The HPE MSL3040 Tape Library is a modular platform designed for scalable backup and archiving. Supporting LTO drives with flexible expansion, it enables high-capacity, energy-efficient data protection and secure offline storage for compliance and recovery.
Guide price: Price range: £2,077.54 through £2,502.36 Ex. VAT
Growing backup datasets require scalable tape infrastructure capable of expanding capacity while maintaining automated media management.
The HPE MSL3040 Tape Library uses a modular architecture supporting 40 tape cartridge slots per module and integration with LTO-7, LTO-8, and LTO-9 drives. Automated robotics, removable magazines, and support for modern LTO media improve backup consistency while reducing the manual effort involved in tape handling and rotation.
Additional modules can be added to increase both cartridge capacity and drive performance as backup requirements expand. Tape remains valuable for long-term retention because offline media can complement disk-based backup and strengthen protection against ransomware or accidental deletion. Organisations that require greater tape-slot scale and library growth may also consider the HPE MSL6480 Tape Library, for expanding long-term retention capacity for larger backup estates.
Modular expansion allows organisations to increase backup capacity while maintaining existing media investments and backup workflows. That combination gives IT teams dependable retention at lower cost per terabyte, while the business gains a more durable and economical archive for compliance and recovery planning.
Our specialists can design and deploy HPE MSL3040 Tape Library solutions aligned with scalable enterprise data protection strategies. It also gives IT teams a more practical platform for planned growth without adding unnecessary management overhead.
The HPE StoreEver MSL3040 Tape Library provides scalable tape automation for growing data protection environments, combining modular expansion with high storage density and flexible LTO drive support.
Modular 3U Base System
Starts with a compact 3U base module that can be expanded with additional modules.
Up to Three Tape Drives per Module
Supports up to three half-height LTO tape drives per library module.
High Cartridge Density
Provides approximately 13 cartridge slots per 1U of rack space.
Flexible LTO Tape Support
Supports modern LTO tape drives for scalable backup and archive storage.
Modular Library Expansion
Supports expansion up to 48U with additional modules.
Large-Scale Cartridge Capacity
Supports up to 640 cartridges in fully expanded configurations.
Enterprise Backup Integration
Compatible with leading backup software platforms.
Whether modernising backup infrastructure or implementing large-scale archival storage, we help design HPE MSL3040 deployments that deliver scalable data protection.
| Product Family | HPE MSL |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Backup & Archive |
| Target Organisation Size | Enterprise |
| Primary Use Case | Archive Storage |
| Workload Profile | Long-Term Archive |
| Storage Performance Tier | Archive |
| Product Tier | Flagship |
| Latency Tier | Archive |
| Scalability Model | Scale-Up |
| Architecture Type | |
| Storage Type | Tape |
| Access Architecture | Archive |
| NVMe Support Level | None |
| Maximum Raw Capacity | 28 PB |
| Maximum Effective Capacity | 168 PB |
| Capacity Basis | Model Maximum |
| Drive Bays | 40 |
| Drive Interface | LTO |
| Supported Media Types | Tape |
| Controller Architecture | Single Controller |
| Controller Cache | None |
| Maximum Expansion Shelves | 8 |
| Supported Protocols | Fibre Channel / SAS |
| Host Interface Types | 16Gb FC / 12Gb SAS |
| Maximum Host Ports | 8 |
| Data Protection | LTO Encryption |
| Deduplication Support | No |
| Compression Support | No |
| Data Reduction Method | None |
| Power Redundancy | Hot-swappable PSUs |
| Cloud Integration | None |
The HPE MSL3040 Tape Library is designed for organisations that need modular tape backup and archive that can start small and scale over time. It is best suited to SMB and mid-sized environments where growth in retention, cartridge count, or tape drive density needs a more flexible platform than an entry library.
Some environments outgrow fixed tape capacity as backup windows and retained data expand. The MSL3040 is well matched to these deployments because its modular design allows capacity and performance to grow in stages.
Organisations with longer retention requirements often need more cartridge slots than a compact entry library can provide. The MSL3040 works well where archive storage needs room to expand without moving immediately to enterprise-scale tape infrastructure.
Many mid-sized IT estates protect a mix of virtual machines, business applications, file data, and retained backups. The MSL3040 suits these environments where one library needs to support broader data protection across varied workloads.
Security-led backup design often includes offline media as part of a broader resilience plan. The MSL3040 is a practical fit where tape is used to add isolation, retention depth, and recovery confidence to a modern backup estate.
Not every organisation wants to commit to a large library on day one. The MSL3040 fits phased projects where tape infrastructure needs to grow alongside backup demand, compliance requirements, or data retention policy.
Our team can help design and deploy HPE MSL3040 tape infrastructure for scalable backup, archive growth, and modular offline protection.
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Below you’ll find alternative models, suitable software and services that pair with this solution – helping you to avoid compatibility issues, reduce support overhead and deploy with confidence.
Not all deployments fit standard configurations. If you’re weighing up options or want a second opinion on your setup, our team is here to help with honest, straightforward advice backed by decades of vendor knowledge.
Not sure which model is right for your environment? Our specialists can help you select the right platform for your infrastructure requirements.
