LTO Compatibility Chart
Every LTO tape drive works with a limited set of cartridge generations. This chart shows which LTO tapes each drive can read and write, which it can only read, and how much each generation holds, so you can buy the right tapes for the drive you have.
LTO drive and tape compatibility
| Drive | Reads & writes | Read only |
|---|---|---|
| LTO-10 | LTO-10 | none |
| LTO-9 | LTO-9, LTO-8 | none |
| LTO-8 | LTO-8, LTO-7 (including LTO-7 Type M) | none |
| LTO-7 | LTO-7, LTO-6 | LTO-5 |
| LTO-6 | LTO-6, LTO-5 | LTO-4 |
| LTO-5 | LTO-5, LTO-4 | LTO-3 |
| LTO-4 | LTO-4, LTO-3 | LTO-2 |
| LTO-3 | LTO-3, LTO-2 | LTO-1 |
| LTO-2 | LTO-2, LTO-1 | none |
| LTO-1 | LTO-1 | none |
Up to LTO-7, a drive wrote one generation back and read two generations back. LTO-8 and LTO-9 drives read and write only one generation back, so an LTO-9 drive cannot read LTO-7 tapes. LTO-10 drives have no backward compatibility: they use only LTO-10 cartridges and cannot read LTO-9 tapes.
LTO capacity by generation
| Generation | Native capacity | Compressed capacity | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTO-10 | 30 TB (40 TB version also available) | 75 TB | Call 1-877-66-TAPES |
| LTO-9 | 18 TB | 45 TB | LTO-9 tapes |
| LTO-8 | 12 TB | 30 TB | LTO-8 tapes |
| LTO-7 Type M (M8) | 9 TB | 22.5 TB | LTO-8 drives only |
| LTO-7 | 6 TB | 15 TB | LTO-7 tapes |
| LTO-6 | 2.5 TB | 6.25 TB | LTO-6 tapes |
| LTO-5 | 1.5 TB | 3 TB | LTO-5 tapes |
| LTO-4 | 800 GB | 1.6 TB | LTO-4 tapes |
| LTO-3 | 400 GB | 800 GB | LTO-3 tapes |
| LTO-2 | 200 GB | 400 GB | LTO-2 tapes |
| LTO-1 | 100 GB | 200 GB | LTO-1 tapes |
Compressed capacity assumes 2:1 compression for LTO-1 to LTO-5 and 2.5:1 for LTO-6 and later. Real results depend on your data: files that are already compressed, such as video, images and zip archives, will not compress further.
Before you buy
- Match the tape to the drive, not the other way round. Check your drive's generation on its front label or in your backup software, then use the first table above.
- Using a library or autoloader? You will need barcode labels. See LTO barcode labels.
- Keep drives clean. See LTO cleaning cartridges, and use the cleaning cartridge your drive's manufacturer recommends.
- Need a new drive? See tape drives.
Frequently asked questions
Can an LTO-9 drive read LTO-7 tapes?
No. An LTO-9 drive reads and writes LTO-9 and LTO-8 tapes only. To read LTO-7 tapes you need an LTO-7 or LTO-8 drive.
Can an LTO-8 drive read LTO-6 tapes?
No. An LTO-8 drive reads and writes LTO-8 and LTO-7 tapes, including LTO-7 Type M. LTO-6 tapes need an LTO-6 or LTO-7 drive.
Can an LTO-10 drive read LTO-9 tapes?
No. LTO-10 drives work only with LTO-10 cartridges. Keep an LTO-9 drive, or migrate the data, if you need to read existing LTO-9 tapes.
What is LTO-7 Type M?
LTO-7 Type M (also called M8) is a new LTO-7 cartridge initialized in an LTO-8 drive to hold 9 TB native instead of 6 TB. It works only in LTO-8 drives.
Is the compressed capacity what I will actually get?
Not always. Compressed figures assume data that compresses at 2:1 (LTO-1 to LTO-5) or 2.5:1 (LTO-6 and later). Plan around native capacity if your data is already compressed.