We take cryptocurrency — so the coins you hold can buy real hardware.Pay in crypto, spend it on real hardware. Free insured shipping worldwide over $399. Plain, unbranded boxes, sent from Germany.Free insured shipping over $399. Your rate is locked for 30 minutes once checkout opens.Rate locked 30 minutes. Every item sealed, serial-checked and covered by a 24-month warranty.Sealed, 24-month warranty.

Saved items Sign in
Black 2U rack-mount tape autoloader with front cartridge slots

IBM

IBM 3581F28 Tape Autoloader LTO-2 1.6TB 8-slot 2U backup drive

SKU CH-RCJH-RWNYS MPN 3581F28

Eight-slot LTO-2 autoloader stores 1.6 TB native per cartridge at 40 MB/s in a 2U rack frame

  • Media formatLTO-2
  • Compressed capacity3.2 TB
  • Native capacity1.6 TB
  • Native sustained transfer rate40 MB/s
  • Compressed sustained transfer rate80 MB/s
  • Product form2U
  • 8 cartridge slots for automated multi-tape backups
  • 6 TB native capacity per LTO-2 cartridge
  • 40 MB/s native transfer rate for steady throughput
  • Fibre Channel interface for direct SAN connectivity
  • 2U rack-mount form factor fits standard cabinets

Entry Tape Autoloader

The IBM 3581F28 is a new 2U rack-mountable tape autoloader built around a single LTO-2 drive. It provides 1.6 TB native capacity per cartridge and 3.2 TB compressed capacity across eight slots. The unit targets small to midsize environments that need automated, unattended backup without the complexity of a full library.

Fibre Channel Rack Integration

The autoloader connects through a Fibre Channel interface and fits a standard 19-inch rack with a depth of 34 inches and a height of 3.5 inches. One drive handles all eight cartridges sequentially, freeing staff from manual tape swaps while keeping cabling and power requirements to a single drive module.

Suited For Predictable Batch Workloads

Organisations with stable data sets that fit within the 1.6 TB native or 3.2 TB compressed per cartridge envelope will find the slot count adequate. Buyers who need simultaneous multi-stream restores, higher native throughput than 40 MB/s, or capacity beyond eight cartridges should evaluate larger library configurations.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Backup Hard Drives, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $264.99
Cheaper than about 55% of the 74 comparable items (median $336.99).

New to this? Paying with USDT: TRC-20 or ERC-20 — what to check, what it costs to pay, and what is never asked for.

Specifications

Product
Brand nameIBM
Product typeTape Autoloader
More details
Media formatLTO-2
Compressed capacity3.2 TB
Native capacity1.6 TB
Native sustained transfer rate40 MB/s
Compressed sustained transfer rate80 MB/s
Product form2U

Questions about this item

How long can the LTO-2 drive sustain its 40 MBps native transfer rate before thermal limits appear?

The drive is rated for a maximum native sustained transfer rate of 40 MBps, designed for continuous operation within the 2U rack enclosure.

What are the acoustic and thermal characteristics when the autoloader runs all day in a rack?

The unit occupies 2U of rack space at 3.5 inches high, 19 inches wide and 34 inches deep, with one LTO-2 drive and eight cartridge slots.

Which Fibre Channel cables and host bus adapters must I already have to connect the 3581F28?

The autoloader includes Fibre Channel connectivity; compatible Fibre Channel cables and host bus adapters are required for integration.

More in Backup Hard Drives

Similar items