The HPE MSL6480 Tape Library is a scalable enterprise tape platform for high-capacity backup and archival storage. Supporting multiple LTO drives and large cartridge capacity, it provides cost-effective long-term retention and secure offline protection.
Guide price: Price range: £2,485.45 through £8,589.84 Ex. VAT
Large enterprises managing extensive backup datasets require high-capacity tape infrastructure capable of supporting long-term retention and disaster recovery planning.
The HPE MSL6480 Tape Library supports up to 560 cartridge slots and 42 tape drives, with compatibility for LTO-7, LTO-8, and LTO-9 technology. Automated robotics, removable magazines, and support for modern LTO media improve backup consistency while reducing the manual effort involved in tape handling and rotation.
Multiple expansion modules allow the library to scale capacity and performance while maintaining centralised management and automated media handling. 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 do not require enterprise-library scale may also consider the HPE MSL3040 Tape Library, for maintaining offline retention with a smaller operational footprint.
High cartridge density enables organisations to securely store large volumes of backup data while maintaining efficient retrieval and management of archival media. 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 MSL6480 Tape Library solutions aligned with enterprise backup and long-term archival storage strategies.
The HPE StoreEver MSL6480 Tape Library provides high-density tape automation for mid-range enterprises, combining scalable capacity, modular expansion, and high-performance LTO tape drives.
Modular Library Architecture
Supports scalable expansion through modular library configurations.
High Cartridge Density
Provides approximately 13 cartridge slots per rack unit for efficient storage density.
Large-Scale Tape Capacity
Supports up to 560 cartridge slots in fully expanded library configurations.
Flexible LTO Tape Drive Support
Supports modern LTO tape drives for backup and archive workloads.
Scalable Modular Expansion
Supports expansion across multiple library modules without replacing existing infrastructure.
High-Performance Backup Throughput
Supports multiple tape drives for high-speed data protection operations.
Centralised Tape Library Management
Provides remote monitoring and management capabilities.
Whether building long-term archive infrastructure or scaling enterprise backup environments, we help design HPE MSL6480 deployments that deliver reliable data protection.
| Product Family | HPE MSL |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Backup & Archive |
| Target Organisation Size | Large Enterprise |
| Primary Use Case | Archive Storage |
| Workload Profile | Long-Term Archive |
| Storage Performance Tier | Archive |
| Product Tier | Specialist |
| Latency Tier | Archive |
| Scalability Model | Scale-Up |
| Architecture Type | |
| Storage Type | Tape |
| Access Architecture | Archive |
| NVMe Support Level | None |
| Maximum Raw Capacity | 72 PB |
| Maximum Effective Capacity | 432 PB |
| Capacity Basis | Model Maximum |
| Drive Bays | 80 |
| Drive Interface | LTO |
| Supported Media Types | Tape |
| Controller Architecture | Single Controller |
| Controller Cache | None |
| Maximum Expansion Shelves | 15 |
| 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 MSL6480 Tape Library is designed for organisations that need large-scale, modular tape backup and archive for enterprise data protection. It is best suited to environments where retention growth, higher tape drive counts, and long-term backup scalability require a platform built for bigger estates than the MSL3040 below it in the range.
Large organisations often need one tape platform to support broad backup and archive requirements across multiple systems and datasets. The MSL6480 fits these environments where tape infrastructure needs to scale well beyond entry and midrange library capacity.
Some environments keep large volumes of data for regulatory, operational, or archival reasons over many years. The MSL6480 works well where retention depth and cartridge growth need to be managed on one expandable platform.
Enterprises that use tape as part of a ransomware resilience strategy often need substantial offline copy capacity. The MSL6480 is a strong fit where air-gapped retention and large backup sets need to scale together.
As backup estates grow, some organisations need more tape drives and slot density without replacing the core library. The MSL6480 suits these deployments where performance and cartridge capacity both need modular expansion.
Some businesses prefer to centralise tape operations rather than manage multiple smaller libraries. The MSL6480 is well matched to those designs where one enterprise library supports broader backup, retention, and archive workflows.
Our team can help design and deploy HPE MSL6480 tape infrastructure for enterprise backup, long-term retention, and large-scale 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.
