834167-001 HPE 6TB/15TB StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium 15K 8Gbps Fibre Channel Tape Drive

Overview of HPE 834167-001 6TB/15TB MSL LTO-7 Tape Drive

The HPE 834167-001 StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium 15000 Fibre Channel Tape Library Drive Module is engineered for modern enterprise backup, long-term data retention, and secure archival environments. Designed to integrate seamlessly into HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries, this internal tape drive delivers high-capacity storage, accelerated transfer speeds, and dependable data protection for mission-critical workloads.Leveraging Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology, this tape drive module supports scalable storage strategies while reducing total cost of ownership. It is well suited for organizations seeking reliable offline storage, ransomware protection, and compliance-ready data archiving.

General Information

• Manufacturer: HPE
• Part Number: 834167-001
• Product Type: Internal tape drive module

Technical Specifications

• Native storage capacity: 6TB per tape
• Compressed storage capacity: up to 15TB
• Type: LTO Ultrium - 5.25" x 1/2H
• Recording Standard: Ultrium 6, Ultrium 7
  
• Enclosure type : Internal 
• Form Factor: 5.25-inch

The HPE 834167-001 6TB/15TB MSL LTO-7 Ultrium Tape Drive

The HPE StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium Tape Library Drive Module category represents a critical component within enterprise-grade backup, archival, and long-term data preservation infrastructures. Designed for organizations that require scalable, reliable, and cost-efficient storage, this category focuses on Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology integrated into modular tape library environments. These solutions are widely adopted across industries where data growth, compliance mandates, and long retention cycles demand proven and resilient storage media.Tape library drive modules within this category are optimized for seamless integration into HPE StoreEver MSL libraries, enabling businesses to expand capacity, performance, and connectivity without redesigning their existing backup architecture. This category emphasizes durability, backward compatibility, and high-throughput data transfer, making it a cornerstone of enterprise data lifecycle management strategies.

Overview of LTO-7 Ultrium Technology

High-Capacity Tape Media Architecture

LTO-7 Ultrium technology delivers a substantial leap in storage density, offering native capacities of up to 6TB per cartridge and compressed capacities reaching 15TB. This advancement allows enterprises to consolidate large volumes of structured and unstructured data onto fewer cartridges, reducing physical storage footprints and operational complexity.The tape format leverages advanced magnetic particle formulations and refined track layouts to achieve higher areal density while maintaining reliability across extensive read/write cycles. These characteristics make LTO-7 a preferred medium for long-term archival storage, disaster recovery repositories, and compliance-driven data retention.

Performance and Throughput Enhancements

LTO-7 drives support significantly improved data transfer rates compared to previous generations. When paired with high-speed host interfaces, these drives sustain continuous streaming performance, minimizing shoe-shining effects and ensuring efficient backup windows. This performance consistency is essential for large-scale enterprises that manage nightly or continuous backup operations.The category supports adaptive data rate matching, enabling drives to dynamically adjust to host system performance and maintain optimal streaming efficiency. This feature helps reduce media wear and extends cartridge longevity.

HPE StoreEver MSL Tape Library

Modular Scalability and Flexibility

HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries are engineered around a modular architecture that allows organizations to scale storage capacity and performance incrementally. Drive modules within this category can be added or upgraded to meet evolving data protection requirements without disrupting existing operations.This modular design supports multiple drive technologies and interface options, enabling IT teams to align tape infrastructure investments with changing workload demands, budget cycles, and technology refresh strategies.

LTO-7 Tape Technology Advantages

LTO-7 Ultrium technology offers a balance of capacity, performance, and durability, making it a preferred choice for data centers and enterprises managing exponential data growth. This drive module supports both LTO-6 and LTO-7 media, ensuring backward compatibility and protecting existing tape investments.

Enhanced Buffer Memory

With a 1024MB buffer, this LTO-7 Ultrium drive efficiently manages data flow, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth streaming performance. The large cache memory helps prevent tape shoe-shining, improving media longevity and operational efficiency.

Seamless Integration

The drive modules are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing HPE StoreEver MSL libraries, ensuring compatibility with current robotics, management firmware, and media handling mechanisms. This compatibility minimizes deployment complexity and accelerates time-to-value for new storage investments.Standardized form factors and hot-swappable capabilities further enhance operational flexibility, allowing maintenance or upgrades to be performed with minimal downtime.

Fibre Channel Connectivity 

8Gbps Fibre Channel Interface Advantages

This category includes drive modules featuring 8Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity, a widely adopted standard in enterprise data centers. Fibre Channel provides low-latency, high-throughput data transport, making it ideal for backup and restore operations in mission-critical environments.The interface supports long-distance connectivity and robust error handling, ensuring reliable data transfer across complex storage area network (SAN) topologies. This reliability is particularly valuable for multi-site backup strategies and centralized archival repositories.

SAN Integration and Multi-Host Access

Fibre Channel-enabled tape drives can be shared across multiple backup servers within a SAN, optimizing resource utilization and reducing hardware redundancy. This capability allows organizations to centralize tape resources while supporting diverse workloads and operating systems.Advanced zoning and masking features within SAN environments enhance security and access control, ensuring that only authorized hosts can interact with tape resources.

Form Factor and Enclosure Design

Internal Drive Module Configuration

Designed as an internal tape drive module, the HPE StoreEver LTO-7 unit fits seamlessly into compatible MSL tape libraries. Its standardized 5.25 x 1/2-height form factor ensures easy installation and straightforward maintenance within enterprise storage environments.

Reduced Data Center Footprint

High-capacity LTO-7 cartridges allow enterprises to store vast amounts of data in a compact physical space. This density reduces the need for additional racks, floor space, and cooling infrastructure within data centers.Compact storage footprints are especially beneficial for colocation facilities and organizations operating under space constraints.

Backup and Recovery

High-Speed Backup and Restore Operations

LTO-7 drive modules support fast backup and restore processes, enabling organizations to meet aggressive recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs). High throughput ensures that large datasets can be protected within limited backup windows.Efficient restore capabilities are equally critical during disaster recovery scenarios, where rapid access to archived data can significantly reduce downtime and operational impact.