RDX Storage Blog
The Unique Challenges of SMB Backup
Backup, or data protection, really needs to include disaster recovery (DR). Getting data backed up locally is just step one, it also has to have step two: get off-site. In the ‘old days’, this second step was pretty simple – it was done with tape(s) in the admin’s backpack. With disk capacities being what they are today, many organizations aren’t using tape any more. If you’re not using a tape drives, how do you get the data off disk and out of the building? For larger companies, this often means remote replication from the local backup appliance to another at a DR site. For smaller companies, or smaller offices, it can be a problem.
There are number of ‘cloud storage’ options, where files go directly to the provider’s data center. These out-sourced solutions are fine for some organizations, but some require that you stop using your current backup software. Others require a high speed internet connection and possible investment in a remote storage device. Both options typically require you to pay a monthly charge – forever. “Forever” gets expensive on a monthly basis. There can also be potential restore issues, when large amounts of data must be transferred back over the internet to recover an entire server, for example.
USB drive(s) could be an answer, but they’re not very portable and they require a power supply and cable. They’re also not very rugged. Drop a hard drive a few times and see what happens. We find that because of these issues most SMBs will just leave the external hard drive at the office, which doesn’t provide much recovery after the building burns down.
RDX could be a better answer. They appear to your servers just like the disk drive targets you’re currently using for step one (the backup part) of your data protection strategy. They also act just like the tapes you used to use for step two, (the DR part); kind of a ‘best of both worlds’ solution. You get the speed and simplicity of backup to disk and the transportability of tape – plus, you keep your existing backup process, and skip the monthly fee.
Eric Slack, Sr. Analyst, Storage Switzerland www.storage-switzerland.com
RDX Street Pricing – Very Competitive!
RDX Street Pricing – Very Competitive! There was recent blog posting on Drunken Data by Jon Toigo http://www.drunkendata.com/?p=2884 Jon saw the customer value in the ruggedized RDX dock and cartridge along with the portability and scalability features, but felt that RDX media prices were high.
I checked around online and found the Provantage web site customers can purchase a 500GB RDX dock and cartage for $248.14 which equates to $.49/GB. http://www.provantage.com/imation-27127~73MDS2V2.htm John’s blog quotes LTO tape costs .44/GB which is comparable to the RDX drives at .49/GB. Dell’s web site sells a LTO-3 Tape drive for $1999 and a 400GB tape cartridge for $30.99, the total tape solution costs $2029.99 which equates to $5.07/GB.
So customers can purchase almost 10 additional RDX cartridges of RDX storage 5TBs more storage for the same cost as an LTO tape drive with similar capacity, AND get all the benefits ruggedness, portability, and scalability. Most small medium businesses, legal, retail, medical, dental offices, construction, video production, schools, have less than 5.5TB of data, which can be easily backed-up and archived on RDX docks and cartridges at a lower cost then buying an LTO drive.
Customer’s should look at the total “STREET PRICE” of RDX solutions and benefit from easy backup, durable archive and FAST data recovery.
Accidents can Happen
While all HDDs should be handled with care, accidents do happen – HDDs can be knocked off the table, banged around in your briefcase, dropped by the FedEx guy, etc. In order to ensure that precious data is not at risk, a portable HDD solution needs to be protected.
Portability is a key feature of RDX cartridges, but portability means little if the cartridge is not rugged enough to sustain a realistic drop. If a cartridge is dropped, the cartridge should protect the hard drive well enough so that the drive works properly and data can be retrieved.
Some companies offer a padded suitcase to protect a cartridge, but this does not address many risks. With RDX, we had a better idea: put the HDD in a ruggedized cartridge that is designed to survive most real world abuses. RDX cartridges are designed to provide significant protection in case they are dropped onto a hard surface.
How? RDX Drives have several rugged features, including:
• Heads that retract from the media so no damage occurs, a high tolerance to shifting the disks on the motor and a fluid dynamic bearing motor that tolerates shock events well
• The mobile hard drive is shock mounted with a unique combination of materials and geometry to reduce the impact on the hard drive if it dropped.
• The cartridge shell is made of high strength plastics that preserve the mechanical integrity of the system.
An RDX cartridge has a 99% survival rate at 1 meter. In applications where removable media is used for data protection, disaster recovery and long-term archival storage, RDX technology provides a robust solution with greatly increased data reliability over other solutions.
Steve Georgis
What does RDX technology provide in practical applications beyond the data center?
RDX storage technology is well known as a superior way to provide simple, easy, cost-effective backup and archiving of data with an effective data recovery strategy.
But, what does RDX technology provide in practical applications beyond the data center? The inherent nature of the features and benefits extend the use beyond the generic function of backup and recovery to providing application solutions for businesses where businesses save time, money and complexity of everyday tasks. Simply stated RDX technology provides these benefits to data backup, retention, protection and recovery: Portability, Durability, Flexible Capacity, Scalability, Random / Sequential Access, Longevity, and ease of use.
As applied in the video production industry these benefits can streamline the complex tasks involved in transfer of data among multiple partners for multiple functions outside the network. Portability, Durability and Flexible capacity are key advantages.
For example motion picture production process involves multiple partners: production companies, editing companies, post-production companies, and distribution companies. And within each of these partners there are additional specialties for example post production includes computer-based color correction, brightness-level, contrast ratios, graphics, animation, sound and looping; many individuals are involved and sharing the video data. The ability to quickly create multiple copies of large amounts of video data and distribute a durable cartridge, without worry of damage (the cartridges can easily be shipped via a fedex envelope or other transport), all streamlines the process for each individual working on the project. We have more on under the solutions section on the website and also information from Filmworks/FX in our latest press release if you want to see how this may relate to your business.
Questions? Comment? Let us know.
Steve Georgis
Video Solutions
I headed out to Palo Alto on the January 25th to attend the BDEvent (Business Development Networking Event for Storage). I met with analysts and press who were interested in finding out more about the Alliance’s professional member community, RDX® technology, and our press release highlighting RDX technology use in the video production world and IDC’s amazing forecast for RDX.
Filmworks/FX’s use of RDX removable disk products is a great example of multiple benefits of RDX. Filmworks/FX is a feature visual effects production and post-production company that routinely works with major motion picture companies (look for their name in the credits). Video Filmworks/FX named RDX data portability outside the network, ruggedness, performance and the capacity of RDX cartridges as all important in stream-lining their production pipeline.
If you’re a movie watcher and not maker, a little explanation: video production entails collaborative effort among producers, directors, film editors, videographers, visual effects artists, animators, sound editors, distributors and more. RDX removable disk storage comes into play to duplicate, store and transport the digitized video data to all team members. Team members pop in their RDX cartridge into the RDX dock attached to computer workstations and within minutes they’re editing the video.
We have a lot more in the video solution section of the website and checkout the press release.
Karl Chen – Executive Director, RDX Storage Alliance
Welcome to the RDX Storage.com blog!
We’re a vendor neutral alliance organization dedicated to bringing you the best solutions for storage protection, retention, archive and retrieval, whether those come from our member community or industry experts.
50% of small businesses do not have data protection, retention and archive strategies. We’re finding more and more businesses are voicing a need for easy, cost effective solutions to solve this problem. We expect a lot of RDXStorage.com visitors are looking for answers on on how to protect and retain data while having the ability to quickly retrieve files from archived data. RDX Technology does this easily and cost-effectively.
One type of business voicing a strong need for these capabilities is graphic media companies: graphic artists, photographers, videographers, animators. They need a sound data protection strategy and also need fast ad hoc access to customers’ data. RDX Technology supports all of this.
Tell us about your business, what you do and what data storage needs you have or your solution to data storage.
Check out our membership page – there you will find some of the resources you can get as a member. Membership is free. RDXStorage.com is designed for people like you!
