MagStor Dual LTO-9 Thunderbolt 3 Desktop Tape Drive - TAA

The MagStor TRB3-HL9-DUAL is a high-performance dual LTO-9 tape drive designed for professional data archiving, backup, and long-term storage. Featuring two half-height LTO-9 drives with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, this TAA-compliant desktop solution delivers exceptional speed and reliability for Mac and PC users in media production, government, and enterprise environments. Each drive supports up to 18TB native capacity per LTO-9 tape (45TB compressed), with read/write speeds of up to 300 MB/s per drive for simultaneous operations. Ideal for high-volume data workflows, this patented Thunderbolt-to-LTO solution ensures secure, offline storage with a 30-year archive life.

Perfect for LTO-9 tape backup, video archiving, and compliant data management—pair with LTFS software for easy drag-and-drop functionality.

Features and Benefits

• Two 18TB LTO-9 Half-Height Drives: Allows simultaneous read/write operations on two tapes for doubled throughput and faster backups/archiving. Significantly reduces backup times for large datasets, ideal for media workflows and high-volume storage needs.
• Up to 300 MB/s Native Transfer Speed per Drive: High-speed performance for efficient data transfer. Quick backups and restores, minimizing downtime and improving productivity. 
• 18TB Native Capacity per Tape (LTO-9): Backward compatible with LTO-8 (read/write 12TB native capacity). Massive storage in a cost-effective, offline format—perfect for long-term archiving without ongoing power costs.
• Thunderbolt 3 Connectivity with 2 Front-Facing Ports: 40 Gb/s interface, daisy-chain capable, compatible with Mac and Windows via USB-C. Seamless, high-bandwidth connection to modern systems; supports chaining multiple devices.
• TAA Compliant: MagStor products are made in the USA and feature IBM LTO drives made in Japan for TAA compliance as required by many public agencies.
• Built-in Power Supply: Internal 100-240V auto-sensing PSU—no external brick needed. Cleaner setup, reduced cable clutter, and reliable operation in desktop or mobile setups.
• 30-Year LTO Media Archive Life: Proven longevity under proper storage conditions. Ultimate data security for cold storage, protecting against ransomware and drive failures with air-gapped offline tapes.
• Patented Thunderbolt-to-LTO Technology: Exclusive MagStor design for proven compatibility and future-proofing. Reliable performance backed by industry-leading innovation and certifications (Apple/Intel certified).
• Three-Year Warranty: MagStor includes a standard three-year warranty, with an optional upgrade to five years available at an additional cost.

Thunderbolt™ 3 devices are fully backward compatible with earlier generations of Thunderbolt™ technology. For systems with legacy Thunderbolt™ ports, the Apple MMEL2AM/A adapter is recommended.

LTFS - Drag and Drop
MagStor supports the Linear Tape File System (LTFS) and ships a free license for Hedge Canister for MacOS and Windows (a $399 value). With LTFS, an LTO tape mounts just like a hard disk or USB device with drag and drop functionality.

Software Compatibility:

• Hedge Canister (Included)
• IperiusBackup
• myLTO
• PreRollPost
• Retrospect
• StorageDNA
• Third-Party TAR based backup software, Acronis etc.
• Veeam
• YoYotta LTFS

Supported Operating Systems:

• macOS 10.12 or later (Intel or Apple Silicon: M1, M2, M3, M4)
• Windows 10 and Windows 11

What's in the box:

• 1 - desktop Dual LTO9 tape drive with two Thunderbolt™ 3 front-facing interface ports
• 1 - 2 Meter MagStor (Intel Certified) Thunderbolt™ 3 Active 40 Gb/s cable
• 1 - US power cable
• Three-year warranty from MagStor

System Requirements

• USB Type-C Port with Thunderbolt or USB4 specification (USB 3, 3.1, 3.2 not supported)
• Data Source of 170 MB/s+ transfer rate (1GbE Ethernet is not sufficient)
• Backup or Archive Software (Hedge Canister is Included)

Download the MagStor Thunderbolt 3 Tape Drives Data Sheet

What you need to know about LTO-9 Tape Initialization
When you insert a brand-new LTO-9 tape into your MagStor (or any other brand ) drive for the first time, the drive will automatically perform a one-time media initialization (also called characterization or calibration) process. This is a required step unique to LTO-9 technology that optimizes data placement on the tape by calibrating to its specific characteristics, ensuring maximum performance, reliability, and long-term durability over the tape's 30-year archive life. The process involves the drive spooling through the entire tape and typically takes 35-90 minutes (though it can occasionally extend up to 2 hours), during which the drive light may flash and the tape will be unavailable for reading or writing. Importantly, this initialization happens only once per tape—subsequent loads into any compatible LTO-9 drive (even in different systems or locations) will not require it again. After initialization completes, you can then format the tape with LTFS software (such as the included Hedge Canister) for easy drag-and-drop file access, or use it with your preferred backup application. This simple, automatic step helps deliver the full potential of your LTO-9 media right from the start.

MagStor® is a registered trademark of MagStor Inc • Thunderbolt™ 3 is a trademark of Intel • MAC™ is a trademark of Apple