HPE Q6Q67A StoreEver MSL Ultrium 30750 LTO-8 Fibre Channel Drive Upgrade Kit

The HPE Q6Q67A is an LTO-8 Ultrium 30750 Fibre Channel drive upgrade kit for HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries — providing an 8Gb/s Fibre Channel LTO-8 tape drive module to expand or upgrade HPE MSL tape library drive capacity, delivering 12TB native / 30TB compressed per cartridge capacity at up to 360 MB/s native transfer rate for enterprise tape backup and archival.

Key Features

• LTO-8 Ultrium 30750 tape drive with 12TB native / 30TB compressed capacity per cartridge
• 8Gb/s Fibre Channel interface for high-bandwidth enterprise SAN-attached tape library connectivity
• Upgrade kit for HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries — adds drive without replacing library chassis
• 360 MB/s native (900 MB/s compressed) transfer rate for rapid backup windows
• LTO-8 backward read/write compatibility with LTO-7 cartridges

Product Specifications

• Part Number: Q6Q67A
• Manufacturer: HP / HPE
• Drive Type: LTO-8 Ultrium 30750
• Interface: 8Gb/s Fibre Channel
• Capacity: 12TB native / 30TB compressed (2.5:1 compression)
• Transfer Rate: 360 MB/s native / 900 MB/s compressed
• Compatible Library: HPE StoreEver MSL tape library series

Component Specifications

• LTO Generation: LTO-8 (Linear Tape-Open 8th generation)
• Cartridge Compatibility: LTO-8 (R/W), LTO-7 (R/W), LTO-6 (read only)
• Interface Speed: 8Gb/s Fibre Channel
• Form Factor: Half-height (HH) drive module for MSL library slot
• WORM Support: Yes (with LTO WORM cartridges)
• Encryption: AES 256-bit hardware encryption

Performance Specifications

• Native Transfer Rate: Up to 360 MB/s
• Compressed Transfer Rate: Up to 900 MB/s (2.5:1 ratio)
• Cartridge Capacity: 12TB native / 30TB compressed per LTO-8 cartridge
• Load/Unload Time: ~15 seconds

Use Cases

• HPE MSL tape library drive expansion for increased backup throughput and cartridge capacity
• Enterprise SAN-attached tape backup using 8Gb/s Fibre Channel connectivity
• LTO-8 upgrade from LTO-6 or LTO-7 drives in existing HPE StoreEver MSL libraries
• Long-term archival storage requiring WORM compliance and AES-256 hardware encryption

Compatibility

• HPE StoreEver MSL2024, MSL4048, MSL6480, and MSL8096 tape libraries
• Requires 8Gb/s Fibre Channel HBA and SAN fabric for FC connectivity
• LTO-8 reads LTO-7 and LTO-6 cartridges; writes only to LTO-8 and LTO-7 cartridges
• Verify MSL library firmware version for LTO-8 FC drive module support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Q6Q67A FC drive kit and an SAS LTO-8 drive kit?

The Q6Q67A uses 8Gb/s Fibre Channel connectivity, requiring a FC HBA and SAN fabric infrastructure — ideal for enterprise environments with existing SAN. SAS LTO-8 drive kits connect directly via SAS HBA without FC infrastructure, offering simpler deployment at lower cost. FC provides longer distances and SAN fabric flexibility; SAS provides direct-attach simplicity. Choose based on your existing backup infrastructure.

How does LTO-8 compare to LTO-7 in terms of capacity and performance?

LTO-8 provides 12TB native capacity per cartridge versus 6TB for LTO-7 — doubling per-cartridge capacity. Transfer rates increase from 300 MB/s (LTO-7) to 360 MB/s native (LTO-8). LTO-8 drives also read and write LTO-7 cartridges (backward compatibility one generation). For tape libraries with limited slots, LTO-8's doubled capacity per cartridge significantly extends effective library storage without adding slots.

Does the Q6Q67A support hardware encryption for compliance?

Yes — the LTO-8 drive in Q6Q67A supports AES-256 hardware encryption at the drive level, transparent to the backup application. Hardware encryption ensures data on LTO-8 cartridges is protected without performance overhead. For regulatory compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, SOX) requiring encrypted backup media, hardware encryption with proper key management provides a robust compliance solution for tape archival data.

The HPE Q6Q67A StoreEver MSL Ultrium 30750 LTO-8 Fibre Channel drive upgrade kit delivers 12TB native / 30TB compressed tape capacity at 360 MB/s native transfer rate with 8Gb/s FC connectivity — enabling HPE MSL tape library expansion with LTO-8 performance, AES-256 hardware encryption, and LTO-7 backward compatibility for enterprise SAN-attached tape backup and long-term archival deployments.