SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt / USB4 – Dual Desktop LTO Tape Drive
Dual Thunderbolt LTO tape drive in a compact all-metal desktop enclosure, with one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8 or LTO-9 drives. SymplyCABLELESS makes it simple to add a second drive or upgrade later. Works with Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 computers and 40Gbps USB4 ports, with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy-chaining and 60W charging, SAS Host and Expansion ports, and your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software included.
Got a question? Reach out to us—our team is ready to help!
Product Details
Dual-Drive Thunderbolt LTO Tape Drive for Mac and PC
SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt is a dual Thunderbolt LTO tape drive that holds one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in a single compact, all-metal enclosure. Start with one drive and add a second later, or run two drives side by side. The drives don’t need to match: pair an LTO-9 for new archives with an LTO-7 to read and write older LTO-6 and LTO-7 tapes.
Built for studios, on-set teams, and labs, every enclosure integrates a premium power supply and cooling fan for years of trouble-free service. SymplyCABLELESS™ architecture means drives slide in and out with no internal cabling, so adding a second drive, moving to a newer LTO generation, or swapping a drive for service is quick and simple.
Two Thunderbolt™ 3 ports support daisy-chaining, with one port delivering up to 60W of power for device charging. The XTH works with Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5 computers, as well as 40Gbps USB4 ports. SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports let you connect to a non-Thunderbolt workstation or attach other SAS devices to your Thunderbolt computer.
Every purchase includes your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software, so you can start writing LTFS tapes right away. The XTH 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. Once a cartridge is ejected it is fully offline, giving you an air-gapped copy that ransomware and network threats can’t reach.
- One or two drives — start with a single half-height drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput or another LTO generation.
- Mix LTO generations — combine LTO-7, LTO-8, and LTO-9 drives in one enclosure — for example, LTO-9 for new work alongside LTO-7 to access older tapes.
- 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), including one port providing up to 60W of device charging.
- 12Gb SAS connectivity — SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) connect the XTH to non-Thunderbolt workstations or attach additional SAS devices to a Thunderbolt computer.
- Capacity & speed — up to 18 TB native / 45 TB compressed per LTO-9 cartridge, and up to 300 MB/s native per drive — with two drives installed, run two jobs at once.
- 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 when you hand off projects or vault data.
- 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.
- All-metal enclosure — compact footprint with premium fan and integrated power supply for clean installs in offices or comms rooms.
- Physical security — Kensington T-Bar™ lock slot.
- Compliance & certifications — CE, UKCA, FCC Class A, RoHS.
- Warranty — 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty, with an optional 2-year extension.
All Symply dual-drive desktop systems feature SymplyCABLELESS™ technology, a unique design that makes LTO drives quick and easy to remove, service, or upgrade. Start with a single LTO drive and add a second in seconds—without ever powering down the system. Upgrading to the next LTO generation is just as simple.
In the unlikely event of a drive issue, the affected drive can be removed and replaced without shutting down the entire unit, and only the failed drive needs to be returned for service. Simple, flexible, and designed for maximum uptime—exactly what you’d expect from Symply.
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 Installing an additional drive |
- SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt desktop enclosure 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 2m (6.5 ft) 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) | 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm (11.8 x 8.3 x 5.4 in) |
| Weight | 5.6 kg (12.3 lb) |
Configurations
| Part Number | Included Drive | Capacity Native (Compressed) | Performance Native (Compressed) |
| SYPRO-DT3L9H2B-AT | LTO-9 Half-Height | 18 TB (45 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPRO-DT3L8H2B-AT | LTO-8 Half-Height | 12 TB (30 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPRO-DT3L7H2B-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-iSCL9HH1 | LTO-9 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSCL8HH1 | LTO-8 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSCL7HH1 | 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 Desktop Models
| SymplyPRO Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO XTF Thunderbolt | |
| Drives | 1 half-height | 1 or 2 half-height | 1 full-height |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, 8, 9 | LTO-7, 8, 9 (any mix) | LTO-9 or LTO-10 |
| Native Speed per Drive | 300 MB/s | 300 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
| Max Native per Cartridge | 18 TB | 18 TB | 18 TB (LTO-9) / 40 TB (LTO-10 Aramid) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 27.5 x 21.1 x 9.2 cm | 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm | LTO-9: 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm LTO-10: 38.2 x 22.1 x 14.0 cm |
| Weight | 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) | 5.6 kg (12.3 lb) | LTO-9: 5.8 kg (12.7 lb) LTO-10: 7.7 kg (17.0 lb) |
Overview
Dual-Drive Thunderbolt LTO Tape Drive for Mac and PC
SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt is a dual Thunderbolt LTO tape drive that holds one or two half-height LTO-7, LTO-8, or LTO-9 drives in a single compact, all-metal enclosure. Start with one drive and add a second later, or run two drives side by side. The drives don’t need to match: pair an LTO-9 for new archives with an LTO-7 to read and write older LTO-6 and LTO-7 tapes.
Built for studios, on-set teams, and labs, every enclosure integrates a premium power supply and cooling fan for years of trouble-free service. SymplyCABLELESS™ architecture means drives slide in and out with no internal cabling, so adding a second drive, moving to a newer LTO generation, or swapping a drive for service is quick and simple.
Two Thunderbolt™ 3 ports support daisy-chaining, with one port delivering up to 60W of power for device charging. The XTH works with Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5 computers, as well as 40Gbps USB4 ports. SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports let you connect to a non-Thunderbolt workstation or attach other SAS devices to your Thunderbolt computer.
Every purchase includes your choice of Hedge Canister or YoYotta archive software, so you can start writing LTFS tapes right away. The XTH 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. Once a cartridge is ejected it is fully offline, giving you an air-gapped copy that ransomware and network threats can’t reach.
Features & Benefits
- One or two drives — start with a single half-height drive and add a second whenever you need more throughput or another LTO generation.
- Mix LTO generations — combine LTO-7, LTO-8, and LTO-9 drives in one enclosure — for example, LTO-9 for new work alongside LTO-7 to access older tapes.
- 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), including one port providing up to 60W of device charging.
- 12Gb SAS connectivity — SAS Host and SAS Expansion ports (SFF-8644) connect the XTH to non-Thunderbolt workstations or attach additional SAS devices to a Thunderbolt computer.
- Capacity & speed — up to 18 TB native / 45 TB compressed per LTO-9 cartridge, and up to 300 MB/s native per drive — with two drives installed, run two jobs at once.
- 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 when you hand off projects or vault data.
- 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.
- All-metal enclosure — compact footprint with premium fan and integrated power supply for clean installs in offices or comms rooms.
- Physical security — Kensington T-Bar™ lock slot.
- Compliance & certifications — CE, UKCA, FCC Class A, RoHS.
- Warranty — 3-year Advanced Replacement warranty, with an optional 2-year extension.
SymplyCABLELESS
All Symply dual-drive desktop systems feature SymplyCABLELESS™ technology, a unique design that makes LTO drives quick and easy to remove, service, or upgrade. Start with a single LTO drive and add a second in seconds—without ever powering down the system. Upgrading to the next LTO generation is just as simple.
In the unlikely event of a drive issue, the affected drive can be removed and replaced without shutting down the entire unit, and only the failed drive needs to be returned for service. Simple, flexible, and designed for maximum uptime—exactly what you’d expect from Symply.
|
|
Installing an additional drive |
What's in the Box
- SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt desktop enclosure 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 2m (6.5 ft) 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) | 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm (11.8 x 8.3 x 5.4 in) |
| Weight | 5.6 kg (12.3 lb) |
Configurations
| Part Number | Included Drive | Capacity Native (Compressed) | Performance Native (Compressed) |
| SYPRO-DT3L9H2B-AT | LTO-9 Half-Height | 18 TB (45 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPRO-DT3L8H2B-AT | LTO-8 Half-Height | 12 TB (30 TB) | 300 MB/s (750 MB/s) |
| SYPRO-DT3L7H2B-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-iSCL9HH1 | LTO-9 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSCL8HH1 | LTO-8 Half-Height |
| SYLTO-iSCL7HH1 | 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 Desktop Models
| SymplyPRO Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO XTH Thunderbolt | SymplyPRO XTF Thunderbolt | |
| Drives | 1 half-height | 1 or 2 half-height | 1 full-height |
| LTO Generations | LTO-7, 8, 9 | LTO-7, 8, 9 (any mix) | LTO-9 or LTO-10 |
| Native Speed per Drive | 300 MB/s | 300 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
| Max Native per Cartridge | 18 TB | 18 TB | 18 TB (LTO-9) / 40 TB (LTO-10 Aramid) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 27.5 x 21.1 x 9.2 cm | 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm | LTO-9: 30.0 x 21.1 x 13.6 cm LTO-10: 38.2 x 22.1 x 14.0 cm |
| Weight | 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) | 5.6 kg (12.3 lb) | LTO-9: 5.8 kg (12.7 lb) LTO-10: 7.7 kg (17.0 lb) |
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