The RDT is used for cluster network communication. It is optimized to send very large files. It will be used again later to send object data between hosts.

What RDT does is deliver datagrams, potentially very large if necessary, between logical endpoints (conceptually fault-tolerant clients and servers), typically over multiple paths. Based on link health status changes published by the CMMDS, the RDT sets up and tears down transport connections very quickly, to minimize delay in datagram transport due to link failures.