News

posted on 23 June 2008 12:36

HP has followed Dell and is now supplying re-branded ProStor RDX removable disk drives for small company off-site backups.

Removable disk drives provide backup and restore at disk speeds, faster than that of a tape drive, and are mounted in a docking unit for data transfer. They also provide the off-site portability of tape cartridges. RDX drives are currently sold by Dell, Imation and Tandberg Data.

The StorageWorks RDX Removable Disk Backup Systems come in 160GB and 320GB capacities (RDX160 and RDX320), also in internal and external fit versions, the latter utilizing USB connectivity. They provide a backup alternative to HP's DAT160 tape drive systems.

Adam Thew, HP's StorageWorks division head in the UK, said: "We sell a lot of ProLiants to smaller businesses. These customers want very cost-effective, easy-to-use backup systems. These 'set and forget' products have a very easy-to-use software application and there's no need to use full-blown backup applications, although they will work."

The RDX target customer is one with no proper backup arrangement in place, beyond perhaps saving a few files on CD or DVD.

Thew suggests that the RDX products are cheaper to buy that DAT160 products up to the point where you need more than 3 to 4 cartridges. From then on DAT160 is more cost-effective.

ProStor will be highly delighted to be able to count HP, as well as Dell, as an OEM. Expect the company's business results to quickly reflect the increased level of sales that surely must follow.

^{[Chris Mellor.]}