The purpose of this statement is to inform customers about supply levels for LTO-8 Ultrium media products as of 21st August 2019 (previously created 16th January 2019). HPE ordering systems are now open again allowing HPE LTO-8 media orders to be placed. Shipments of HPE LTO-8 Ultrium media products expected to recommence in September 2019, with the intent to initially fulfill the backlog of existing orders, before returning to normal supply levels in Q4 CY19.
If media is needed for LTO-8 drives now, LTO-7 or LTO-7 Type M media alternatives can be purchased instead:
LTO-7 Type M is a new LTO-8 feature, enabling an LTO-8 drive in a tape library to write 9 TB native on a cartridge originally manufactured as LTO-7 Ultrium media. Such a cartridge is called an LTO-7 Type M cartridge. Type M cartridges are identified by using an automation bar code label ending with the last two characters “M8”. LTO-7 Type M cartridges represent the most cost-effective and high capacity option for new and existing LTO-8 device users at this moment.
For more information about LTO-7 Type M, please learn more about this media in the COOLSPIRiT article.
If you have questions relating to this announcement, please contact your COOLSPIRiT Account Manager, or submit a query here.
With HPE, COOLSPIRiT will continue to monitor the situation and update this article if there are any significant changes.