{"product_id":"hp-c5718a-dat-dds-4-data-cartridge-reliable-20-gb-native-backup","title":"HP C5718A DAT DDS-4 Data Cartridge - Reliable 20 GB Native Backup","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of the HP C5718A DAT DDS-4 data cartridge finds it best suited for small IT shops and professionals who need a dependable, low-cost tape medium for routine backups and archiving. The single biggest reason to buy is reliability: the cartridge is electronically tested to withstand a minimum of 2,000 passes or 100 full backups, which makes it a sensible choice when unattended nightly backups and long-term storage are priorities. It is a straightforward, no-frills blank media option delivering 20 GB native capacity and a quoted 10 year archival life for peace of mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides 20 GB native and 40 GB compressed capacity so small datasets and incremental backups can be stored efficiently on a single cartridge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTape length:\u003c\/strong\u003e At approximately 492.13 feet of tape, the DDS-4 cartridge holds more data than the previous generation and reduces cartridge swaps during backups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDurability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Electronically tested to withstand at least 2,000 passes or 100 full backups, offering consistent performance for unattended operations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArchival life:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rated for about 10 years of archival storage, making it suitable for long-term retention policies and offsite rotation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Designed for use with HP SureStore DAT drives and other DDS-compatible DAT tape drives to cover common backup hardware in legacy environments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCost of ownership:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marketed as a lower cost of ownership compared with some AIT and DLT alternatives, useful when per-cartridge cost is a priority.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cartridge is ideal for small businesses, network administrators, and IT professionals who maintain legacy DAT tape systems and need a reliable blank media for routine backups and archival retention. It fits workflows that require unattended nightly backups and occasional full restores where durable media and predictable behavior matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose running modern backup infrastructures with deduplication appliances, cloud-first archives, or who need very high native capacities should look elsewhere; this DDS-4 cartridge is aimed at legacy DAT environments rather than high-capacity, modern tape solutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eGood reliability with 2,000+ pass electronic testing for unattended backup jobs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDecent storage density for its generation at 20 GB native and 40 GB compressed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLong quoted archival life of around 10 years for records retention and rotation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eCompatibility can vary with some plotters and older devices, and a few users reported mixed fit in specific models.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLower native capacity compared with more modern tape formats, which may not suit large datasets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHP\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePart Number\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eC5718A\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduct Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlank Media \/ Data Cartridge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Capacity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 GB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompressed Capacity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 GB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTape Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e492.13 ft (approx)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArchival Life\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 years (quoted)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe HP C5718A DDS-4 cartridge is a practical, cost-conscious choice for users maintaining legacy DAT backup systems. Its tested durability and 10 year archival life deliver dependable long-term value for routine backups, though organizations with modern, high-capacity demands should consider newer tape formats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this cartridge work in any DAT drive?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is designed for HP SureStore DAT and compatible DDS-4 drives, but compatibility can vary by model so verify your drive supports DDS-4 cartridges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow much data can I store?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cartridge holds 20 GB native and up to 40 GB compressed capacity under typical DDS-4 compression assumptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it suitable for long-term archiving?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; HP quotes around 10 years archival life, making it suitable for standard retention and rotation workflows.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48189942595803,"sku":"B0000513CO","price":80.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51r3Q_Qc5CL._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1769518917","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/hp-c5718a-dat-dds-4-data-cartridge-reliable-20-gb-native-backup","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}