IBM 02XW568 LTO-9 Data Cartridge – 18TB Native Ultrium Tape

IBM 02XW568 LTO-9 Data Cartridge – 18TB Native Ultrium Tape

IBM 02XW568 LTO-9 Data Cartridge is a high-capacity, blank magnetic tape engineered for long-term archiving, backup and disaster recovery. With 18 TB native capacity (up to 45 TB at 2.5:1 compression) and native transfer rates up to 400 MB/s, this Ultrium 9 cartridge reduces cartridge counts and lowers total cost of ownership for enterprise archives and media workflows.

Built with Barium Ferrite (BaFe) media and a design life suitable for multi-decade retention, the cartridge supports WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many) models and hardware encryption when used with compatible LTO-9 drives—helping organisations meet regulatory retention and data‑integrity requirements while keeping data offline and portable for added protection.

Features and Benefits

• 18 TB native capacity (up to 45 TB with 2.5:1 compression) to lower cartridge counts and storage footprint.

• Up to 400 MB/s native transfer speed (up to ~1,000 MB/s compressed) for efficient backup and restore operations.

• Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle media for improved durability, longevity and high recording density.

• Designed for long-term retention — archival life rated up to 30 years under recommended storage conditions.

• Available WORM option to preserve immutable records; compatible with drive-level hardware encryption and LTFS when supported by host drive.

• Form factor compatible with LTO Ultrium 9 drives and automation libraries for scalable tape library deployments.

What's in the box

• IBM LTO Ultrium 9 Data Cartridge (02XW568)

Product Q&A

Q: Which drives can I use this cartridge with?

A:This cartridge is compatible with LTO Ultrium 9 (LTO-9) tape drives and libraries. It requires an LTO-9 drive to achieve full capacity and performance; LTO-9 drives also maintain media compatibility policies (e.g., read/write and read-only support) per vendor guidance.

Q: Does this cartridge support WORM or encryption?

A: A WORM variant of LTO-9 cartridges is offered (part numbers such as 02XW569). Hardware encryption is supported by LTO-9 drives; encryption functionality is provided at the drive level when used with encryption-capable drives..

Q: Can I use LTO-8 drives with this cartridge?

A: No. LTO-9 cartridges require LTO-9 drives. LTO drives normally offer read/write compatibility with previous-generation media in specified directions (for example, LTO-9 drives may read/write certain older generations), but an LTO-8 drive cannot write to LTO-9 media. Check your drive vendor documentation for exact backward/forward compatibility rules.

Q: What is the expected archival life?

A: The cartridge media is specified for long-term retention — commonly cited archival life is up to 30 years when stored under recommended environmental conditions

Q: Is special software required to use the cartridge?

A: No special cartridge software is required. Use of LTFS (Linear Tape File System) or backup/archive software depends on the host system and drive; LTFS is supported by LTO-9 drives that implement the feature.

Specification

• Manufacturer Part Number: 02XW568

• Product: IBM LTO Ultrium 9 Data Cartridge

• Native Capacity: 18 TB

• Compressed Capacity: Up to 45 TB (2.5:1 compression)

• Native Transfer Rate: Up to 400 MB/s

• Compressed Transfer Rate: Up to ~1,000 MB/s (compressed)

• Media Technology: Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle media

• Tape Length: ~1,035 m (3,395.7 ft)

• Tracks: 8,960

• Archival Life: Up to 30 years (under recommended storage conditions)

• Load/Unload Cycles: Vendor guidance typically lists high cycle counts (refer to IBM drive documentation for drive-rated cycles)

• Form Factor: LTO Ultrium 9

• Variants: Standard blank cartridge (02XW568), WORM model available (e.g., 02XW569)

• What's in the box: One IBM LTO Ultrium 9 Data Cartridge

Compatibility

Device Compatibility:

• Compatible with: LTO Ultrium 9 (LTO-9) tape drives and libraries (full capacity and performance require LTO-9 drives).

• Not compatible with: LTO-8 or earlier drives for writing to LTO-9 media; do not use in non-LTO-9 tape drives.

Mac:

• Compatible when the host system provides an LTO-9 tape drive or library and appropriate backup/archive software; OS versions are determined by the drive and backup software vendor.

Windows:

• Compatible when the host system provides an LTO-9 tape drive or library and appropriate backup/archive software; OS versions are determined by the drive and backup software vendor.

Other OS:

• Compatible with Linux, UNIX, and other OSes when used with supported LTO-9 drives and backup/archive software that support those platforms.

Interface Requirements:

• Requires a tape drive or library that implements the LTO Ultrium 9 format (SAS or Fibre Channel interfaces as implemented by the drive/vendor). Verify the drive vendor for exact interface (e.g., SAS, FC) and host connectivity requirements.

Notes:

• Media compatibility is driven by the tape drive/library — consult your LTO-9 drive or library documentation for exact supported OS versions, interfaces, and any platform-specific limitations.