The Most Affordable Hardware RAID in the World

CalDigit HDElement brings you a new horizon in protected and high performance RAID storage.

Our focus, like yours, is on Content Creation, whether you are, a filmmaker, photographer, musician, or managing your MP3 and game libraries, the HDElement gives you ultimate in reliable support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 50, 60 and JBOD.

The HDElement is the compact 4-bay hardware RAID storage that you've been waiting for. It comes with CalDigit's RAID Card that gives you hardware protection for your valuable data.

Each HDElement gives you flexibility of configuring your RAID on different RAID Levels such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 50, 60 and JBOD. Thanks to CalDigit RAID Card's multiple external ports, you can connect up to 3 HDElements. As your workloads increase it is easy to expand your storage capacity.

Our unique, cross-platform technology is compatible with MAC OS X, Windows and Linux workstations. All CalDigit products support a variety of software applications and have been validated by Matrox Video Group, Blackmagic Design and Media 100.

Room to Grow

The HDElement gives you room to grow. Thanks to CalDigit RAID Card's multiple external ports. You can connect up to 3 HDElements and 12 individual drives.

As your workloads increase it is easy to expand your storage capacity. This gives your total capacity of up to 12 TB.

Why Choose Hardware RAID?

While software RAID may seem like a viable option to hardware RAID, the advantages of having a hardware solution far outweigh software RAID solutions.

Powered by the CalDigit RAIDCard, the HDElement has a 100% hardware disk controller that comes with its own independent CPU.

This means that the CPU uses less cycles and power than a software solution, and leaves your workstation’s CPU free to do what it has been designed for - running your applications.

Software RAIDs use your workstation's CPU. This takes away processing power from other applications and slows your whole system down.

Hardware RAID gives you the ultimate in protection from OS corruption or crashes while a software application gives no protection at all.

Software RAIDs are also generally more complicated to run and configure. The HDElement is straightforward and simple to use and includes additional features for optimizing the performance of your system.

Engineered for Speed and Protection

The HDElement is designed for both speed and protection. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6 and JBOD.

The HDElement with multiple RAID level capabilities, can be configured to suit your project’s requirements.

With a sustained speed of up to 500 MB/sec*. at RAID 5, the HDElement is a great choice for your workflow that offers extremely high fault and drive-failure tolerance and rapid speed availability.

*When connecting to multiple HDElements

Multiple RAID Level configuration

Due to the CalDigit RAID card's flexibility, as your workloads grow and your storage requirements increase, HDElement allows you to add up additional storage units as they are needed.

Users can configure multiple RAID Levels on different HDElements or even on different group of drives. This allows users to have different RAID protection on different workflow.

Easy to Use and Accessible

At CalDigit we know that most computer users are not IT engineers. That is why we have designed our unique RAID Shield Client GUI, with the customer in mind.

You no longer need to be baffled by commands and window layouts that are hard to understand. Managing your drives, running regular performance checks and monitoring your system have never been more straightforward.

The HDElement uses an environment monitor processor to run all aspects of the system. Our Raid Shield allows you to check your hard drive, add or remove the controller, monitor the controller cache, maintain enclosure conditions, fan, temperature and power supply. You can configure and manage the RAID arrays and fix problems with a simple click of the mouse.

In the event of any errors, alerts or changes to the RAID array an e-mail notification is sent to you immediately.

Powered by Intel XScale Core Processor

HDElement works in conjunction with CalDigit RAID that comes with a built-in Intel XScale Core Processor and 256 MB dedicated cache memory.

It optimizes low power consumption, maximizes performance, accelerates data processing and adds protection to storage.

Active Sustained Transfer Technology (ASTT)

ASTT is unique to all CalDigit products and was developed by our own engineers.

With ASTT, the performance of your HDElement is always kept in check.

Any highs (peaks) and lows (drops) during data transference are equalized by our Active Sustained Transfer Technology.It optimizes the best transfer size and timing between the RAID controller cache and the host machine.

This eliminates performance drops and maximizes the sustained data rate. ASTT also helps to maintain a continuously smooth transfer rate over the whole capacity of the RAID.

With ASTT On	Without ASTT on

Starting up from your HDElement

The HDElement is bootable. You have the ability to start up from HDElement if you have installed OS such as Mac OS, Windows, or Linux.

Starting up from HDElement enables you to troubleshoot your system start up disk should errors occur. Starting up from your RAID Volume can also give you mobility when you need to take your footage and configured system with you in various locations.

No More 2TB Limitation in Windows Platforms

Windows uses 32-bit block numbers in its lower storage stack. This effectively limits support for hardware RAID sets.

To get storage unit sizes beyond 2TB, one had to combine multiple LUNs (Logical Unit Numbers) using the Windows Disk Management. This limitation gives Window users no other alternative but to install software RAID.

RAID storage has been around for some time now but no-one has ever come up with an answer to this issue. In a breakthrough for the industry, CalDigit's highly qualified engineers have come up with a solution.

Now you can utilize the full volume of your HDElement in to one single volume to store your data. And with our RAID Shield configuring your system is effortless and easy to execute.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We, at CalDigit, stand behind our products 100%. The HDElement comes with a one year warranty. In addition, if the HDElement does not meet your expectations, send it back within thirty (30) days and we'll send you the refund.

When you purchase a CalDigit product you have not only bought one of the best hardware RAID solutions on the market but you have also acquired our legendary customer support. Any questions you may have, or technical assistance you may need, is just a phone call away.

Optional Accessories

CalDigit Mini-SAS cable Part # CBeMiniSAS-3 SKU# 702103

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Size and weight

Power supply

Linux