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Scalar tape · DXi backup · ActiveScale object

Quantum tape libraries and backup storage
The offline copy, the fast restore and the archive

Quantum builds the three tiers most backup designs end up needing: LTO tape libraries for an offline, long-retention copy, DXi appliances for fast deduplicated backups and restores, and ActiveScale for S3 object storage with a tape-backed cold tier. We can supply and quote the range for UK organisations, sized against your data and the backup software you run.
25–14,100[src]
SCALAR LIBRARY SLOTS
40 TB[src]
NATIVE PER LTO-10 (PA) CARTRIDGE
2,016[src]
SLOTS IN ONE I7 RAPTOR RACK
480 TB[src]
USABLE IN A 1U DXI T10
2.2 PB[src]
DXI9200 USABLE CAPACITY
19 nines[src]
ACTIVESCALE DURABILITY (MAX)
The tape range

Five tape systems, from 8 slots to 14,100

Quantum's automation ladder starts with a 2U autoloader and ends with a library that spans twenty racks. What changes on the way up is slot count, drive count and type, and whether the library sits in your rack or stands on its own floor tile.

A Quantum tape library is sized by three numbers: how many cartridge slots you license, how many drives write in parallel, and which LTO generation those drives use. The Scalar i3 and i6 are rack-mounted and grow a module at a time; the i6000 and i7 RAPTOR are free-standing[src]. Every Scalar library supports logical partitioning, so one robot can serve several backup applications[src]. The SuperLoader 3 sits below them as a single-drive autoloader[src].

Quantum tape automation: cartridge slots per systemLarger i6000 configurations are available with Quantum qualification.Cartridge slots per system51001,00010,000SuperLoader 32U · 1 half-height drive8 or 16Scalar i33U modules · 24 HH drives25 – 800Scalar i66U modules · 24 FH drives50 – 800Scalar i7 RAPTOROne rack · 20 FH drives100 – 2,016Scalar i6000Up to 20 racks · 192 FH drives100 – 14,100Larger i6000 configurations are available with Quantum qualification.
Slot range for each Quantum tape system on a log scale. Minimums are the smallest licensed configuration; capacity-on-demand licensing adds slots in 25-slot steps on the i3 and i6 and 100-slot steps on the i6000 and i7. Source: Scalar Tape Libraries datasheet and SuperLoader 3 datasheet.
The range

Quantum products we supply and quote

Each family has its own page with the datasheet specifications, the trade-offs and the sources.
Scalar i3

Quantum Scalar i3 tape library

25 to 800 slots in 3U steps, up to 24 half-height LTO-9 drives. Specs and options →
Scalar i6

Quantum Scalar i6 tape library

Up to 800 slots and 32 PB native LTO-10 in one 48U rack. Specs and options →
Scalar i6000 / i7

Scalar i6000 & i7 RAPTOR

Enterprise and hyperscale: up to 14,100 slots or 2,016 in one rack. Specs and options →
SuperLoader 3

Quantum SuperLoader 3 autoloader

2U, 8 or 16 cartridges, one half-height LTO-9 drive. Specs and options →
LTO drives & media

Quantum LTO tape drives & media

Half-height LTO-9 drives, LTO-10 in libraries, and which tapes each reads. Specs and options →
Cyber protection

Scalar Active Vault & Ransom Block

Air-gapped tape inside the library, from vault partition to physical block. Specs and options →
DXi appliances

Quantum DXi backup appliances

Deduplicating backup targets from a free virtual appliance to 2.2 PB. Specs and options →
ActiveScale

Quantum ActiveScale object storage

On-premises S3 with a tape-backed, Glacier-compatible cold tier. Specs and options →
How it fits together

One vendor across the 3-2-1-1 rule

Quantum describes its DXi range as the cornerstone of a 3-2-1-1 design: three copies of your data, on two different media, one offsite and one immutable or offline[src]. The three product lines map onto those copies.
A 3-2-1-1 backup design built from Quantum productsProduct names and features from Quantum datasheets; the layout is ours.PRODUCTIONVMs and databasesFile and NAS sharesBACKUP SOFTWAREVeeam · CommvaultNetBackup · AtempoCOPY 1: FAST RESTOREDXi appliancededup · SecureSnapshotCOPIES 2 AND 3DXi at DR siteencrypted replicationScalar tape libraryActive Vault, offlineActiveScale orcloudvia DXi Cloud ShareTwo media (flash or disk, and tape), one copy offsite, one copy offline: the 3-2-1-1 rule as Quantum states it.Product names and features from Quantum datasheets; the layout is ours.
Illustrative design, not a Quantum reference architecture. DXi replicates deduplicated copies to a second DXi and tiers to object storage with Cloud Share; Path-to-Tape exports to an attached library for backup software that supports it; Active Vault keeps the tape copy offline inside the library. Sources: DXi-Series datasheet, Scalar datasheet, Active Vault tech brief.

You do not need all three to start. Many UK estates already run disk-based Veeam repositories and add a tape library for the offline copy; others replace an ageing deduplication appliance with a DXi and keep their existing library. If you are weighing an appliance against a self-built repository, our backup appliance vs DIY repository analysis sets out the trade-offs, and the Backup & DR sizing calculator turns your retention policy into capacity.

Density

How much tape fits in one rack

Floor space is often the cost that decides a library choice in a colocation hall. Multiply the maximum slot count by the cartridge capacity and the three single-rack Scalar designs separate clearly.
Native tape capacity in one rack, by Scalar library and mediaCompressed figures in Quantum's tables assume 2.5:1; we plan on native capacity.Native petabytes in one rackScalar i3 · LTO-916 × 3U modules14.4 PBScalar i6 · LTO-98 × 6U modules14.4 PBScalar i6 · LTO-10 (PA)8 × 6U modules32 PBScalar i7 RAPTOR · LTO-10 (PA)one free-standing rack80.64 PBCompressed figures in Quantum's tables assume 2.5:1; we plan on native capacity.
Native capacity of one fully populated rack, from Quantum's datasheet capacity tables: i3 at 800 × 18 TB LTO-9, i6 at 800 × 18 TB LTO-9 and 800 × 40 TB LTO-10 (PA), i7 RAPTOR at 2,016 × 40 TB LTO-10 (PA). The i3 and i6 fill 48U of a standard rack; the i7 RAPTOR is its own free-standing cabinet.
Choosing

Which Quantum product fits the job?

Start from the constraint you are hitting, not from the product list.
If you need…Start withWhy
A few tapes a week from one or two serversSuperLoader 38 or 16 cartridges and one half-height drive in 2U
A rack-mounted library that grows with youScalar i325 to 800 slots in 3U steps, up to 24 half-height drives
LTO-10, or full-height drive throughput, in a rackScalar i650 to 800 slots, up to 24 full-height drives, 32 PB native
The most cartridges in one cabinetScalar i7 RAPTORUp to 2,016 slots and 80.64 PB native in one rack
Thousands of slots, hundreds of drives, dual robotsScalar i6000Up to 14,100 slots and 192 drives across 20 racks
Fast restores and deduplicated, immutable backupsDXi T10 or DXi9200T10 models of 60–480 TB, DXi9200 up to 2.2 PB usable; Secure Snapshot
S3 storage you own, with a cheap cold tierActiveScaleActive (S3) and cold (S3 Glacier-compatible) classes on one platform

Sources: Scalar Tape Libraries, SuperLoader 3, DXi-Series and ActiveScale datasheets. We confirm the current revision and your software's support on every quote.

Fit

Where Quantum is a strong choice, and where it isn't

How we advise on the range.
Strong fit

An offline copy you can audit remotely

Active Vault and Ransom Block keep tapes inside the library but out of the robot's or the network's reach, and the barcode scanner can still confirm they are there[src]. That removes the manual export-and-carry step for the offline copy; keep a separate offsite copy for fire or site loss. How it works →
Strong fit

Growing archives

Capacity-on-demand licensing lets you license slots in 25-slot steps on the i3 and i6 as the archive grows, adding a module only when the installed slots are used up[src].
Strong fit

Veeam estates that want an appliance

DXi's Veeam Data Mover Service support and Veeam Ready Integrated qualification make it a drop-in repository with Secure Snapshot immutability[src]. DXi →
Strong fit

Owning your S3 and cold tier

ActiveScale gives an S3 Glacier-compatible cold class on tape with no access or restore charges between its own storage classes[src]. ActiveScale →
Look elsewhere

Under a few terabytes, one server

A single half-height drive or even a disk-and-cloud design may be simpler than any automation. Start with a standalone LTO drive or our tape vs disk vs cloud guide.
Look elsewhere

An all-HPE or all-Dell support contract

If one vendor must hold every support contract, compare HPE StoreEver MSL or Dell PowerVault tape first.
Before you buy

What to check for a UK installation

CheckWhat Quantum publishesWhy it matters
Rack depth (i3, i6)Four-post 19-inch rack that supports a product depth of 92.5 cm[src]Shallow comms racks will not take a Scalar i3 or i6 module.
Floor space (i6000, i7)Free-standing; i7 RAPTOR 229.1 × 60.7 × 137.9 cm[src]Plan the floor tile, door widths and the delivery route.
Poweri3 / i6: 100–240 VAC; i6000 adds −48 VDC; i7 RAPTOR 200–240 VAC or 240/380 VDC[src]The i7 does not take 110 V-class supplies; match PDUs to the model.
Media environmentLTO-9 and LTO-10: 15–25 °C, 20–50% RH recommended, the envelope Quantum gives for 30-year archival storage[src]Stricter than most server rooms for humidity. Check where offsite tapes are kept too.
Software supportQuantum publishes a compatibility guide for Scalar and DXi[src][src]We check your backup software and version before quoting.
Support plansStandard plans from business-hours Essential support to 24×7 Mission-Critical Premium, in more than 180 countries[src]We confirm which plan, and the parts and onsite targets it carries, on the quote.
Supply & quote

Get a Quantum library or appliance sized and quoted

  • We size slots, drives and LTO generation from your data, growth and retention, on native capacity rather than compressed.
  • We check your backup software and version against Quantum’s compatibility guide.
  • We plan the LTO-10 question: which old tapes you still need to read, and how.
  • We quote the whole build: library or appliance, media, support plan, servers and rack power.

Get a Quantum quote

Tell us how much you keep, for how long, and what writes the backups. We size the library or appliance and quote the complete build.

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FAQs

Quantum tape and backup storage: common questions

What does Quantum make?

Quantum Corporation makes LTO tape automation (the Scalar i3, i6, i6000 and i7 RAPTOR libraries and the SuperLoader 3 autoloader), half-height LTO drives and media, DXi deduplicating backup appliances, and ActiveScale S3-compatible object storage. It also sells the StorNext file system for media workflows. This cluster covers the tape, DXi and ActiveScale lines.

Which Quantum tape library should I choose?

Start from slots and drives. SuperLoader 3 holds 8 or 16 cartridges with one drive. Scalar i3 runs 25 to 800 slots with up to 24 half-height drives in a rack. Scalar i6 also reaches 800 slots, but with full-height drives and LTO-10. Scalar i7 RAPTOR fits up to 2,016 slots in one free-standing rack, and Scalar i6000 scales to 14,100 slots and 192 drives across up to 20 racks. The i3, i6 and i6000 / i7 pages compare them in detail.

Which Quantum libraries take LTO-10?

Scalar i6, i6000 and i7 RAPTOR, with full-height LTO-10 drives. Quantum’s datasheet lists LTO-10 as not applicable on the Scalar i3, which uses half-height drives and tops out at LTO-9, and the SuperLoader 3 and standalone half-height drives are LTO-9, LTO-8 and LTO-7 only. LTO-10 drives cannot read or write LTO-9 or older cartridges, so plan the migration before you buy: see LTO drives and media.

Do Quantum products work with Veeam, Commvault and NetBackup?

Yes, with the detail varying by product. DXi appliances support Veeam Data Mover Service and are qualified as Veeam Ready Integrated storage; they also support Veritas OST, Commvault and Atempo. Quantum names Veeam and Commvault as compatible with the Scalar i7 RAPTOR. For any library and software version, check Quantum’s compatibility guide, which we do before quoting.

How does Quantum keep a tape copy safe from ransomware without sending it offsite?

Scalar libraries can move exported tapes into an Active Vault partition that has no drives and no host connection, block tapes in a magazine so only someone at the library can release them (Tape Blocking), and on the i3 and i6 partly eject a magazine so the robot physically cannot reach the tapes (Ransom Block). See Scalar Active Vault and Ransom Block.

Is a Quantum Scalar library UKCA marked?

Quantum’s Scalar datasheet lists UKCA (United Kingdom) among the international certifications for the i3, i6, i6000 and i7 RAPTOR. We confirm the marking for the exact configuration on the quote.

Can Servnet supply Quantum in the UK?

Yes. We can supply and quote Quantum’s Scalar tape libraries, SuperLoader 3, LTO drives and media, DXi appliances and ActiveScale object storage for UK organisations, sized against your data, retention and backup software, along with the servers, networking and rack power around them. Use the quote form on this page or contact us.

Keep exploring

Related Servnet guides, tools and hardware

Sources

Every specification on this page comes from Quantum's own product pages, datasheets and tech briefs, listed below with their dates. Where Quantum's web copy and a datasheet differ, we use the datasheet. Figures are confirmed against the current revision when we quote.

  1. Quantum Scalar Tape Storage · web page, read 29 Oct 2026
  2. Scalar Tape Libraries datasheet (DS00559A-v15) · PDF dated 21 Oct 2026
  3. SuperLoader 3 datasheet (DS00379A-v24) · PDF dated 24 Oct 2025
  4. LTO Tape Drives datasheet (DS00457A-v13) · PDF dated 12 Jun 2025
  5. LTO Ultrium media datasheet (DS00383A) · PDF dated 31 Aug 2026
  6. Scalar Ransom Block tech brief (TB00066A) · PDF dated 23 Oct 2025
  7. Scalar Active Vault tech brief (TB00054A) · PDF dated 19 Sep 2025
  8. DXi-Series Backup Appliances datasheet (DS00549A) · PDF dated 9 Jun 2026
  9. ActiveScale Object Storage datasheet (DS00546A) · PDF dated 11 Dec 2025
  10. Quantum Standard Service and Support Plans · web page, read 29 Oct 2026

Quantum, Scalar, SuperLoader, DXi, ActiveScale and iLayer are trademarks of Quantum Corporation. Linear Tape-Open, LTO and Ultrium are trademarks of HPE, IBM and Quantum. Servnet is an independent UK IT reseller; this page is our own guide to the range.

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