N7P36A HPE 6TB/15TB StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium 15K 8Gbps Fibre Channel Tape Drive

Overview of HPE N7P36A 15TB LTO-7 Ultrium Tape Drive

The HPE N7P36A StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium 15000 Fibre Channel tape drive module is engineered for enterprise-class backup, long-term data retention, and cost-efficient archival storage. Designed to integrate seamlessly into HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries, this internal LTO-7 drive delivers high capacity, fast data throughput, and reliable data protection for modern IT infrastructures.

General Information

• Manufacturer: HPE
• Part Number: N7P36A
• Product Type: Internal tape drive module

Technical Specifications

• Tape format: LTO-7 Ultrium
• Native storage capacity: 6 TB per cartridge
• Compressed storage capacity: up to 15 TB
• Form Factor: 5.25 inch
• Enclosure design: Internal tape drive module
• Large internal buffer: 1024 MB

Interface and Compatibility

• Interface type: 8 Gb Fibre Channel
• Compatible with enterprise Fibre Channel infrastructures
• Designed for HPE StoreEver MSL tape libraries

Physical Design

• Form factor: 5.25-inch half-height
• Internal drive module for space-efficient installation
• Engineered for continuous operation in data center environments

Supported LTO Standards

• LTO Ultrium 7: read and write support
• LTO Ultrium 6: read and write support

The HPE N7P36A StoreEver MSL LTO-7 Ultrium Tape Drive

Enterprise tape storage continues to play a critical role in modern data protection strategies, especially for organizations managing exponential data growth, long-term retention requirements, and cost-sensitive archival workloads. The HPE StoreEver tape ecosystem is designed to address these needs by combining proven Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology with Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s enterprise-grade engineering, reliability, and scalability. Within this category, LTO-7 Ultrium solutions stand out by delivering a balanced mix of capacity, performance, security, and compatibility tailored for mission-critical backup and archival environments.

StoreEver MSL Tape Library Drive Modules

HPE StoreEver MSL Tape Libraries are modular, scalable, and flexible tape automation platforms designed for small, medium, and large enterprises. The drive module upgrade category focuses on enabling organizations to adapt their tape libraries as data requirements evolve, without replacing the entire library chassis. Drive modules such as the LTO-7 Ultrium variant allow businesses to increase native and compressed capacity, boost transfer speeds, and adopt newer generations of LTO technology while maintaining backward compatibility.This category emphasizes modularity, allowing IT teams to add, replace, or upgrade tape drives with minimal downtime. The HPE N7P36A LTO-7 drive module integrates seamlessly into supported MSL tape libraries, preserving investment protection while enabling higher data densities and improved backup windows.

LTO-7 Ultrium Tape Drive Capabilities

Native and Compressed Storage Capacity

LTO-7 Ultrium technology delivers a native capacity of 6TB per cartridge, which can scale up to 15TB with typical 2.5:1 data compression. This substantial capacity increase compared to earlier LTO generations makes this category ideal for enterprises dealing with large-scale backups, archival repositories, and compliance-driven retention policies. By reducing the number of cartridges required, organizations can lower storage footprint, simplify media management, and reduce operational costs.In environments where data growth is accelerating due to virtualization, cloud integration, analytics, and digital transformation initiatives, LTO-7 tape drives provide a reliable and economical solution for long-term data storage. The HPE StoreEver MSL LTO-7 drive module category supports efficient scaling without sacrificing performance or reliability.

High-Performance Data Transfer Rates

Performance is a defining characteristic of LTO-7 Ultrium tape drives. With high sustained data transfer rates, this category enables faster backup and restore operations, helping organizations meet shrinking backup windows and aggressive recovery time objectives (RTOs). When paired with an 8Gbps Fibre Channel interface, the drive module supports high-speed data movement between servers, storage systems, and the tape library. This performance advantage is particularly valuable in enterprise data centers where large datasets must be protected regularly, such as databases, virtual machine images, and unstructured data repositories. The consistent streaming performance of LTO-7 minimizes shoe-shining effects, improves tape longevity, and ensures predictable backup operations.

8Gbps Fibre Channel Interface 

The inclusion of an 8Gbps Fibre Channel interface positions this category squarely within enterprise SAN-based infrastructures. Fibre Channel connectivity is widely adopted in mission-critical environments due to its low latency, high reliability, and deterministic performance. The HPE StoreEver MSL LTO-7 drive module integrates smoothly into existing Fibre Channel fabrics, allowing centralized backup servers and applications to access tape resources efficiently.This interface supports multi-path configurations, enhancing availability and resilience. By leveraging established SAN best practices, organizations can ensure uninterrupted access to tape storage even during maintenance or component failures.

Scalability and Future-Proofing

Fibre Channel-based tape solutions are well-suited for scalable architectures. As data volumes increase, additional drives or library expansions can be introduced without re-architecting the entire backup environment. The drive module upgrade category allows IT teams to incrementally enhance performance and capacity, aligning infrastructure investments with business growth.

Compatibility with HPE StoreEver MSL Tape Libraries

Supported MSL Library Platforms

This category is designed for compatibility with a range of HPE StoreEver MSL Tape Libraries, including popular models used across enterprise and midrange deployments. The modular design ensures that LTO-7 drive modules can be installed or swapped with minimal disruption, enabling smooth transitions from earlier LTO generations.By maintaining backward read compatibility with previous LTO formats, organizations can continue accessing historical data while adopting newer media for current backups. This compatibility is a key advantage for long-term archival strategies that span multiple technology generations.

Integration with Backup Software

The drive module category is compatible with a wide range of enterprise backup and archival software platforms. This interoperability ensures seamless integration into existing workflows, enabling centralized management, reporting, and policy enforcement across heterogeneous environments.

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.

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.