Archives : 2011 : January

RDX Solutions Replace Tape Autochangers and Offer Cloud Flexibility

by Eric Slack, Senior Consultant at Storage Switzerland

RDX docks have met with great success in the SMB space, as a simple but effective backup solution. They allow users to continue their existing data protection process – typically writing backups to an internal or USB hard drive – but with the ability to take data offsite in a robust format. As data sets expand users can simply fill up more RDX cartridges. But for many companies this manual process and single drive format isn’t adequate when their data grows.

What are the options for organizations that are ready to upgrade from a simple direct attached RDX device to a complete backup solution? What if they want to stay with the RDX format but can’t fit their entire backup onto a single RDX cartridge or want to replace an existing tape autochanger or library system with RDX? There are several solutions being offered by storage vendors (see RDX Alliance partners) that address these needs.

RDX multi-dock systems
For users that are happy with their existing RDX backup system but just need more capacity, new multi-dock systems offer a solution. With up to 8 RDX docks they can allow multiple simultaneous data streams or a much longer sequential stream to be captured on RDX media without human intervention. The unit presents to the backup server as either multiple iSCSI storage targets or as a traditional tape library and provides up to 8 TB of native capacity.

Backup appliances
For users that want to upgrade from a simple, direct attached tape or RDX drive there are RDX appliances with embedded backup software that provide a complete data protection solution. These units have built in deduplication to expand useful capacity, touchscreen control for simple integration and support for multiple backup clients.

Storage appliances
For users that want to replace a tape autochanger with a disk backup solution, but still keep the RDX flexibility, storage appliances are available. These systems provide a local NAS target for backup software and an archive solution in the same box. In fact, with the ability to replicate copies internally and to a remote storage appliance, they can replace data protection software altogether in many environments. They can also replicate files to a cloud storage provider that supports RDX for a DR solution.

Cloud backup
For users that want the option of sending data to the cloud but still want the ability to use RDX, cloud backup providers offer ‘hybrid’ backup appliances with an embedded RDX dock. These systems combine local storage and restoration of backups with the ability to make transparent copies to the cloud or carry cartridges off-site. With removable storage and cloud connectivity users have more options for getting data offsite and a simple way of transitioning to the cloud.

Tandberg Data RDX® QuikStation™

Tandberg Data announced the Tandberg Data RDX® QuikStation™, a network-attached, removable disk library that is based on RDX® technology. The RDX QuikStation delivers robust data protection and offsite disaster recovery for SMB and SME environments in a feature-rich, multi-cartridge 2U configuration. It provides users with all the benefits of tape storage, including removability and archivability, and all the benefits of disk, namely speed, random access, reliability and high capacity.