Dell MD3420Dell PowerVault MD3420 24-Bay 2.5" 12Gb SAS Dual EMM 600W PSU No Drives

Key Benefits

• 12Gb SAS host interface: SAS-3 connectivity delivers up to 12Gbps per port — double the throughput of the previous-generation 6Gb SAS arrays — for demanding database, virtualisation, and backup workloads.
• Dual redundant controllers: Two independent controllers with mirrored cache ensure zero single points of failure. The array remains fully operational during a controller failure or maintenance event.
• 24 x hot-swap 2.5" drive bays: Support for SAS SSD, 10K/15K SAS HDD, and SATA drives. Populate the array with the mix that matches your performance-vs-cost requirements.
• Comprehensive RAID support: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 configurations allow optimisation for performance-critical databases or high-redundancy archive storage.
• Redundant 600W hot-swap PSUs: Dual power supplies protect against single PSU failure and enable power supply replacement without downtime.
• Certified refurbished with 12-month warranty: Professionally tested and graded by Reboot IT — Melbourne's enterprise storage specialists since 2001.

Performance in Use

The Dell PowerVault MD3420 is part of the MD3400 series — Dell's 12Gbps SAS storage platform designed for mid-range enterprise environments. The 12Gb SAS interface is the key upgrade over the MD3220 and MD3200 series: each SAS port delivers twice the bandwidth of 6Gb SAS, enabling the array to sustain higher throughput with modern SAS SSDs and high-RPM drives. With dual controllers and 24 SFF (2.5-inch) bays, it is suited to IOPS-intensive workloads where density and redundancy matter — VMware vSphere shared storage, SQL Server databases, and Exchange mail stores are common deployment scenarios.

The dual-controller active-active design allows both controllers to serve I/O simultaneously, with automatic failover if one controller fails. Cache mirroring between controllers protects write-cache data against controller failure. Dell's OpenManage storage management provides a GUI and CLI for RAID configuration, disk group management, performance monitoring, and proactive failure alerting. The array integrates with VMware vCenter via the Dell Storage vCenter Plugin for visibility within existing virtual infrastructure management tools.

This unit ships without drives, allowing configuration with the capacity and performance tier appropriate for your workload: 15K SAS for maximum IOPS, 10K SAS for balanced performance, SAS SSD for ultra-low latency, or SATA for cost-effective bulk storage. Drive capacities up to 2TB (SAS/SATA) or higher for SSD are supported per bay, enabling up to 48TB or more of raw storage within the 24-bay chassis.

Tech Specs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are drives included?

No — this unit ships without drives. This allows you to select the drive type and capacity that best suits your workload: 15K SAS for maximum IOPS, 10K SAS for balanced performance, SAS SSD for low latency, or SATA for cost-effective bulk storage.

What is the difference between the MD3420 and MD3220?

The MD3420 uses 12Gbps SAS-3 host connectivity (double the bandwidth of the MD3220's 6Gbps SAS-2). The MD3420 is the newer, faster platform for deployments that benefit from higher throughput — particularly with SAS SSD drives.

What HBA or host adapter is needed?

The MD3420 requires a 12Gb SAS HBA (Host Bus Adapter) with Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors in the host server. Compatible adapters include the Dell PERC H830, LSI SAS 9300-8e, and similar 12Gb SAS external HBAs. 6Gb SAS HBAs will connect but will be bandwidth-limited.

Is it compatible with VMware ESXi?

Yes — the MD3420 is VMware-certified and integrates with vSphere via Dell's OpenManage storage plugin for vCenter. It supports VAAI (vStorage APIs for Array Integration) for hardware-accelerated storage operations in virtualised environments.

Can multiple servers connect to the same array?

Yes — the dual controllers support multiple server connections simultaneously. Proper host-based multipath I/O (MPIO) configuration is required to prevent data corruption when sharing storage between multiple hosts.

What shipping costs apply?

Shipping costs apply based on size and destination — rates are calculated at checkout.