Quantum Scalar Tape Libraries

Quantum Scalar tape libraries hold 25 to 14,100 LTO cartridges of up to 30 TB each, for long-term archives and for an offline backup copy that ransomware cannot reach. We supply them in Malta, from a single 3U module in your rack to free-standing enterprise systems.

Price on request · Request a quote for a Quantum Scalar library or call (+356) 2138 5911 · Download Spec Sheet

Sirap is an authorised Quantum partner in Malta.

We supply, install, commission and support Quantum Scalar libraries in Malta.

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A Quantum Scalar library is a cabinet of LTO (Linear Tape-Open) cartridges and the drives that read and write them. A robot moves each tape between its slot and a drive. The range has four models. The Scalar i3 and Scalar i6 are rack-mount and grow one module at a time. The Scalar i6000 and Scalar i7 RAPTOR are free-standing racks for a data centre.

Scalar is the enterprise end of the tape libraries we supply. If you are still deciding between a single tape drive, an autoloader and a library, start with our guide to choosing an LTO tape system. For storage and backup planning across disk, object storage and tape, see our data storage solutions.

What is a Quantum Scalar tape library used for?

A Quantum Scalar tape library keeps data that must be held for years at a low cost per terabyte, and keeps one copy of your backups offline. Quantum’s Scalar datasheet puts LTO tape as the lowest-cost long-term storage. Tape in a vault partition is off the network, so ransomware on your servers cannot address it.

The typical Scalar buyer keeps records for years and wants proof they were not changed. That may be an iGaming operator under an MGA licence or a bank or payment firm working through DORA and NIS2. It may also be a hospital whose imaging archive is kept long and read rarely.

For these buyers, two Scalar controls carry the weight: Active Vault keeps a copy offline, and WORM cartridges hold data that cannot be rewritten. An auditor still looks at how long you keep data and whether you have tested a restore, and those stay your policy. Our article on LTO tape for compliance and retention covers that side.

How does a Quantum Scalar library protect tapes from ransomware?

A Quantum Scalar library protects tapes from ransomware by taking them progressively further out of reach: Active Vault and Tape Blocking on every model, and Ransom Block on some. Quantum groups these with access control, monitoring and encryption in its Scalar Security Framework, set out in the Scalar datasheet and a Quantum technical brief.

Active Vault moves tapes offline inside the library. Chosen tapes go to a vault partition with no network access, which the backup application cannot see: an air gap inside the library. The vault is reached only through the library’s own management interface, which can require multi-factor authentication (MFA). The robot still manages the vaulted tapes, so nobody carries cartridges to a safe every day.

Tape Blocking locks tapes in place. A policy places a block on a tape or a whole magazine, and the tapes cannot leave it until an operator physically removes the magazine and puts it back.

Ransom Block puts a physical gap between the tapes and the robot. The magazine is partly ejected, so the robot cannot reach the tapes until an operator pushes it back in. The barcode scanner can still read the labels for inventory. Ransom Block is available on the Scalar i3 and Scalar i6; the Scalar i6000 does not offer it.

The framework also covers access, encryption and logging:

• Login lockout for 15 minutes after 5 failed attempts, passwords of up to 64 characters, LDAP sign-in and role-based access.
• AES-256 encryption in the LTO drive, with no loss of speed. Keys are held per tape, per partition or per library, in Quantum’s Scalar Key Manager or a key manager that speaks KMIP (Key Management Interoperability Protocol).
• WORM (write once, read many) cartridges for data that must never change.
• Alerts when a tape is removed, audit reports of every user action and configuration change, and logs sent to your syslog server or over SNMP.

How much data does a Quantum Scalar library hold?

A Quantum Scalar library holds from 25 cartridges in a single Scalar i3 module to 14,100 in a Scalar i6000, and LTO-10 stores 30 TB per cartridge before compression. That puts a full Scalar i6000 at 423 PB native on LTO-10, and one Scalar i7 RAPTOR rack at about 60 PB.

Native capacity and speed per LTO generation, from Quantum’s datasheet:

• LTO-10: 30 TB per cartridge, 400 MB/s per drive.
• LTO-9: 18 TB per cartridge, 400 MB/s per drive.
• LTO-8: 12 TB per cartridge, 360 MB/s per drive.
• LTO-7: 6 TB per cartridge, 300 MB/s per drive.

Every Scalar model can mix drive generations in one library, so an archive written on LTO-8 can stay readable while new data goes to LTO-10. Two limits apply: LTO-10 drives do not read or write LTO-9 or older cartridges, and LTO-9 drives do not read LTO-7 cartridges initialised as LTO-8 Type M.

Scalar libraries grow without replacing the system. You license the slots you use under Capacity-on-Demand (CoD) and add licences later: in 25-slot steps on the Scalar i3 and i6, in 100-slot steps on the Scalar i6000 and i7 RAPTOR. Drives can be added later too, when the backup window gets tight.

Quantum Scalar technical specifications

Specification	Scalar i3	Scalar i6	Scalar i6000	Scalar i7 RAPTOR
Form factor	Rack-mount, 3U modules	Rack-mount, 6U modules	Free-standing, full-rack modules	Free-standing, one full rack
How it grows	1 to 16 modules, up to 48U	1 to 8 modules, up to 48U	1 to 20 racks, side by side	Adds magazines inside the one rack
Cartridge slots	25 to 800	50 to 800	100 to 14,100 (larger with Quantum qualification)	100 to 2,016
Slot licences (CoD)	25-slot steps	25-slot steps	100-slot steps	100-slot steps
Tape drives	1 to 24, half-height LTO	1 to 24, full-height LTO	1 to 192, full-height LTO	1 to 20, full-height LTO
Capacity, LTO-10 (native)	Not yet given by Quantum	1,500 to 24,000 TB	3,000 to 423,000 TB	3,000 to 60,480 TB
Capacity, LTO-9 (native)	450 to 14,400 TB	900 to 14,400 TB	1,800 to 253,800 TB	1,800 to 36,288 TB
Import/export (I/E) slots	One station, set in 5-slot steps, up to 240	One station, set in 5-slot steps, up to 240	24 in the control module; extra 24- and 72-slot stations; up to 240 per partition	0 to 56
Drive interfaces	8 Gb Fibre Channel or 6/12 Gb SAS	8 Gb Fibre Channel or 6/12 Gb SAS	8 Gb Fibre Channel; 12 Gb SAS with LTO-9	8 Gb Fibre Channel; 12 Gb SAS with LTO-9
Library management	Dual 1 GbE; web interface and RESTful API	Dual 1 GbE; web interface and RESTful API	1 GbE; web interface and RESTful API	1 GbE; web interface and RESTful API
Media health checks (EDLM)	Not available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data path failover	Not available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Second robot	No	No	Optional active/active dual robots	No
Reliability (MSBF / MTTR)	Over 2 million / 30 minutes	Over 2 million / 30 minutes	Over 3 million / 20 minutes (10 minutes to replace a dual robot)	Over 3 million / 5 minutes or less
Power	100 to 240 V AC; optional redundant (2N) supplies, 80 PLUS Gold	100 to 240 V AC; optional redundant (2N) supplies, 80 PLUS Gold	AC, or -48 V DC; optional redundant (2N) supplies	200 to 240 V AC or 240/380 V DC; redundant (2N) supplies included, 80 PLUS Titanium
Control module (H x W x D)	13.2 x 44.1 x 92.45 cm	26.4 x 44.1 x 92.45 cm	196.6 x 61.7 x 97.4 cm	229 x 60.7 x 138 cm
Installation	19-inch four-post rack at least 92.5 cm deep; a module is added in under 30 minutes	19-inch four-post rack at least 92.5 cm deep; a module is added in under 30 minutes	Floor-standing; added modules installed by Quantum	Floor-standing

All four models include Active Vault, Tape Blocking, MFA, AES-256 drive encryption, partitioning for several backup applications and iLayer monitoring software. MSBF is mean swaps between failures (robot moves); MTTR is mean time to repair.

For a 30-year archive life Quantum recommends a room at 15 to 25 °C (16 to 25 °C for LTO-7 and LTO-8) and 20 to 50% relative humidity. Temperature and humidity should not change by more than 5 °C or 5% an hour.

Download the Quantum Scalar spec sheet (PDF)

Scalar i3, i6, i6000 or i7 RAPTOR: which model fits?

The Quantum Scalar model that fits depends first on where it will stand. The Scalar i3 and i6 go into a rack you already have, while the Scalar i6000 and i7 RAPTOR need their own floor space. After that, the drive type and the security features decide.

Scalar i3 for an existing rack and a growing archive. It starts as one 3U module with 25 slots and grows to 800. It takes half-height drives only, and it has no EDLM media checks or data path failover. Quantum has not yet published LTO-10 capacity figures for it.

Scalar i6 for the same rack with full-height drives. The Scalar i6 also tops out at 800 slots in 48U, but takes full-height drives, LTO-10 included. It adds EDLM, which checks tapes on a schedule and flags any that are going bad. It is one of the two models Quantum names for ActiveScale Cold Storage.

Scalar i6000 when the library cannot stop. It scales to 20 racks, 14,100 slots and 192 drives, and an optional second robot keeps it working if one robot fails. Modules added to a Scalar i6000 later are installed by Quantum. Ransom Block is not available on the Scalar i6000, so the offline copy relies on Active Vault and Tape Blocking.

Scalar i7 RAPTOR when floor space is the limit. It packs up to 2,016 slots and 20 full-height drives into one rack, which Quantum’s datasheet calls the highest density of any tape library. Redundant power supplies come as standard, and the mean time to repair is 5 minutes or less.

When is a Quantum Scalar library more than you need?

A Quantum Scalar library is more than most small sites need. If one or two drives and a few dozen cartridges cover your nightly backup and archive, an actiData LTO library is the simpler, smaller choice. The actiLib 2U suits a site that has outgrown an autoloader. The actiLib Kodiak 3416 expands as retention grows, for archives that are still well short of enterprise size.

Tape is also slower to restore than disk. It is the last copy and the long-term archive, not the place you restore last night’s servers from. For fast restores, put a disk backup target in front of the library. A Quantum DXi backup appliance suits larger estates; a Synology ActiveProtect appliance suits a small office that wants backup and recovery in one box.

How do Scalar libraries work with Quantum DXi and ActiveScale?

Quantum Scalar libraries are the tape tier behind Quantum’s disk systems. A Quantum DXi appliance keeps the nightly backup on disk, and its Path-to-Tape feature exports backups to an attached tape library where the backup software supports it.

ActiveScale Cold Storage writes rarely read objects onto LTO tape in Scalar libraries, behind an S3 Glacier-compatible storage class. Quantum names the Scalar i6 and i7 RAPTOR for it, and it starts at 1 PB, so it suits large archives.

What does a Quantum Scalar library cost to buy and run?

With a Quantum Scalar library, cartridges are the cost that keeps growing, so the LTO generation matters. LTO-10 holds 30 TB per tape against 18 TB for LTO-9, so the same archive needs fewer cartridges and fewer slots. The price is on request, because it depends on the model, the slot licences and the number and generation of drives.

Slot licences follow the archive: under Capacity-on-Demand you pay for the slots you fill now and add more later. Each drive adds throughput. An older archive may need an older-generation drive kept in the library, because LTO-10 drives do not read LTO-9 or earlier tapes.

The room adds running cost too. Malta’s summer humidity is often above the 50% Quantum recommends, so plan for air conditioning with humidity control. Redundant power supplies are standard on the Scalar i7 RAPTOR and optional on the other models. Add a UPS from our Eaton range and the support cover you choose.

Quantum’s iLayer software watches temperature, humidity, drives and tapes, and reports problems in plain English with guided repair steps.

How we install a Quantum Scalar library

Our sales team works out the Quantum Scalar configuration with you: how many terabytes you keep, for how long, how fast the nightly backup must finish and which backup software writes to tape. Our technical team then installs and commissions the library, and handles support and warranty cases with Quantum.

Before delivery we check the room against Quantum’s recommended temperature and humidity range. For a Scalar i3 or i6 we also check the rack, which must be a four-post 19-inch rack at least 92.5 cm deep. For a Scalar i6000 or i7 RAPTOR we plan the floor space and the delivery route.

At installation we set up the partitions for each backup application, the Active Vault and Tape Blocking policies, encryption keys, MFA for administrators and alerts to your monitoring system. Plan a test restore from tape before the library goes into daily use.

Frequently asked questions about Quantum Scalar tape libraries

Can a Quantum Scalar library work with our backup software, such as Veeam or Commvault?

Quantum Scalar libraries work with the backup and archive applications in Quantum’s Software Compatibility Guide, which lists each one with its version. We check yours against it before we quote. A Quantum Scalar library can also be partitioned, so two applications can share one library, each with its own tapes.

If ransomware reaches our servers, can it reach the tapes in a Scalar library?

Tapes in a Quantum Scalar library’s Active Vault partition are hidden from the backup application and off the network, so ransomware that takes over a server cannot address them. On the Scalar i3 and i6, Ransom Block goes further and pushes the magazine out of the robot’s reach until an operator re-inserts it. Encryption and WORM cartridges protect the data on the tape itself.

How does the cost of a Quantum Scalar archive compare with the cloud?

For petabyte-scale data, Quantum’s datasheet puts LTO tape in a Quantum Scalar library at a fraction of the cost of public cloud. The balance depends on how much you keep and how often you read it back. For a few terabytes, cloud storage or a NAS is usually the simpler choice.

Who installs it in Malta?

Our technical team installs and commissions Quantum Scalar libraries in Malta, from the rack-mount Scalar i3 and i6 to the free-standing Scalar i6000 and i7 RAPTOR. Modules added to a Scalar i6000 later are installed by Quantum, and we plan the site and the work with them.

Who repairs it and handles the warranty?

Our technical team handles Quantum Scalar repairs and warranty cases with Quantum, from the first fault report to the fix. iLayer flags drive, tape and robot problems and gives guided repair steps. The warranty cover is set out in your quote.

Is it held in stock in Malta?

Each Quantum Scalar library is configured with its own slot licences, drive count and LTO generation. The delivery time for your configuration is confirmed when we send the quote.

Talk to us about a Quantum Scalar library

Tell us how much data you keep, how long you must keep it and which backup software you run. We reply within one working day with the questions we still need answered, usually the room, the rack and the backup window. If the site needs a look, an engineer visits, anywhere in Malta and Gozo. You get a quote with the configuration, the installation scope and the warranty route.

Request a quote for a Quantum Scalar library or call (+356) 2138 5911 · Price on request

Monday to Friday 8:30 to 16:30. We reply within one working day.

See the full Quantum range we supply in Malta. We have been part of Maltese IT and industry since 1981.