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Dell PowerVault MD2412
2U SAS-4 JBOD with 12 x 3.5″ drive bays for PowerEdge DAS
The PowerVault MD2412 is a 2U, twelve-bay direct-attached JBOD built for PowerEdge servers. It has no RAID controller of its own – the server’s HBA355e adapter or PERC card manages data protection while the MD2412 supplies low-cost large-form-factor capacity. With a 24Gb SAS-4 link you can chain up to eight enclosures (96 drives) behind one supported PowerEdge host for as much as 1.92PB of direct-attached storage.
Why the MD2412 is the simple capacity shelf
Direct-attached storage exists for situations where a SAN adds complexity without adding value: a single server that simply needs more large disks. The MD2412 is purpose-built for that case. With twelve 3.5-inch bays in 2U and redundant 24Gb SAS paths, it attaches to a PowerEdge host and presents capacity that the server manages through its normal RAID adapter. There is no separate storage network to design and no second system to administer.
Because the shelf is optimized for mechanical hard drives, its economics line up with backup-to-disk, bulk file storage and predictable archive growth. The SAS topology also rewards planning – up to eight shelves can share a chain behind one HBA – so it is worth sizing the first deployment with future enclosures in mind rather than consuming all available ports at once.
Platform architecture
Controllerless JBOD
The shelf exposes drives straight to the host; there is no storage OS to patch and no controller cache. All RAID decisions stay on the PowerEdge server.
Redundant EMMs
Two Enclosure Management Modules each carry independent SAS paths so a single cable or module failure does not isolate the shelf from the host.
Server-native management
Enclosure status surfaces inside iDRAC and OpenManage alongside the server, or through SHMCLI, so there is no separate console to monitor.
SAS-4 bandwidth
24Gbps SAS-4 links feed the denser shelves, autosensing down to 12Gb for compatibility with earlier adapters and server generations.
- No RAID controller – the host PowerEdge HBA or PERC owns data protection
- 12Gb / 24Gb SAS-4 autosensing host links on redundant EMMs
- Managed natively through the server’s iDRAC or via SHMCLI
- Hot-pluggable drives and redundant, hot-swap power and cooling
- Works with current and previous generations of PowerEdge servers
- SED / FIPS self-encrypting drive options for data-at-rest security
- Dense mechanical capacity at a low cost per terabyte
Where this model fits
Capacity expansion for a PowerEdge server
Add a shelf of large disks to an existing R760, R660 or similar PowerEdge host without moving to a SAN.
Backup-to-disk DAS
Attach local high-capacity storage for backup software and disk-based recovery, kept simple and direct.
Bulk file and archive storage
Serve large datasets and archives from inexpensive spinning disks connected straight to the application server.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product type | PowerVault MD24 direct-attached JBOD enclosure |
| Rack size | 2U |
| Drive bays | 12 x 3.5″ (7.2K SAS HDD) |
| Enclosure management | 2 x HA EMM; managed through host iDRAC or SHMCLI |
| Host interface | 12Gb / 24Gb SAS autosensing |
| Host connections per EMM | 2 x 4-lane 24Gbps SAS |
| Debug port | 1 x USB-C per EMM |
| RAID | None in the enclosure – provided by host HBA355e or PERC H840 |
| Max enclosures | 8 with HBA355e (4 with PERC H840) |
| Max drives | Up to 96 per host |
| Max capacity | Up to 1.92PB (20TB HDD) |
| Drive options | 7.2K SAS 4/8/12/16/20TB; 8TB FIPS SED |
| Supported PowerEdge | 14G/15G (R760, R660, R7625, R6625, R7615, R6615) and 16G |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 86.8 x 444 x 545 mm (3.4 x 17.5 x 21.5 in) |
| Weight | 25.58 kg / 56.39 lb with drives; 15.98 kg / 35.23 lb empty |
| Power supplies | Redundant 800W |
| Voltage | 100-127 / 200-240 VAC; 240 VDC (China only) |
| Operating temp. | 0-40C (5-40C under ASHRAE A3) |
Compare the MD24 models
| Specification | MD2412 | MD2424 | MD2460 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 2U | 2U | 4U |
| Drive bays | 12 x 3.5″ | 24 x 2.5″ | 60 x 3.5″ |
| Best at | Low-cost capacity | SSD performance | Dense capacity |
| Max enclosures | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Max capacity | 1.92PB | 737.28TB SSD | 2.40PB |
Typical configurations
How this unit is supplied
Configured to your host
We match the shelf or array to your server model, host bus adapter and cabling so the unit arrives ready to rack and connect, not as a pile of separate parts.
Tested before shipment
Drives, controllers or EMMs, power supplies and firmware revisions are checked so the configuration powers up and presents storage on first install.
Service and warranty
New systems are supplied with the appropriate Dell ProSupport and ProDeploy coverage, with options for proactive and multi-year support.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MD2412 include a RAID controller?
No. It is a JBOD – RAID and data protection are handled by the PowerEdge server’s HBA355e adapter or a PERC H840 card.
How many MD2412 enclosures can one server support?
Up to eight enclosures (96 drives) with an HBA355e, or four with a PERC H840 on 14G and 15G PowerEdge servers.
What is the maximum capacity?
About 1.92PB using 20TB HDDs across a full eight-enclosure chain behind a supported host.
Can the MD2412 use SSDs?
It is optimized for 3.5-inch mechanical HDDs. For an SSD-focused direct-attached shelf, the 24-bay MD2424 is the intended choice.
Which PowerEdge servers support it?
Current and previous generations including the R760, R660, R7625, R6625, R7615 and R6615, connected through a qualified SAS adapter.
How is the MD2412 managed?
Directly from the host server’s iDRAC interface or using the SHMCLI command-line utility; no separate storage controller GUI is required.
What SAS speed does it run at?
The enclosure uses 24Gb SAS-4 internally on the EMMs and autosenses to 12Gb when connected to older adapters.
Are self-encrypting drives available?
Yes, an 8TB FIPS self-encrypting 3.5-inch drive is supported for data-at-rest encryption managed from the host.
How do I get an MD2412 with the right server adapter?
Tell us your PowerEdge model and capacity target; we supply the MD2412 with the correct HBA or PERC, cables and service level as a complete DAS kit.
What adapter and cable are required to connect an MD2412?
A supported PowerEdge server uses an HBA355e adapter for JBOD access, or a PERC H840 where hardware RAID is wanted, with qualified external SAS cables matched to the rack layout.
How does adding multiple shelves in a chain work?
Enclosures share the SAS chain behind the host adapter, so future shelves can be added and provisioned from the server without changing the storage model; port and enclosure limits should be planned in advance.
What happens to data if one EMM fails?
The second EMM provides an independent SAS path, so a multipath host keeps access through the surviving module while the faulted module is replaced.
Related PowerVault models
Configure this PowerVault for your environment
Send us your server model, drive mix and host protocol. We will quote a new, fully tested unit with the right Dell service coverage.
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