High Speed Thunderbolt 3/SAS/FC LTO Drive - Overview

Mass data storage is a problem that looks to only intensify in the coming years. Media files continue to be processed at higher resolutions in larger quantities, and in multiple diverse formats. This is a problem that requires more storage space and secure, reliable solutions. This is especially true for those in media, entertainment, government agencies, small businesses, and anyone requiring large volumes of media storage.
That’s why MagStor offers the LTO7, LTO8, and LTO9 Thunderbolt 3 as your do-it-all storage solution. Our LTO (Linear Tape-Open) drives provide a new level of efficiency for mass data storage that you can’t get from a hard drive or even a solid-state drive.

Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives give you file storage and archiving solution that is unrivaled in keeping large quantities of data stored safely and efficiently. This technology has been used for large-scale storage, archiving, and backup purposes for decades, and only continues to be improved! The LTO9 Thunderbolt 3 tape drive, just announced in 2020, can hold up to 18TB of data in a cartridge that once only held 100GB. The reason the Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives continue to be improved is that they are still the best option when you need a large amount of physical storage that you can rely on. Compared to standard storage media like typical HDDs and SSDs, an LTO9 drive offers an array of benefits that are uniquely suited to those who have unusually large storage needs, and who can’t take the risk of a potential drive failure resulting in lost data. We also offer LTO6, LTO7, and LTO8 Thunderbolt 3 drives. The later the model, the more storage capacity a cartridge of the same size has. This is why the Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drive is such a great choice for a backup or storage drive.

Many people who start looking into Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives have an understandable question: why use this instead of a simple HDD or SSD? There are a number of reasons, not the least of which is stability. Anyone who has ever stored data on an HDD has likely experienced a drive failure at some point. Even with a RAID array, it’s very likely that you will experience lost data from a drive failure at some point. Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives are stable and non-volatile, with a shelf life of over 30 years in addition to being the most reliable form of data storage, far more so than any spinning disk-based or solid-state storage system. But one of the greatest benefits of Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives is cost-effectiveness. LTO9 drives offer not only the greatest storage capacity yet but also the best return on investment! Because LTO drives are non-volatile storage, they do not require power to retain their data long-term. Over the course of years of storage, this represents a massive saving, as you don’t need to worry about replacing worn-out hard drives, or spending money on keeping your storage drives powered. Even internal LTO Drives are incredibly cost-efficient. Your Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tapes can simply be archived and kept stable until you need them. It’s easy, it’s secure, and it’s cost-effective. Have a look at our Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drives on this page, contact us to learn more, or if you already own a Thunderbolt 3 LTO desktop tape drive, check out our technical support portal!

Whether you’re working with a well-worn LTO7 drive or a brand-new LTO9 drive, the SAS versus FC debate rages on. Obviously, there are affordances to both systems, but we’re not here to sell you on one infrastructure over the other - Magstor has LTO tape drives that are ready to work with whatever kind of network infrastructure you’re working with. Still, there are a number of very good reasons to choose our Fiber Channel (FC) Desktop LTO tape drives for your storage and networking needs.

With a transfer rate of 8Gb/s, fiber channel storage is the undisputed king of speed, reliability, and productivity. Combined with the impressive 18TB capacity of an LTO9 tape drive cartridge, you have the best possible solution on all fronts - speed, performance, and capacity. A desktop FC LTO tape drive also offers you the added convenience of a drive that can be connected and accessed easily compared to an internal drive that has to be installed into a system and can’t be easily moved. We offer several types of desktop FC LTO tape drives to fit any need or budget. We have both single and dual LTO tape drives, and your choice of  LTO7 drives, LTO8 drives, and LTO9 drives. FC LTO tape drives also have the benefit of being accessible/sharable by multiple servers or a virtual server, so they tend to work better for wider networks.

With any LTO tape drive, you’re getting a level of reliability and efficiency you simply can’t match with other types of storage. So in addition to top-end performance and productivity, you also get the peace of mind knowing that your data will be safe and reliably stored for decades to come. If you’re relegating your storage to a simple HDD system, you’re risking massive data loss with a drive failure. With a desktop FC LTO9 tape drive, you get 18TB cartridges that are proven to be the most stable and reliable data storage option on the market. Since each cartridge is stored separately, even if one does get damaged or defective, the data loss is comparatively minimal (and often recoverable) compared to an enterprise-level HDD failure. Even if you opt for an older model, you’ll still get about 12TB of storage out of an LTO8 drive, or 6TB out of an LTO7 drive. With one drive, you can expand your storage infinitely simply by obtaining new tape cartridges.

One common criticism of a desktop FC LTO tape drive is the cost. And sure, to some extent, you’re going to pay a higher price up-front for top-end performance and reliability. But the cost is also not as high as you might think, as LTO tape drives are a more cost-efficient solution in the long run. HDDs are certainly a cheaper option up-front but consider the rate at which they have to be replaced, and the power required to keep them running at all times. A quality desktop FC LTO drive saves money by being significantly more energy-efficient over time and being a one-time purchase with essentially infinite scalability. If cost is an issue, you can save with MagStor's Certified Refurbished drives. We also offer financing options and rentals if those are appropriate for your needs. If you have more questions, feel free to contact us or skim through our detailed support materials!