Cartridges; Choosing Cartridges; Labeling Cartridges; Write-Protecting Cartridges - HP HPE StoreEver LTO-8 Ultrium Tape Technical Reference Manual

Cartridges

Choosing cartridges

Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends HPE LTO-8 Ultrium 30TB data cartridges (2.5:1 compression).
HPE LTO Ultrium drives will also support other lower capacity HPE and non-HPE LTO Ultrium cartridges
but the performance of your drive may be restricted. Data transfer rates will be slower on LTO-7 Ultrium
15TB data cartridges (2.5:1 compression) compared to LTO-8 Ultrium 30TB data cartridges (2.5:1
compression). Compatible media has the LTO Ultrium logo, which is the same as the logo on the front of
your drive.
NOTE:
HPE LTO Ultrium 8 tape drives are not compatible with LTO Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 cartridges, which will
be rejected as unsupported. The Tape Error LED will light.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends LTO Ultrium cartridges as follows:
• HPE LTO-8 Ultrium 30TB RW data cartridges (2.5:1 compression) for multiple reading and writing
• HPE LTO-8 Ultrium 30TB WORM data cartridges (2.5:1 compression). WORM (Write-Once, Read-
Many) cartridges guard against accidental or malicious alteration of data on the tape cartridge. You
can append data to a WORM data cartridge to use the full capacity but not erase or overwrite existing
data. WORM data cartridges have a distinctive, two-tone cartridge color. To check whether your
backup or archive software application supports WORM cartridges, refer to the website: http://
hpe.com/storage/DAPRcompatibility.

Labeling cartridges

Write-protecting cartridges

If you want to protect the data on a cartridge from being altered or overwritten, you can write-protect the
cartridge. Do this before you load the cartridge into the drive. If you slide the write-protect tab after the
cartridge is inserted in the drive, the change will not take effect until the cartridge is ejected and reloaded,
and you will damage the tape drive.
CAUTION:
Write-protection will not prevent a cartridge being erased by bulk-erasure or degaussing. Do not
bulk erase LTO Ultrium format cartridges. It will destroy pre-recorded servo information and render
the cartridge unusable.
The label and write-protect switch are on the rear face of the cartridge, as
illustrated.
Never use non-standard labels, and never stick anything to the cartridge
other than in the label area.
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