Write-protecting tape cartridges
All rewriteable data cartridges have a write-protect switch to prevent accidental erasure or
overwriting of data. Before loading a cartridge into the device, make sure the write-protect switch
on the front of the cartridge is in the desired position.
Slide the switch to the left to allow the device to write data to the cartridge (see
"Write-protecting the data cartridge" (page
Slide the switch to the right to write-protect the cartridge. An indicator, such as a red mark
or small padlock, is visible showing that the cartridge is write-protected (see
the data cartridge" (page
Figure 19 Write-protecting the data cartridge
1. Write-enabled
3. Write-protect switch
5. Insertion arrow
Read and write compatibility
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ultrium data cartridges are fully supported and compatible with all
Ultrium tape products (see
Enterprise Ultrium media is Ultrium logo compliant, it can be used with any other non-Hewlett
Packard Enterprise tape drivethat bears the Ultrium logo.
Table 11 Read and write compatibility
LTO-1 media
LTO-2 media
LTO-3 media
LTO-4 media
—
unencrypted
LTO-4 media
— encrypted
45), 2).
"Backward read compatibility" (page
LTO-1
LTO-2
drive
drive
Read/Write
Read/Write
Incompatible
Read/Write
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
45), 1).
2. Write-protected
4. Bar code label
LTO-3 drive
LTO-4
drive
Read only
Incompatible
Read/Write
Read only
Read/Write
Read/Write
(no
encryption)
Incompatible
Read/Write
Incompatible
Read/Write
with
encryption
key
"Write-protecting
45)). Because Hewlett Packard
LTO-5
LTO-6
drive
drive
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Read only
Incompatible
Read/Write
Read only
Read/Write
Read only
with
with
encryption
encryption
key
key
Tape cartridges
LTO-7 drive
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
Incompatible
45