HP LTO-6, C7976A, 7A, 2.5TB/6.25TB, TAA

The HP LTO-6 Ultrium 6 data cartridge (P/N C7976A) stores 2.5TB of uncompressed data and up to 6.25TB compressed. It is a reliable, low-cost tape for daily backups, offsite copies, and keeping existing LTO-6 archives in service.

Proven backup performance

LTO-6 drives write to this cartridge at up to 160 MB/s uncompressed and up to 400 MB/s compressed. The cartridge supports AES 256-bit drive encryption to protect stored data, and LTFS (Linear Tape File System), which lets you drag and drop files to and from the tape like a USB drive. It also supports tape partitioning, which LTFS uses to keep a file index on the tape.

Stays useful after a drive upgrade

LTO-6 cartridges can be read and written by LTO-7 drives, so you can keep using your LTO-6 media and archives after moving to LTO-7 hardware. The cartridge is TAA compliant for government and public-sector buyers, and custom EDP barcode labels are available if needed.

Ideal for:

• Businesses running LTO-6 or LTO-7 tape drives
• Small and mid-size backup rotations
• Adding or replacing tapes in an existing LTO-6 archive
• Government agencies and contractors that require TAA compliant media

Specifications

• Part number: C7976A
• Format: LTO-6 Ultrium 6
• Capacity: 2.5TB native, 6.25TB compressed
• Transfer rate: up to 160 MB/s native, 400 MB/s compressed
• Compatibility: LTO-6 drives; read/write in LTO-7 drives
• Compliance: TAA compliant
• Condition: New
• Labeling: Custom EDP barcodes available

FAQs

What is the capacity of an HP LTO-6 tape?

An HP LTO-6 cartridge holds 2.5TB of uncompressed data, or up to 6.25TB compressed at a 2.5:1 ratio. Files that are already compressed, such as video and photos, will be closer to the 2.5TB native figure.

Which drives are compatible with LTO-6 tapes?

LTO-6 cartridges work in LTO-6 drives and can be read and written by LTO-7 drives. LTO-5 drives cannot use LTO-6 cartridges, and LTO-8 or newer drives cannot read them.

Is the HP C7976A a WORM tape?

No. C7976A is the standard rewritable LTO-6 cartridge, so it can be erased and reused. HP sells the WORM (write-once, read-many) version separately as C7976W, for records that must not be changed or deleted.

Does LTO-6 support LTFS?

Yes. LTO-6 supports LTFS (Linear Tape File System), which shows the tape as a drive on your computer so you can drag and drop files without special backup software. This makes it easy to move large files between sites or share archives.

Will the HP LTO-6 cartridge work in a non-HP drive?

Yes. LTO is an open standard, so HP LTO-6 cartridges work in any LTO-6 or LTO-7 drive, including IBM, Quantum, Dell, and Tandberg drives and tape libraries.