Download and install SymplyATOM2 on Windows using the combined Setup installer, which automatically installs all required drivers and tools in a single pass.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

The SymplyATOM2 Windows installer is a single .exe file that installs everything SymplyATOM2 needs in one pass. You do not need to download or install any drivers or tools separately. The following components are installed automatically, only if not already present on your system:

ComponentPurposeRestart required
Visual C++ 2015–2022 RuntimeRequired by SymplyATOM2 and associated toolsNo
ATTO360 Storage Suite & ExpressSAS driverHBA driver that gives Windows access to the connected LTO tape driveYes
IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool (ITDT)Low-level tape drive diagnostics engine used by SymplyATOM2No
IBM LTFS SDELinear Tape File System driver, required for LTFS tape operationsYes
SymplyATOM2The SymplyATOM2 applicationNo

A Windows restart is recommended after installation. The ATTO ExpressSAS and IBM LTFS drivers both require a restart before they become fully active. SymplyATOM2 will launch immediately after the installer finishes, but your tape drive will not be detected until Windows has been restarted.

Before you begin

RequirementDetails
Windows versionWindows 10 (version 1809) or later - 64-bit only
User accountAdministrator privileges required - the installer will prompt via UAC
HardwareSymply LTO tape drive connected and powered on

Step 1 - Download SymplyATOM2

1
Open a browser and go to support.gosymply.com. Sign in with your Symply account if prompted.
Symply support portal homepage showing the Knowledge Base with SymplyATOM2 section
The Symply Support portal. The SymplyATOM2 Knowledge Base section is visible on the Home tab.
2
Click Solutions in the top navigation, then browse to SymplyATOM2 › Release and open the SymplyATOM2 beta release announcement article.
3
Scroll to the Download section and click Download for Windows. Save the file when your browser prompts you. The filename will be in the format SymplyATOM2-x.x.x.xx-Setup.exe.
SymplyATOM2 release article Download section showing Download for macOS and Download for Windows buttons
The Download section in the release article. Click Download for Windows to save the Setup installer to your PC.

Step 2 - Run the installer

1
Open your Downloads folder and double-click SymplyATOM2-x.x.x.xx-Setup.exe to begin.
Windows Explorer Downloads folder showing the SymplyATOM2 Setup installer file
The SymplyATOM2 Setup installer in the Downloads folder. Double-click it to begin.
Windows may warn about an unrecognised publisherThe current beta release does not yet have a Windows code-signing certificate. Windows Defender SmartScreen may display a warning when you run the installer. This is expected - the installer is safe. See Step 3 if a warning appears.

Step 3 - Approve the SmartScreen warning

Windows Defender SmartScreen may display a Windows protected your PC dialog when you run the Setup file. This happens because the current beta release does not yet include a Windows code-signing certificate. The installer is safe to run.

If this dialog does not appear, skip to Step 4.

1
In the SmartScreen dialog, click More info.
Windows Defender SmartScreen dialog: Windows protected your PC - with More info link and Don't run button
The SmartScreen warning. Click More info - do not click Don't run.
2
The dialog expands to confirm the app name and publisher. Click Run anyway.
SmartScreen dialog expanded showing App: SymplyATOM2 Setup.exe, Publisher: Unknown publisher, with Run anyway and Don't run buttons
After clicking More info, the app name and publisher are shown. Click Run anyway to proceed.

Step 4 - Allow the UAC prompt

Windows will display a User Account Control prompt asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” The installer requires administrator privileges to install drivers and system components.

1
Click Yes in the UAC prompt. If you are logged in as a standard user, you will be asked to enter an administrator password before proceeding.

Step 5 - Complete the Setup Wizard

1
The SymplyATOM2 Setup wizard opens. If a Welcome page appears, click Next to continue to the destination selection page.
2
On the Select Destination Location page, the default install path is C:\Program Files\Symply\SymplyATOM2. Accept the default or choose a different location, then click Next.
Inno Setup Select Destination Location page showing C:\Program Files\Symply\SymplyATOM2 and disk space requirement
The default install location. At least 264.5 MB of free disk space is required. Click Next to continue.
3
On the Select Additional Tasks page, tick Create a desktop shortcut if you want a shortcut on your Desktop, then click Next.
Inno Setup Select Additional Tasks page with Create a desktop shortcut checkbox ticked
Tick Create a desktop shortcut to add a SymplyATOM2 icon to your Desktop.
4
On the Ready to Install page, review the destination and tasks summary, then click Install.
Inno Setup Ready to Install page showing destination location and additional tasks summary
The Ready to Install summary. Click Install to begin.
5
The installer copies the application files and then silently runs the prerequisite installations. You will see status messages change as each component is installed. This process can take several minutes - do not cancel or close the installer while it is running.
Inno Setup Installing page showing a progress bar and Extracting files status message
The installation progress page. After extracting files, the status message will change as each prerequisite driver and tool is installed in turn.
Status messageWhat is happening
Installing Visual C++ Runtime...Installing the Microsoft VC++ 2015–2022 runtime libraries required by SymplyATOM2
Installing ATTO ExpressSAS driver...Installing the ATTO360 Storage Suite and ExpressSAS HBA driver. This enables Windows to detect and communicate with your LTO tape drive.
Installing IBM Tape Diagnostic Tool...Installing IBM ITDT, the diagnostics engine that powers SymplyATOM2's Run Test and Host Validation features
Installing IBM LTFS (this may take a moment)...Installing the IBM LTFS filesystem driver. This step may take longer than the others.
6
When all components have been installed, the Completing the SymplyATOM2 Setup Wizard page will appear. Leave Launch SymplyATOM2 ticked and click Finish.
Inno Setup Completing the SymplyATOM2 Setup Wizard page with Launch SymplyATOM2 checkbox ticked and Finish button
Installation complete. Leave Launch SymplyATOM2 ticked and click Finish.

Step 6 - Restart Windows

If the ATTO ExpressSAS driver or IBM LTFS were installed during Step 5, a dialog will appear after the wizard closes informing you that a restart is recommended. SymplyATOM2 will launch, but your tape drive will not be detected until Windows has restarted.

1
Click OK to dismiss the dialog. Save any open work in other applications, then restart your PC.
Restart required before tape drives are detectedThe ATTO ExpressSAS driver and IBM LTFS must complete loading during a full Windows restart before SymplyATOM2 can detect your tape drive. If you skip the restart, the Drives panel will remain empty.

Step 7 - Verify and launch

1
After restarting, open SymplyATOM2 from the Start Menu or your Desktop shortcut. If your ATTO ExpressSAS HBA and LTO tape drive are connected and powered on, the drive will appear in the Drives panel on the left.
Installation completeSymplyATOM2 is installed and all required drivers are active. No further configuration is needed.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Windows show a security warning when I ran the installer?

The current beta release of SymplyATOM2 does not yet have a Windows code-signing certificate. Windows Defender SmartScreen flags any unsigned executable from an unrecognised publisher as a precaution. This does not mean the installer is unsafe - it is the official installer downloaded directly from the Symply support portal. Follow the steps in Step 3 to proceed. Code signing will be in place for the full commercial release.

Do I need to install any drivers or tools separately?

No. The SymplyATOM2 Setup installer includes everything required: the VC++ runtime, ATTO360 Storage Suite and ExpressSAS driver, IBM ITDT, and IBM LTFS. Each component is only installed if it is not already present, so running the installer on a machine that already has some components will not reinstall or downgrade them.

My tape drive does not appear in SymplyATOM2 after installation

Check the following in order:

  • Confirm that Windows has been fully restarted after installation. The ATTO ExpressSAS driver does not become active until after a restart.
  • Verify that the ATTO ExpressSAS HBA is correctly seated and that the tape drive is powered on before launching SymplyATOM2.
  • Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button › Device Manager) and look for the ATTO ExpressSAS adapter under Storage controllers. If it shows a warning icon, the driver may not have installed correctly - try running the Setup installer again.
  • Check that the tape drive is visible in Device Manager under Tape drives. If it is absent, the issue is with the HBA or cabling rather than the software.

If the drive still does not appear after checking all of the above, submit a support ticket.

What version of Windows is required?

SymplyATOM2 requires Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update) or later, 64-bit. 32-bit Windows is not supported. The installer will refuse to run on unsupported versions.

Can I run SymplyATOM2 without restarting after installation?

SymplyATOM2 will launch and open immediately after installation without a restart. However, the ATTO ExpressSAS driver and IBM LTFS filesystem driver both require a Windows restart to become fully active. Until you restart, the Drives panel will remain empty and no tape drive operations will be available.

Will the drivers survive a Windows update?

Yes. Standard Windows updates do not remove or disable third-party drivers installed via their own installers. Major Windows feature updates (e.g. upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11) may prompt a driver compatibility check but will not remove installed components. If a Windows update causes the tape drive to stop appearing, run the SymplyATOM2 Setup installer again to repair or reinstall the affected components.

If you have any questions please submit a [support ticket]