HPE StoreEver 1U Generic Rack Mount Kit — two half-height drives in 1U
HPE BC029A1U rack mount2 × half-height drive baysLTO & RDX
The HPE StoreEver 1U Generic Rack Mount Kit (BC029A) lets you install up to two 5.25-inch half-height HPE StoreEver tape drives or RDX removable disk drives in a single rack unit of a 19-inch rack. It is for IT teams who back up to LTO tape or RDX and want the drives in the server rack instead of on a shelf or inside a tower server.
HPE describes the kit as a high-density, 1U rack-mounted storage solution for SAS backup and archiving. In HPE's specification table the supported drive types are LTO-8, LTO-7, LTO-6 and LTO-5 Ultrium half-height drives and RDX 500 GB to 4 TB removable disk drives, with a host interface of 6 Gb/s SAS or USB 3.0 depending on the drive. The kit is the enclosure only: the drives are ordered separately.
Before you order: Tape and RDX drives are not included. HPE's specification table lists LTO-5 to LTO-8 half-height drives and RDX; HPE's overview also mentions LTO-9. Send us the part number of the drive you plan to install and we will confirm support before you order.
What's in the Box
- HPE StoreEver 1U Generic Rack Mount Kit (1U enclosure with two half-height drive bays)
- No tape or RDX drives — order them separately
- HPE does not publish a detailed parts list on the product page; ask us if you need to confirm rails or cables
What It Means in Practice
- Two drives in 1U: for example two LTO drives for parallel backup jobs, or one LTO drive plus one RDX for different retention tiers.
- With two LTO-8 Ultrium 30750 drives HPE quotes up to 600 MB/s native combined transfer; with two RDX drives up to 360 GB/hour.
- SAS drives need a SAS host bus adapter in the backup server; USB 3.0 applies to RDX.
- Keeps the backup hardware in the rack next to the servers it protects, with front access to cartridges.
What Will Not Work
- Full-height tape drives — only 5.25-inch half-height drives fit.
- Drives from other vendors or HPE drives outside HPE's support list for this kit — check the drive part number with us first.
- SAS tape drives without a SAS HBA in the server — the kit provides no host interface of its own.
- It is not a tape autoloader or library: no robotics, cartridges are changed by hand.
Key Features
1U density
Two half-height drive bays in a single rack unit.
LTO and RDX
HPE lists LTO-5 to LTO-8 Ultrium half-height and RDX 500 GB to 4 TB drives.
Drive features preserved
WORM and AES 256-bit encryption, as listed by HPE for the supported LTO drives.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
BC029A |
| EAN / GTIN |
0190017248080 |
| Brand |
HPE |
| Product name |
HPE StoreEver 1U Generic Rack Mount Kit |
| Drive support |
| Supported drive types |
LTO-8 Ultrium 30750, LTO-7 Ultrium 15000, LTO-6 Ultrium 6250, LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 |
| RDX |
500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB removable disk drives |
| Drive bays |
Two 5.25-inch half-height |
| Host interface |
6 Gb/s SAS or USB 3.0 (per drive) |
| Performance (with drives installed) |
| Transfer rate |
Up to 600 MB/s native with two LTO-8 Ultrium 30750 drives; up to 360 GB/hour with two RDX drives |
| Capacity |
30 TB compressed (2.5:1) with LTO drives, depending on generation; 4 TB native with RDX |
| WORM |
Yes |
| Encryption |
AES 256-bit |
| Physical |
| Form factor |
1U rack-mount |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
3-year parts warranty, no labor, no onsite support coverage, per HPE — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it include tape drives?
No. BC029A is the generic rack mount kit only; install your own HPE half-height LTO or RDX drives.
Can I mix an LTO drive and an RDX drive?
Both drive types are listed as supported and the kit has two half-height bays. Tell us the exact drive part numbers and we confirm the combination.
Will it take an LTO-9 drive?
HPE's specification table stops at LTO-8, while HPE's product overview mentions LTO-9. Send us the LTO-9 drive part number and we check it against HPE's support matrix before you order.
Singular Expert Insight · Buyer's Guide
A 1U rack kit is the tidy way to bring tape or RDX into the rack: two drives in one unit, cartridges accessible from the front, and no tower server needed as a host enclosure. Plan the host connection first — SAS drives need a SAS HBA in the backup server, which you can find among our
storage controllers and adapter cards.
✓ Buy it if you want one or two HPE half-height LTO or RDX drives mounted in a 19-inch rack.
✕ Skip it if you need automatic cartridge changing (autoloader or library) or plan to use full-height drives.
→ Also consider an HPE StoreEver autoloader for unattended rotation, or a SAS HBA if your backup server has no SAS port.
Not sure your drive fits? Send us the HPE drive part number and we will check compatibility before you order.