HPE HP Mobile USB Dvdrw Drive - 701498-B21

HPE 701498-B21 Mobile USB DVD-RW Optical Drive

Overview

The HPE 701498-B21 is a portable USB-attached optical drive designed for environments where you need to read, write, and archive data to physical media without tethering to a desk or server. The drive handles both DVD and CD formats, supports rewritable media across both DVD and CD platforms, and ships with Roxio authoring software for Microsoft Windows systems. This is a practical peripheral for IT asset management, compliance archiving, and field technician deployment scenarios where optical media remains a regulatory requirement or air-gapped backup standard.

Key Features

• DVD-RW Write Capability: Records to DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW media — meaningful when you need to burn multiple copies of documentation, firmware images, or compliance records without re-licensing write software or replicating via network paths.
• Dual-Layer DVD Support: Reads 8.5GB dual-layer DVDs in addition to standard 4.7GB single-layer discs — doubles your per-disc capacity when archiving larger datasets, reducing the number of physical media required for long-term retention.
• CD-R and CD-RW Writing: Writes to both CD-R (permanent) and CD-RW (rewritable) formats — essential for field technicians who need to deliver software, configurations, or diagnostic tools to devices without network access or for one-off compliance documentation that must remain on physical media.
• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Read: Reads any standard CD-ROM or DVD-ROM media, covering legacy media recovery, software installation from physical library stock, and third-party vendor deliverables still shipped on optical discs.
• USB Interface: Connects via standard USB port — no external power adapter required, drawing power directly from the host system. Simplifies deployment to laptops, mobile workstations, and servers without dedicated optical bays.
• Roxio Software Included: Ships with Roxio disc authoring software licensed for Microsoft Windows environments — eliminates the need for a separate software purchase and provides immediate capability for burning DVDs and CDs without third-party licensing friction.

Deployment Context

The 701498-B21 addresses a specific niche: organizations that retain optical media archiving as part of compliance strategy, disaster recovery, or air-gapped backup protocols. Regulatory frameworks in certain verticals (financial services, healthcare, energy) still recognize optical media as a valid long-term storage medium because it is non-volatile, not network-connected, and difficult to modify once burned (WORM — write once, read many). Field technicians, system administrators, and IT asset managers use this drive to provision secure software packages, distribute firmware updates to isolated systems, and maintain physical audit trails.

Media Compatibility at a Glance

Read: DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD±R, DVD±RW (4.7GB and 8.5GB dual-layer), CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW. Write: DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R, CD-RW. This breadth means the drive handles both legacy media you may encounter in existing archives and new formats you create going forward.

Integration & Compatibility

The HPE 701498-B21 operates as a standard USB mass-storage device on Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. It requires no special drivers — the operating system recognizes it as a generic optical drive immediately upon connection. Roxio software is bundled for Windows-based authoring; Linux and macOS users can employ alternative open-source or commercial disc-burning tools (such as Brasero on Linux or Toast on macOS) which are widely compatible with USB optical drives. The drive integrates with any backup software that can write to optical media via the system's optical-drive interface, making it suitable for inclusion in larger compliance and archival workflows.

What's in the Box

The 701498-B21 package includes the optical drive unit itself, a USB connection cable, and one disc of Roxio software for Windows environments. No external power adapter is shipped because the drive draws all power from the USB host port.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the HPE 701498-B21 require an external power supply?

A: No. The drive draws all power from the USB host port. No separate power adapter is needed, making it fully portable for laptop and mobile workstation use.

Q: Can I use the 701498-B21 on macOS or Linux systems?

A: Yes. The drive functions as a standard USB optical device on all major operating systems. Roxio software is included only for Windows; macOS and Linux users can employ their native disc-burning utilities or third-party alternatives like Toast (macOS) or Brasero (Linux).

Q: What is the maximum capacity disc the 701498-B21 can write?

A: The drive writes to 8.5GB dual-layer DVDs (DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL formats), making it suitable for larger archive packages. Standard single-layer DVDs hold 4.7GB.

Q: Is the 701498-B21 suitable for archival-grade compliance backup?

A: The drive meets the functional requirements for optical media archiving: it writes to permanent (CD-R, DVD-R) and rewritable (CD-RW, DVD±RW) formats. However, archival-grade compliance depends on the quality of the physical media used (gold-layer or polycarbonate DVDs rated for 50+ year lifespan) and proper storage environment — the drive itself is the writing mechanism, not the longevity guarantee.

Q: What operating systems does the included Roxio software support?

A: The bundled Roxio disc is licensed for Microsoft Windows systems only. Linux and macOS users can use native or third-party burning tools compatible with standard USB optical drives.

Q: Does the HPE 701498-B21 support BDXL or Blu-ray media?

A: No. The drive supports CD and DVD formats only — it does not read or write Blu-ray or BDXL media.

Karl Wilson

I deploy the 701498-B21 in field-service and compliance-documentation scenarios where optical media archiving remains a regulatory or operational requirement. The model's USB interface and bus-powered design mean a technician can burn firmware images, configuration packages, or audit logs directly from a laptop without hunting for a dock or power adapter — that mobility counts in asset-recovery and disaster-response workflows where you're moving between disconnected systems.

Technical Highlights:

• Dual-Layer DVD Write (8.5GB): Reduces the number of physical discs required per archive — two 8.5GB burns hold what would require four 4.7GB burns, lowering media cost and physical storage footprint for long-term compliance vaults.
• CD-R Permanent Write: CD-R media, once burned, cannot be modified or erased. This WORM (write-once-read-many) characteristic is why regulatory frameworks still recognize optical backup as tamper-evident — the drive ensures you can create that immutable record.
• USB Bus Power (No External Adapter): Draws power entirely from host USB port. Simplifies field deployment to laptops and portable systems where space and cable management matter. Standard USB 5V supply is sufficient.
• Roxio Software Included: Burning software is bundled and licensed for Windows — eliminates the license-friction step when provisioning new technician workstations or recovering a system that lost its burning suite.

Deployment Considerations:

• The drive is USB-only; there is no FireWire, Thunderbolt, or eSATA variant. If you're deploying to systems with USB-C exclusively (modern MacBooks, some Linux workstations), you'll need a USB-A adapter cable.
• Write performance on 8.5GB dual-layer discs is slower than single-layer burns — assume 15–20 minutes per DL disc, not 8–10 minutes. This matters in high-volume burn operations or when technicians have limited window to archive before field deployment.
• Roxio software is Windows-only. Linux and macOS users must source their own burning utility. Many organizations standardize on Brasero (Linux) or commercial tools, so verify compatibility before mass-deployment.
• The drive reads DVD-RAM and legacy DVD-ROM formats, but does not write to DVD-RAM — only DVD±R/RW. If your archive vault contains DVD-RAM media, the drive reads it for recovery, but new burns must be DVD±R or DVD±RW.

The 701498-B21 is a fit for IT asset-management teams that need field-portable optical authoring capability, compliance departments maintaining air-gapped archival vaults, and field engineers provisioning firmware and configurations to isolated industrial or medical systems. It is not a high-performance disc replicator — it's a single-drive, portable solution for occasional-to-moderate burn workflows. If you're burning hundreds of discs per week, invest in a dedicated optical replication system instead.