 Media | LTO-5 Media | |
| LTO-9 Drive | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| LTO-8 Drive | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
| LTO-7 Drive | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ | R |
✔ Read/Write ✕ Incompatible R Read Only
Environmental Specifications
| Environmental Factor | Recommended1 | Allowable2 | Non-Operating |
| Dry-Bulb Temperature | LTO-9: 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: 16 to 25 °C (61 to 77 °F) |
LTO-9: 15 to 30 °C (59 to 86 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: 16 to 35 °C (61 to 95 °F) |
5 to 35 °C (41 to 95 °F) |
| Relative Humidity | 20 to 50% (non-condensing) | 20 to 80% (non-condensing) | 20 to 80% (non-condensing) |
| Maximum Temperature Change | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour |
| Maximum Humidity Change | 5% / hour | 5% / hour | 5% / hour |
| Temperature Limitation for Humidity Conditions | LTO-9: Max Dew Point 22 °C (72 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: Wet Bulb Temperature <= 26 °C (79 °F) |
||
| Maximum Altitude | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) | 12,192 m (40,000 ft) |
| Dust Concentration | Less than 200 micrograms / cubic meter |
Storage & Shipping
| Condition | Environmental Specification |
| Short-term storage conditions | See operating conditions |
| Long-term storage conditions | See operating conditions |
| Shipping conditions3 | 5 to 45 °C (41 to 113 °F); 10% to 80% RH non-condensing; 26 °C (72 °F) dew point maximum |
1 Recommended: The recommended operational/storage environmental envelope provides guidance on the environmental range for optimal performance and high reliability. This environmental range protects for 30-year archival storage.
2 Allowable: The allowable operational/storage environmental envelope defines the test limits to verify that the equipment will function within the environmental envelope. This environmental range is defined for operational storage of less than 6 months.
3 Shipping: When shipping media over extended environmental ranges, shipping times should be limited to minimize the duration of media being exposed to varying environmental conditions at lower and upper ranges. LTO tape media specifications provided by the LTO program at www.lto.org or specifications provided by the media manufacturer.
Note: Prolonged exposure to conditions outside the recommended range, especially approaching the extremes of the allowable operating environment, can result in decreased equipment reliability and longevity. An occasional short-term excursion into the allowable envelope is generally acceptable but may result in performance and reliability implications and higher power consumption.
| SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO 2U Thunderbolt | |
| Rack Units | 1U | 2U |
| Drives | 1 or 2 half-height | 1 or 2 full-height |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, 8, 9 (any mix) | LTO-9 or LTO-10 |
| Native Speed per Drive | 300 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
| Max Native per Cartridge | 18 TB | 30 TB (LTO-10) / 40 TB (LTO-10 Aramid) |
| Weight | 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) | 7.0 kg (15.4 lb) |
Overview
1U Thunderbolt LTO Tape Drive for the Rack
SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt is a rackmount LTO tape drive that holds one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in a robust 1U all-metal chassis. Start with one drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput—and the drives don’t need to match, so you can mix LTO generations in the same chassis.
Every chassis integrates a premium power supply and efficient front-to-back cooling, and ships with a rack kit for straightforward installation. SymplyCABLELESS™ architecture means drives slide in and out with no internal cabling, so adding a second drive, upgrading, or swapping a drive for service is quick and simple.
Two Thunderbolt™ 3 ports support daisy-chaining and work with Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5 computers, as well as 40Gbps USB4 ports. SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) let you connect to a non-Thunderbolt server or workstation, or attach other SAS devices to your Thunderbolt computer.
Every purchase includes your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software. The 1U Thunderbolt is also compatible with leading backup and archive applications, including Archiware P5, Veeam Backup & Replication, Commvault, and Cohesity NetBackup. SymplyATOM2, Symply’s free management software for macOS and Windows, handles drive diagnostics, verified firmware updates, and LTFS tape check and repair. AES-256 hardware encryption and LTO WORM media support help enforce retention policies, and ejected cartridges stay fully offline for an air-gapped copy.
Features & Benefits
- One or two drives — start with a single half-height drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput.
- Mix LTO generations — combine LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in one chassis.
- SymplyCABLELESS™ — drives install and remove with no internal cabling, for fast upgrades and servicing.
- Thunderbolt™ 3 with SymplyLOCK™ — dual Thunderbolt 3 ports with daisy-chain support, compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 5 hosts and 40Gbps USB4 ports; SymplyLOCK keeps the cable secure.
- 12Gb SAS connectivity — SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) connect to non-Thunderbolt servers and workstations or attach additional SAS devices.
- Capacity & speed — up to 18 TB native / 45 TB compressed per LTO-9 cartridge, and up to 300 MB/s native per drive.
- Rack-ready — 1U all-metal chassis with front-to-back cooling and an integrated power supply; rack kit included.
- Archive software included — choose Hedge Canister (macOS or Windows, perpetual license with one year of maintenance) or YoYotta (macOS, one-year subscription) at no extra cost.
- SymplyATOM2 — free drive management software for macOS and Windows — diagnostics, verified firmware updates, LTFS check & repair, and full-tape write tests.
- LTFS support — tapes are written in the open LTFS format for simple, cross-platform interchange.
- Compatible with leading software — Hedge Canister, YoYotta, Archiware P5, Veeam Backup & Replication, Acronis Cyber Protect, Commvault, Cohesity NetBackup, Arcserve, Retrospect, and Bacula.
- Security & compliance built in — AES-256 hardware encryption and LTO WORM media support for non-erasable, non-rewritable retention.
- Air-gapped by design — supports the 3-2-1-1-0 best practice with an offline copy for ransomware resilience.
- Compliance & certifications — CE, UKCA, FCC Class A, RoHS.
- Warranty — 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty, with an optional 2-year extension.
What's in the Box
- SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt rackmount chassis with 1 or 2 half-height LTO drives (LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9, as ordered)
- 1x LTO data cartridge
- 1x LTO cleaning cartridge
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) Thunderbolt 3 cable
- 1x SymplyLOCK™ Thunderbolt cable lock
- 1x rack kit
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) power cable
- 1x 2m (6.5 ft) IEC-to-IEC power cable
- Hedge Canister or YoYotta license (claim within 90 days of purchase)
- SymplyATOM2 management software (free download)
- 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty
Technical Specifications
Model
| Drive Form Factor | Half-height |
| Number of Drives | 1 or 2 |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9 (any mix) |
| Host Interface | 2x Thunderbolt 3, 1x SAS Host (SFF-8644) |
| Expansion Interface | 1x SAS (SFF-8644) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 43.5 x 48.2 x 4.4 cm (17.1 x 19.0 x 1.7 in) |
| Weight | 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) |
| Power Supply | 350W internal (110–240V), typical 166W |
Configurations
| Part Number | Included Drive | Capacity Native (Compressed) | Performance Native (Compressed) |
| SYPR1-RT3L9H2B-AT | LTO-9 Half-Height | 18 TB (45 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPR1-RT3L8H2B-AT | LTO-8 Half-Height | 12 TB (30 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPR1-RT3L7H2B-AT | LTO-7 Half-Height | 6 TB (15 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
** Compressed figures assume a 2.5:1 compression ratio.
Second Drive Upgrades
| Part Number | Upgrade Drive |
| SYLTO-iSRL9HH1 | LTO-9 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSRL8HH1 | LTO-8 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSRL7HH1 | LTO-7 Half-Height |
Reliability
| Drive Type | MTBF (Hours) | MSBF (Mean Swaps Before Failure) | Load / Unload Cycles |
| Half-Height | 250,000 @ 100% Duty Cycle | 100,000 | 80,000 |
Media Compatibility
| LTO-9 Media | LTO-8 Media | LTO-7 Media | LTO-6 Media | LTO-5 Media | |
| LTO-9 Drive | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| LTO-8 Drive | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
| LTO-7 Drive | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ | R |
✔ Read/Write ✕ Incompatible R Read Only
Environmental Specifications
| Environmental Factor | Recommended1 | Allowable2 | Non-Operating |
| Dry-Bulb Temperature | LTO-9: 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: 16 to 25 °C (61 to 77 °F) |
LTO-9: 15 to 30 °C (59 to 86 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: 16 to 35 °C (61 to 95 °F) |
5 to 35 °C (41 to 95 °F) |
| Relative Humidity | 20 to 50% (non-condensing) | 20 to 80% (non-condensing) | 20 to 80% (non-condensing) |
| Maximum Temperature Change | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour | 5 °C (41 °F) / hour |
| Maximum Humidity Change | 5% / hour | 5% / hour | 5% / hour |
| Temperature Limitation for Humidity Conditions | LTO-9: Max Dew Point 22 °C (72 °F) LTO-7 and LTO-8: Wet Bulb Temperature <= 26 °C (79 °F) |
||
| Maximum Altitude | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) | 12,192 m (40,000 ft) |
| Dust Concentration | Less than 200 micrograms / cubic meter |
Storage & Shipping
| Condition | Environmental Specification |
| Short-term storage conditions | See operating conditions |
| Long-term storage conditions | See operating conditions |
| Shipping conditions3 | 5 to 45 °C (41 to 113 °F); 10% to 80% RH non-condensing; 26 °C (72 °F) dew point maximum |
1 Recommended: The recommended operational/storage environmental envelope provides guidance on the environmental range for optimal performance and high reliability. This environmental range protects for 30-year archival storage.
2 Allowable: The allowable operational/storage environmental envelope defines the test limits to verify that the equipment will function within the environmental envelope. This environmental range is defined for operational storage of less than 6 months.
3 Shipping: When shipping media over extended environmental ranges, shipping times should be limited to minimize the duration of media being exposed to varying environmental conditions at lower and upper ranges. LTO tape media specifications provided by the LTO program at www.lto.org or specifications provided by the media manufacturer.
Note: Prolonged exposure to conditions outside the recommended range, especially approaching the extremes of the allowable operating environment, can result in decreased equipment reliability and longevity. An occasional short-term excursion into the allowable envelope is generally acceptable but may result in performance and reliability implications and higher power consumption.
Compare Thunderbolt Rackmount Models
| SymplyPRO 1U Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO 2U Thunderbolt | |
| Rack Units | 1U | 2U |
| Drives | 1 or 2 half-height | 1 or 2 full-height |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, 8, 9 (any mix) | LTO-9 or LTO-10 |
| Native Speed per Drive | 300 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
| Max Native per Cartridge | 18 TB | 30 TB (LTO-10) / 40 TB (LTO-10 Aramid) |
| Weight | 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) | 7.0 kg (15.4 lb) |
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