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Dell PowerVault MD2424
2U SAS-4 JBOD with 24 x 2.5″ drive bays for PowerEdge DAS
The PowerVault MD2424 is the performance-optimized 2U JBOD in the MD24 family, packing twenty-four small-form-factor bays for SAS SSDs and 10K drives. As a controllerless shelf it lets the attached PowerEdge server manage RAID through an HBA355e or PERC while providing high-drive-count, low-latency direct storage. Chain up to four enclosures behind a supported host for up to 737.28TB of SSD capacity.
Why the MD2424 is the SSD-optimized shelf
Some direct-attached workloads need local flash, not a networked all-flash array. The MD2424 serves that niche by packing twenty-four small-form-factor bays into 2U and running 24Gb SAS-4 internally, so an attached PowerEdge server can own a high-density pool of SSDs with latency kept local and no SAN fabric in the path. It accepts high-performance 10K drives as well, giving the host a single place to consolidate fast internal storage.
The choice between the two 2U MD shelves is primarily a drive-format decision: large, economical mechanical disks point to the MD2412, while SSDs and small high-performance drives point here. The MD2424 supports slightly shorter chains than the MD2412, but reaches a very high flash capacity per host when populated with the largest SSDs.
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
Local flash for a database server
Attach an all-SSD shelf directly to a PowerEdge database host for low-latency storage without a SAN.
High-IO application storage
Use 24 small-form-factor drives – SSD or 10K – to deliver strong local IOPS for busy applications.
Compact VDI and caching tier
Provide fast direct-attached flash for VDI workloads and high-speed scratch or caching on the server.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product type | PowerVault MD24 direct-attached JBOD enclosure |
| Rack size | 2U |
| Drive bays | 24 x 2.5″ (SAS SSD and 10K HDD) |
| Enclosure management | 2 x HA EMM; managed through host iDRAC or SHMCLI |
| Host interface | 12Gb / 24Gb SAS autosensing (24Gb internal SAS-4) |
| 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 | 4 with HBA355e (4 with PERC H840) |
| Max drives | Up to 96 per host |
| Max capacity | 737.28TB SSD (7.68TB); 230.40TB with 2.4TB 10K |
| Drive options | 10K SAS 600GB/1.2TB/2.4TB; MU and RI SSDs up to 7.68TB; FIPS SED |
| Supported PowerEdge | 14G/15G (R760, R660, R7625, R6625, R7615, R6615) and 16G |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 86.8 x 444 x 497 mm (3.4 x 17.5 x 19.5 in) |
| Weight | 21.76 kg / 49 lb with drives; 16 kg / 35.27 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
What is the difference between the MD2424 and MD2412?
The MD2424 has 24 small-form-factor bays for SSDs and 10K drives and is performance oriented; the MD2412 has 12 large-form-factor bays for low-cost HDD capacity.
Does the MD2424 have a built-in RAID controller?
No. As a JBOD, RAID is handled by the host PowerEdge server through an HBA355e or PERC H840.
How many MD2424 shelves can one server attach?
Up to four enclosures, or 96 drives, behind a supported HBA355e adapter.
What is the maximum SSD capacity?
Up to 737.28TB across a four-enclosure chain using 7.68TB SSDs; a single shelf supports about 184TB at that drive size.
Does the MD2424 run 24Gb SAS internally?
Yes. The MD2424 supports 24Gb SAS-4 internally and for 24Gb SSDs, and autosenses to 12Gb with older host adapters.
Which servers are supported?
14G, 15G and 16G PowerEdge systems including the R760, R660, R7625, R6625, R7615 and R6615 with a qualified SAS adapter.
How is the enclosure monitored?
Through the attached server’s iDRAC or the SHMCLI utility, so storage health appears alongside the host hardware.
Are FIPS encrypting SSDs offered?
Yes, self-encrypting mixed-use and read-intensive SSDs and 10K drives are available for host-managed data-at-rest encryption.
How do I configure an MD2424 DAS solution?
Provide your server model, drive type and capacity needs; we supply the shelf, correct HBA/PERC and cables as a tested direct-attached kit with a quote.
What host adapter should be used for all-flash DAS?
An HBA355e presents the SSDs directly for software or host-based control, while a PERC H840 adds hardware RAID; both support the shelf within the documented enclosure limits.
How much flash can a single MD2424 hold?
With the largest read-intensive SSDs, a single 24-bay shelf reaches roughly 184TB, and up to four shelves can be attached per supported host for the full chain capacity.
Does local flash on the MD2424 require a SAN?
No. The SSDs sit on a direct SAS path to the PowerEdge server, giving local low-latency storage without a fabric, switch or separate storage array.
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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