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4
VOTE
Not supported for the current status
Status Under review
Workspace IBM i
Categories Hardware
Created by Guest
Created on Apr 15, 2025

RELATED IDEAS

Merged idea
This idea has been merged into another idea. To comment or vote on this idea, please visit IBMI-I-4614 Add support for USB devices >256GB.

Enable USB Flash Drives >256GB as a Certified Backup Alternative to RDX for Power10 Systems Merged

Overland-Tandberg, the industry supplier of RDX docks, has gone bankrupt and ceased operations. This caused the shipping stop of RDX for all Power10 products. RDX was very popular in the Italy market, it was the backup solution for all entry Power models. No other existing alternative to RDX is so cheap, easy to use and functional as RDX was. IBM could mitigate the impact of the RDX issue making the USB Flash drives (memory keys or thumb drives) a valid alternative for backups. It will be a customer decision to pursue such kind of solution for the backup (for example a customer could decide to use the USB drive only as an Alternate IPL device) but IBM must make this option reasonable and feasible. The requirement for IBM is to certify the USB drive to work with flash devices larger than 256GB both with IBM i and AIX. Currently, the 256GB size limit https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-removable-media-optical-devices prevents many customers to consider the USB drive as a possible alternative of RDX.

RDX was very popular in the Italy market, it was the backup solution for all entry Power models with IBM i and there is not a valid alternative with low price

Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Nov 21, 2025
    Your request is a duplicate of IBM Idea IBMI-I-4614 - https://ibm-power-systems.ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-4614

    Please see IBMI-I-4614 for progress on assessing and implementing your Idea.

    Power Systems Development
    Reply
  • Guest
    Sep 16, 2025
    Thank you for submitting your Idea, requesting that larger USB Flash Drives become a certified back-up alternative for Power10 systems. The technical teams are evaluating. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.
    Power Systems Development
    Reply
  • Guest
    Aug 5, 2025

    We have many small to medium sized customers with POWER8 & POWER9 IBM i systems looking to upgrade, but the cost of moving from RDX to LTO tape is holding them back. We need a lower cost backup option for low-end systems.

    Reply
  • Guest
    Apr 15, 2025

    Very important enhancement required for multiple scopes, but more important now that RDX is not available any more.

    Reply

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