HPE C7977W LTO-7 Ultrium Data Cartridge - WORM - 6.25 TB Native / 15 TB Compressed - 315 MB/s - 2775.6 ft Tape
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Product Features
Technical Overview
This LTO-7 cartridge leverages the Ultrium generation 7 specification to achieve a maximum compressed data transfer rate of 750 MB/s when used with compatible drives that support hardware compression. The cartridge's physical dimensions adhere to the standard LTO form factor, ensuring compatibility with LTO-7 and backward-compatible LTO-6 drives in autoloaders and tape libraries.
The WORM functionality prevents accidental or malicious data overwrites, providing a secure foundation for archival storage that meets stringent data governance requirements. The cartridge's construction maintains precise tape alignment and minimal friction to support reliable read/write operations across its entire length.
Relevant factors for this section include Tape Technology, Compressed Storage Capacity, Native Storage Capacity, Height. When those points are considered together, they give buyers a clearer picture of how the product is equipped, how it fits into deployment, and what kind of day-to-day role it is meant to support.
Key Product Advantages
This HPE cartridge combines high capacity with proven LTO-7 reliability, offering a cost-effective solution for expanding tape storage infrastructure. The WORM media format adds a layer of data protection for archives that must remain unaltered, while the substantial tape length reduces media changes during extended backup windows.
High-Density Storage
With 6.25 TB native and 15 TB compressed capacity, this cartridge maximizes storage efficiency in tape libraries and reduces the physical media count required for large datasets.
- 6.25 TB native capacity
- 15 TB compressed capacity
- 2775.6 ft tape length
Secure Archival Compliance
The WORM media format ensures data cannot be modified after writing, meeting compliance needs for financial, healthcare, and legal record retention.
- WORM media format
- Data immutability
- Regulatory compliance support
Deployment / Use Cases
This cartridge is engineered for environments where long-term data preservation, compliance, and cost-effective capacity scaling are priorities. It integrates seamlessly into existing LTO-7 tape libraries and autoloaders, supporting automated backup and archival workflows.
Typical deployments include offsite disaster recovery archives, regulatory compliance storage for sensitive records, and tiered storage strategies where less frequently accessed data moves from primary disk to tape. The cartridge's reliability makes it suitable for extended retention periods in corporate, government, and research data centers.
Long-Term Data Retention
Ideal for archiving historical data, legal documents, and compliance records that must be preserved for years without modification.
- WORM media for immutability
- High capacity for large archives
- LTO-7 reliability for longevity
Tiered Storage Expansion
Extends storage capacity in backup environments by adding tape tiers to disk-based systems, reducing overall storage costs while maintaining data accessibility.
- Cost-effective capacity scaling
- Compatible with LTO-7 drives
- Supports automated tape libraries
Physical Profile
The cartridge measures 1.10" in height, 4.37" in width, and 4.45" in depth, conforming to the standard LTO form factor for reliable handling in automated tape libraries and manual loaders. Its compact design allows high-density stacking in storage racks and media safes, optimizing physical space in data center environments.
The physical profile is practical for deployment planning because the dimensions and weight are clearly defined: 1.10" (27.94 mm), 4.37" (111 mm), 4.45" (113.03 mm). This helps confirm rack, shelf, desk, or cabinet fit before installation.
- Width
- 4.37" (111 mm)
- Depth
- 4.45" (113.03 mm)
- Height
- 1.10" (27.94 mm)
- Length
- 2775.6 ft (846 m)
Highlights
- LTO-7 tape technology with 6.25 TB native and 15 TB compressed capacity
- WORM media format for secure, unalterable archival storage
- 315 MB/s native data transfer rate for efficient backup performance
- 2775.6 ft tape length supports extended recording sessions
- Compatible with LTO-7 and backward-compatible LTO-6 tape drives
- Standard LTO form factor for reliable operation in autoloaders and libraries
- Retail packaging for easy integration into existing tape infrastructures
- Enterprise-grade construction for durable long-term data retention
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hewlett Packard Enterprise |
| Manufacturer Part Number | C7977W |
| Brand Name | HPE |
| Product Name | LTO Ultrium-7 Data Cartridge |
| Package Type | Retail |
| Product Type | Data Cartridge |
| Technical Information | |
| Tape Technology | LTO-7 |
| Compressed Storage Capacity | 15 TB |
| Native Storage Capacity | 6.25 TB |
| Maximum Native Data Transfer Rate | 315 MB/s |
| Maximum Compressed Data Transfer Rate | 750 MB/s |
| Tape Length | 2775.6 ft (846 m) |
| Media Formats | WORM |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Height | 1.10" (27.94 mm) |
| Width | 4.37" (111 mm) |
| Depth | 4.45" (113.03 mm) |
FAQ
What is the native storage capacity of this LTO-7 cartridge?
The HPE LTO Ultrium-7 Data Cartridge provides 6.25 TB of native storage capacity. This is the raw, uncompressed storage space available for data without using compression algorithms, making it suitable for environments where data is already compressed or where native capacity is the primary metric for storage planning.
How does the compressed capacity reach 15 TB?
The cartridge achieves 15 TB of compressed capacity through hardware compression supported by compatible LTO-7 tape drives. This compression typically uses a 2.4:1 ratio, effectively doubling the usable storage space for compressible data types like databases, documents, and certain media files, though actual results depend on data compressibility.
What does WORM media format mean for this tape?
WORM stands for Write Once, Read Many, meaning data written to this cartridge cannot be erased or overwritten. This ensures data immutability, which is critical for compliance with regulations requiring unalterable records, legal evidence preservation, and secure archival storage where data integrity must be guaranteed over long periods.
What is the maximum data transfer rate for this cartridge?
The maximum native data transfer rate is 315 MB/s, which is the speed at which uncompressed data can be written or read. When used with drives that support hardware compression, the maximum compressed transfer rate can reach up to 750 MB/s, enabling faster backup and restore operations for compressible data sets.
Is this cartridge compatible with older LTO drives?
This LTO-7 cartridge is compatible with LTO-7 tape drives and is also readable by LTO-8 drives in read-only mode due to LTO generation backward compatibility. It is not compatible with LTO-6 or earlier drives for writing, but LTO-7 drives can read LTO-6 cartridges, maintaining some interoperability within tape libraries.
What are the physical dimensions of the cartridge?
The cartridge measures 1.10 inches in height, 4.37 inches in width, and 4.45 inches in depth (27.94 mm x 111 mm x 113.03 mm). These standard LTO dimensions ensure proper fit in tape drives, autoloaders, and storage racks, facilitating reliable operation and easy handling in data center environments.
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