LTO-8 at a glance
- 12TB native, 30TB compressed (2.5:1)
- 360MB/s native, up to 900MB/s compressed
- Works in LTO-8 and LTO-9 drives
- LTO-8 drives read/write LTO-7, and can format new LTO-7 cartridges as 9TB LTO-7 Type M
LTO-8 tape for backup and archive
LTO-8 doubled the capacity of LTO-7 to 12TB native per cartridge and was the first generation to use Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particles exclusively. It is still an excellent medium for backup rotation and archive. Because LTO-9 drives read and write LTO-8, cartridges you buy today stay usable when you move to LTO-9 hardware.
LTO-8 is often the most economical choice for organisations with an installed LTO-8 library, or LTO-9 users who want to keep using LTO-8 media in a mixed library.
LTO-8 specifications
Compatibility
| Drive | LTO-8 cartridge | LTO-7 cartridge |
|---|---|---|
| LTO-9 drive | Read & write | Not supported |
| LTO-8 drive | Read & write | Read & write (6TB, or 9TB as Type M) |
| LTO-7 drive | Not supported | Read & write |
An LTO-8 drive can initialise a new, unused LTO-7 cartridge as “Type M” and store 9TB native on it instead of 6TB. Type M cartridges can only be used in LTO-8 drives, not in LTO-7 or LTO-9 drives. Many libraries need specific barcode labels (ending M8) to recognise them.
LTFS support
LTO-8 supports LTFS, so cartridges can be mounted and browsed like a disk, which is ideal for moving large media files between sites.
Buying LTO-8 tapes
We supply LTO-8 cartridges from Dell Technologies, Fujifilm, HPE, IBM and Quantum, in packs of 5 to 5,000, plus LTO-8 WORM media. On orders of 20 or more we can supply pre-printed barcode labels in the right sequence for your library, and we can also supply library packs.
| Brand | LTO-8 part number |
|---|---|
| Fujifilm | 15716800 |
| HPE | Q2078A |
| IBM | 01PL041 |
| Quantum | MR-L8MQN-01 |
| Dell | 440-BBIU |
All LTO media carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. If you are thinking about upgrading, read 5 reasons to choose LTO-9 over LTO-8.