MagStor LTO-9 Desktop Tape Drive HH SAS 8644 TAA

The MagStor LTO-9 Desktop Tape Drive with SAS 8644 (TAA Compliant) is a high-performance, enterprise-grade tape solution designed for secure backup, long-term archival, and disaster recovery workflows. Featuring a native 12Gb/s SAS 8644 interface, this desktop Half-Height (HH) LTO-9 drive integrates seamlessly into data center and server environments requiring reliable, high-throughput tape storage.

With support for 18TB native (45TB compressed) per cartridge, the MagStor SAS-HL9-8644 delivers exceptional storage density while maintaining a low total cost of ownership. Built for continuous operation and compliance-driven environments, this system is ideal for organizations that demand dependable, air-gapped data protection.

Fully TAA compliant, the MagStor LTO-9 SAS desktop drive is well suited for government agencies, defense contractors, healthcare organizations, and enterprises with regulatory and retention requirements.

Features and Benefits

• LTO-9 Tape Technology: Provides up to 18TB native / 45TB compressed capacity per cartridge for high-density backup and archival storage.  Also reads/writes LTO-8 Tapes.
• 12Gb/s SAS 8644 Interface: Delivers fast, reliable connectivity to servers and storage infrastructures in enterprise and data center environments.
• Blazing Fast Speeds: Achieve native read/write transfer rates of up to 300 MB/s, ensuring quick data access and efficient backup windows.
• Desktop Form Factor: Compact, external design ideal for IT rooms, labs, and professional workspaces.
• Integrated Power Supply: No bulky external power brick needed, thanks to the internal 100/240 VAC 50/60 Hz auto-sensing PSU.
• Enterprise-Grade Reliability: Designed for continuous operation with proven LTO durability and long media life.
• Air-Gap Data Protection: Offline tape storage protects critical data from ransomware, cyber threats, and accidental deletion.
• Broad Application Support: Ideal for backup, disaster recovery, regulatory compliance, and long-term data retention.
• TAA Compliant: Meets Trade Agreements Act requirements. MagStor premium drives are manufactured in Japan (easily identified by a Blue button) and meet the Trade Agreements Act requirements for government procurement. 
• Cost-Effective Long-Term Storage: Significantly lower total cost of ownership compared to disk-based archival storage.
• Three Year Warranty: MagStor has a standard 3 year warranty that can be upgraded to a 5 year warranty at an additional cost.

MagStor offers Lifetime Support and Free Firmware Updates & Expert Troubleshooting
No active warranty or service contract required. MagStor's experienced support team provides firmware updates and troubleshooting at no cost. You may ship your drive to their LTO repair facility for a complimentary diagnostic evaluation, whether the unit is in or out of warranty.

Software Compatibility

• IBM Spectrum Archive Single Drive Edition (Linux, MAC)
• Hedge / Canister
• PreRollPost
• myLTO
• YoYotta LTFS
• Third-Party LTFS-enhanced archive/backup software
• Third-Party TAR based backup software
• Any software that fully supports IBM LTO Tape Drives

System Requirements:

• Non-RAID 12G SAS HBA (Host Bus Adapter)
• LTFS will require a TLR-enabled 12G SAS HBA
• MAC OS 10.11+
• Windows 10, 11

What's In The Box:

• MagStor LTO9 HH SAS External Desktop Tape Drive
• US Power Cable
• 2 Meter SFF8644-SFF8644 Mini SAS Cable

Download the MagStor SAS Tape Drive 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.

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