RDX removable storage have always intrigued me.
They are durable, fast, and very well priced, especially against comparable LTO drives.
Unfortunately, RDX storage devices and solutions have not had the same amount of ink or public attention that we have found devoted to other backup solutions from HP.
However, since I was introduced to it on a Proliant ML110 G5 server I received for review* several years ago, RDX potential has been obvious. We subsequently started specifying RDX to our clients on the low end, instead of our old HP DAT backup solutions. We use Ultrium LTO-5 linear tapes for larger backup needs.
One of the baffling things about RDX is the fact that it doesn’t seem to have any traction.
When I read not too long ago that RDX had reached native 2 TB milestone, I knew I had to reach out again to HP to find out what, exactly, was going on with RDX.
While the 500 GB upper capacity was just fine for our smaller client’s branch office needs, I certainly did not want to specify a dead-end technology to our users.
The best part of RDX, and an insurmountable benefit it has over tape of any kind, is random access to data. Moreover, speeds are much faster than most tape solutions deliver.
Talking to HP about RDX
I spoke to Paula Dellabetta, who manages the RDX program for HP.
I found out the following:
RDX is here to stay at HP
HP has phased out the DAT drives, and the most suitable replacement for it is RDX.
There is a renewed focus around RDX
RDX is a healthy, growing business at HP.
With the demise of DAT, there is a renews focus around RDX at HP in order to provide an entry level backup solution.
At the low end, RDX as a DAT replacement, is hard to beat. It is ruggedized out of the box, which optimizes it for reliability. It comes in 320GB, 500, 1TB or the aforementioned 2TB capacities, which allows it to be suitable for a wide range of business sizes and needs.
RDX is a profitable CDP option for VARs
Once the best interest of client users are defined, we come to the next most important benefit of RDX: it is a very profitable attach as a CDP option in solutions delivered by VARs.
In our five short years using, and specifying RDX, I can attest to the tidy returns it provides. It is also a reliable , trouble-free component. It made or conversion from DAT to quite painless, a situation which remains trouble-free even today.
I am pleased to hear that high availability and security organizations in military, oil and gas, and hospitality, are using RDX to great success.
HP is looking at delivering more value around RDX, and is currently running an ongoing tape-to-RDX rebate program
I will be reviewing some drives and cartridges here shortly.
I was introduced to RDX by HP’s Calvin Walker, who managed the reviewer’s program for HP’s ESG business unit. It was an internal unit contained in a Proliant ML110 G5 server. RDX has worked perfectly for us since then. I am very thankful to Mr. Walker for the intro.
© 2002 – 2014, John Obeto for Blackground Media Unlimited
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