Embodiments describe Object-based Storage Device (OSD) targets that utilize Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) to allow the OSD target to directly transfer objects requested by a host system to the memory of host system, thereby bypassing an OSD interface of the host system. One embodiment comprises an OSD target that includes an OSD manager, an RDMA manager, and a non-volatile storage device that stores an object. The OSD manager communicatively couples with an OSD interface of a first host system. The RDMA manager communicatively couples with at least one of a first RDMA interface of the first host system and a second RDMA interface of a second host system. The OSD manager receives an OSD command to retrieve the object from the OSD interface, locates the object at the non-volatile storage device, and provides the object to the RDMA manager. The RDMA manager provides the object to at least one of the first RDMA interface of the first host system and the second RDMA interface of the second host system.