12Gb/s SASSFF-8644LTFS compatibleInternal power supplyTAA compliant configuration
Model / SKU: SAS-L9-MAX
18TBNative capacity Per compatible cartridge
400 MB/sNative transfer rate Maximum sustained rate; workflow dependent
3 yearsHardware warranty Model-specific published coverage
TAA procurement
TAA-compliant tape hardware.
SAS-L9-MAX is listed by MagStor as TAA compliant. For purchases with Trade Agreements Act requirements, ask MagStor for model-specific documentation and confirmation of the exact supplied configuration before ordering.
Review the exact hardware configuration and procurement documentation against your purchasing requirements; accessories and added devices do not automatically inherit the drive’s status.
SAS desktop · LTO-9 · Full-height / MAX
Full-height performance for demanding LTO-9 workloads.
MagStor LTO-9 18TB MAX SAS Desktop Tape Drive
The MagStor SAS-L9-MAX pairs an LTO-9 full-height drive with a 12Gb/s SAS desktop connection. Store up to 18TB of native data per cartridge and reach native transfer rates of up to 400 MB/s when the host, software and source storage can sustain the data stream.
The MAX full-height format is suited to larger backup jobs and sustained archive workflows. Read/write support for both LTO-9 and LTO-8 media keeps existing LTO-8 cartridges in the workflow.
A tape-qualified non-RAID 12Gb/s SAS HBA with SFF-8644 connectivity. Use a supported IT / HBA mode where applicable.
Windows, macOS or Linux with a supported host adapter, driver and tape-software combination. Verify current OS and application versions before deployment.
Use a TLR-enabled 12Gb/s SAS HBA for LTFS and confirm the exact HBA, driver and application combination.
A 2-meter SFF-8644-to-SFF-8644 SAS cable is included. A different host connector requires a correctly matched supported cable.
Before your first archive
Additional requirements
Tape works best when it receives a steady data stream. Build the workflow around the complete path from source storage through the host and software to the drive.
Fast source & staging storage
A source that can sustain the desired workflow rate. Up to 400 MB/s native throughput requires adequate storage, bus, CPU and software performance.
Use fast local SSD/NVMe storage or a well-configured RAID when the original source cannot sustain the required transfer rate. Measure sustained reads with representative files; connection speed alone does not predict performance.
A 1GbE link has a theoretical ceiling of 125 MB/s before overhead, below this drive’s native maximum. For higher throughput, use a faster end-to-end network path, such as 10GbE, or stage the data locally before writing to tape.
Many small files, competing jobs, verification passes, source latency, compression and software settings can change elapsed time. Benchmark the actual workload and keep the source, host and application balanced.
Operating humidity & environment
Operating relative humidity: 20%–80% RH.
Place the drive horizontally on a stable surface, provide ventilation, and connect the supplied US power cable to an appropriate AC supply.
Use a clean, climate-controlled room with stable temperature and clear ventilation. Avoid condensation, rapid environmental changes, dust and blocked airflow. Follow the operating and storage specifications supplied with the drive and cartridges.
Backup, archive or LTFS software required
An LTFS or backup application that supports LTO-9 drives, your operating system and the required media format.
Install model-appropriate drivers and compatible software to write, verify, restore and manage tapes. Software requires separate compatible licensing and setup; no archive-software license is listed in this model’s box contents.
The 12Gb/s SAS interface rate is a link specification. The drive’s native tape-transfer maximum is 400 MB/s. Neither figure guarantees an end-to-end job rate.
Offline by design
Keep an archive you can take offline.
LTO uses removable cartridges for long-term backup and archive copies. After writing and verifying your data, eject the cartridge and store it separately from connected systems. This physical separation supports air-gapped retention, offsite rotation and protection from threats that reach online storage.
Own your archive media
Keep physical control of retained data without recurring cloud capacity charges for those tape copies.
Long-term retention
Media is designed for a shelf life of up to 30 years under recommended storage conditions. Follow the cartridge’s handling and storage guidance.
TAA Compliant
For procurement that requires TAA compliance, confirm the required configuration with MagStor before ordering.
Product Features
Offline protection Unload and remove a verified tape to create a physically offline copy, separated from the connected host and network.
LTFS and backup workflows Use compatible LTFS software for file-based browsing and drag-and-drop archive workflows, or supported TAR and backup applications for managed tape jobs.
Removable, long-term storage Build an archive with removable cartridges and no power requirement while the media is stored offline. Published LTO media archive life is up to 30 years under recommended storage conditions.
Built for a desktop installation An internal auto-sensing power supply keeps the setup compact. Operate the enclosure horizontally and keep its ventilation clear.
TAA procurement option This listed configuration is identified by MagStor as TAA compliant. Match the exact purchased configuration and procurement documentation to your requirements.
Support for the full workflow Get help from MagStor with drive selection, SAS connectivity and tape-workflow questions. The drive is covered by the model’s published 3-year warranty.
Built for IT backup and archive workflows.
Cartridge compatibility
Cartridge
Support
Native capacity
Compressed capacity
LTO-9
Read / write
18TB
45TB*
LTO-8
Read / write
12TB
30TB*
LTO-7 / M8 / LTO-10
Not compatible
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*Compressed capacity assumes 2.5:1 compression. Actual capacity depends on the data; already-compressed files may see little or no further reduction. Plan storage using native capacity.
First use of new LTO-9 media: allow up to two hours for one-time initialization before the cartridge is ready. Let the process finish. LTO-8 media does not need this LTO-9 initialization. Read the initialization guide.
Value media
MagStor’s Choice
Value-focused LTO-9 media sourced from leading tape manufacturers and vetted by MagStor. Choose labeled or unlabeled 10- and 20-packs. Original manufacturer branding and shell color may vary. Lifetime media warranty for the original registered owner.
Premium LTO-9 media cleaned, tested and calibrated before first use, with new/unused certification and pre-applied barcode labels. Supplied as a 10-pack, with lifetime media warranty for the original registered owner. NanoPure LTO-9 is supplied pre-calibrated to reduce first-use preparation.
Media is sold separately. Media warranty applies to eligible cartridges, not to the drive.
Choose software for your workflow
Backup, archive and LTFS applications.
This SAS drive requires compatible backup, archive or LTFS software to write, verify and restore data. The applications below are workflow examples to evaluate, not a certification list, and require separate compatible licensing and setup. No archive-software license is listed in this model’s box contents.
Any backup, archive or LTFS application that supports the drive’s LTO generation and host configuration can be used, even if it is not listed here. Confirm the application version’s support for your operating system, interface, drivers and media format; software licensing and setup requirements still apply.
Backup applications
Veeam, NetBackup, Commvault, Arcserve and Retrospect.
LTFS & archive applications
XPNTL Solo, Hedge Canister, Archiware P5, YoYotta, XenData and myLTO.
Confirm the exact application version’s support for your operating system, LTO-9 drive, SAS HBA, driver and media format. An application listed here may not support every OS or configuration.
Compatible TAR-based backup and LTFS-enhanced archive/backup applications are also options. macOS workflows require compatible third-party software.
Trusted across industries
Archive the work you need to keep.
From media production and enterprise backup to healthcare, government, research, surveillance, legal, and cloud infrastructure, MagStor LTO solutions are used anywhere large amounts of data require secure, removable, offline-capable storage.
Plan the software, verification, media rotation and access procedures around your own retention requirements.
Media & Entertainment
Archive camera originals, project files, completed productions, photography and audio masters.
Video production
Broadcast
Animation & VFX
Photography
Audio production
Digital asset management
Project handoff
Long-term content retention
Enterprise IT
Keep scheduled backups, retention copies and an offline recovery copy of critical systems and business data.
Backup
Disaster recovery
Air-gapped ransomware protection
Offsite rotation
Data migration
Compliance retention
Long-term storage
Government & Public Sector
Build controlled records-retention workflows and select the documented TAA-compliant configuration when procurement requires it.
Federal agencies
State & local government
Defense contractors
Public records
Digital evidence
Public safety
TAA procurement
Records retention
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Support long-term imaging and research archives within the organization’s approved security, access and retention procedures.
PACS imaging
EMR / EHR retention
Medical research
Genomics
Laboratory data
HIPAA-sensitive data protection
Clinical archives
Education & Research
Preserve research datasets, instrument output, simulation results, CAD projects and geospatial collections.
Retain institutional records, digitized collections and preservation masters with an organized restore process.
Universities
Scientific research
High-performance computing
Climate data
Astronomy
Engineering datasets
Institutional data preservation
Security & Surveillance
CCTV retention
Body camera footage
Video evidence
Smart city deployments
Public safety
Long-term surveillance storage
Legal & Financial
eDiscovery
Audit records
Client files
Regulatory compliance
Financial records
Case evidence
Offline business continuity copies
Industrial & Manufacturing
CAD / CAM
Product lifecycle data
Engineering drawings
Machine vision
Quality inspection
Factory automation data
Durable offline retention
Cloud, MSP & Data Center
Customer backups
Cold storage
Multi-tenant environments
Offsite archive
Disaster recovery
Long-term retention
Service provider data protection
Technical specifications
Model / SKU
SAS-L9-MAX
Tape generation
LTO-9
Drive format
Full-height / MAX
Native cartridge capacity
18TB
Native transfer rate
Up to 400 MB/s
SAS interface
12Gb/s SAS
External connector
SFF-8644
Power supply
Internal, 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, auto-sensing
Dimensions
13.4 × 5.8 × 6.8 in (L × H × W)
Weight
13 lb
Hardware warranty
3 years
TAA status
Listed TAA-compliant configuration
In the box
One MagStor SAS-L9-MAX LTO-9 SAS desktop tape drive
One US power cable
One 2-meter SFF-8644-to-SFF-8644 SAS cable
Setup & technical support
Support for the full workflow
MagStor tests the drive before installation and tests it again after assembly into the completed product. Contact support with the model and serial number for setup or service questions.
Keep the archive usable: verify written data, retain catalogs and any encryption keys, store cartridges within their manufacturer’s environmental specifications, and include periodic restore testing and future media migration in your retention plan.
