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Dell PowerVault ME5084
5U dual-controller dense SAN/DAS array with 84 x 3.5″ drive bays
The PowerVault ME5084 is the high-density, 5U member of the prior-generation ME5 family. Eighty-four large-form-factor bays in a single chassis let you pack the most mechanical capacity per rack unit, while dual-active controllers run the complete ME5 software stack. It is the prior-generation counterpart to the ME5284 and expands with ME484 shelves, up to 336 drives and 7.39PB behind one array.
Where the ME5084 makes sense
When the requirement is bulk capacity rather than minimum latency, density changes the economics: the ME5084 puts 84 disks behind one controller pair in 5U, reducing the rack space, power supplies and cabling that the same capacity would consume in 2U shelves. It remains a full ME5 array with virtual pools, snapshots, replication and ADAPT, not a stripped-down JBOD.
The ME5084 fits active archives, media and surveillance repositories, large backup targets and big-data landing zones. Buyers who want the prior-generation dense chassis at a lower price choose it over the ME5284; both share the same 5U, 84-bay concept and firmware, differing mainly in controller generation. A small SSD tier can be added for indexing and metadata performance.
Dense enclosures also simplify data protection architecture. Instead of spreading a multi-petabyte repository across many 2U arrays – each with its own controllers, firmware and management points – the ME5084 consolidates that capacity behind one active/active pair, so snapshot schedules, replication relationships and capacity reporting stay centralized. Operations teams planning rack layouts should account for the loaded weight and 2200W power profile, but in return they gain the smallest footprint and lowest per-terabyte economics in the ME5 line. It is a deliberate tool for capacity-heavy, latency-tolerant workloads rather than a general-purpose array.
Platform architecture
Dual-active controllers
Two Intel Xeon controllers run active/active and present the same LUNs on both modules. If one module faults, its partner takes over paths without taking volumes offline.
12Gb SAS backend
Drives and ME4-series expansion enclosures connect on a 12Gb SAS back end via wide ports, one per controller, keeping the path to added shelves deterministic.
Pooled virtual storage
Capacity is organized into virtual storage pools with pages that can be auto-tiered across SSD, performance and capacity media as access patterns change.
Included data protection
Redirect-on-write snapshots, thin provisioning, volume copy and asynchronous FC/iSCSI replication are built into the firmware, not bolt-on licenses.
- Dual-active Intel Xeon controllers with automatic, transparent failover
- Native block-level SAN or DAS in a single array
- RAID 1, 5, 6, 10 and distributed ADAPT erasure coding
- Thin provisioning, up to 3 auto-tiers, snapshots and async replication included
- 32Gb FC, 25Gb iSCSI, 10Gb Base-T and 12Gb SAS host options
- AES-256 SED encryption, FIPS 140-2 Level 2 drives and KMIP external key management
- PowerVault Manager HTML5 GUI, CLI and Redfish/Swordfish REST API
Where this model fits
Active archive and media
Pack video, media and long-retention archives into minimal rack space while keeping data online and managed.
Large backup target
Use 84 economical disks as a consolidated backup and recovery repository, with included snapshots and replication.
Dense big-data storage
Provide bulk capacity for surveillance, content and data lakes where cost per terabyte and rack density dominate.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product type | Dual-controller dense hybrid SAN/DAS storage array |
| Family / generation | PowerVault ME5 (prior generation) |
| Form factor | 5U rack enclosure |
| Controller modules | 2 hot-swappable, active/active; dual controller only on 5U |
| Drive bays | 84 x 3.5″ (2.5″ carriers supported) |
| System memory | 8GB system + 16GB cache per controller (24GB total) per current spec |
| Storage format | Native block-level SAN or DAS |
| Host interfaces | FC, iSCSI (optical or BaseT), 12Gb SAS |
| Maximum FC ports | 8 x 32Gb (auto-negotiate to 16Gb) |
| Maximum iSCSI ports | 8 x 25Gb SFP28 or 8 x 10Gb BaseT |
| Maximum SAS host ports | 8 x 12Gb SAS |
| RAID levels | 1, 5, 6, 10 and ADAPT distributed erasure coding |
| Drive support | NL-SAS 7.2K, SAS 10K, SSD and FIPS SED media |
| Data services | Thin provisioning, up to 3 tiers, snapshots, volume copy, async replication |
| Security | AES-256 SED, FIPS 140-2 Level 2 drives, KMIP key management |
| Expansion | Up to 3 ME484 (5U) enclosures; 336 drives max |
| Max raw capacity | Up to 7.39PB (with three ME484 enclosures) |
| Power supplies | 2 x 2200W, 200-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Dimensions / weight | 22.23 x 48.30 x 98.10 cm; up to 135.0 kg loaded |
| Operating temperature | 5C to 35C (derate 1C per 300m above 900m) |
| Management | PowerVault Manager GUI, CLI, Redfish/Swordfish REST API |
| Min/Max drive count | 28 to 336 drives |
| Heat dissipation | 7507 BTU per hour |
| Amperage | 11.07A to 9.23A (x2) |
| Management ports | 2 x 1Gb BASE-T |
Compare the ME5 models
| Specification | ME5012 | ME5024 | ME5084 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 2U | 2U | 5U |
| Drive bays | 12 x 3.5″ | 24 x 2.5″ | 84 x 3.5″ |
| Best at | Low-cost bulk SAN | Flash / performance | Maximum density |
| Max drives (stacked) | 264 | 276 | 336 |
| Max raw capacity | 5.80PB | 5.72PB | 7.39PB |
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
Is the ME5084 still a good choice?
Yes when rack density and cost per terabyte dominate and the newest ME5284 controllers are not required. It runs the same ME5 firmware.
What is the difference between ME5084 and ME5284?
Both are 5U with 84 x 3.5″ bays and the same software; the ME5284 is the newer ME5200 generation, while the ME5084 is typically lower cost.
How dense is it exactly?
Eighty-four 3.5″ drives in 5U, among the most capacity-dense Dell PowerVault chassis.
Can it be ordered with a single controller?
No. The 5U model supports dual controllers only; single-controller support is limited to the 2U ME5012/ME5024.
What is the maximum capacity?
Up to 7.39PB raw with three ME484 expansion enclosures and the largest drives.
How many drives can one array manage?
Up to 336 drives total using up to three additional ME484 dense shelves.
Is it just a JBOD?
No. It is a full dual-controller array with virtual pools, snapshots, replication, tiering and RAID, unlike the controllerless MD24 shelves.
Can SSDs be added?
Yes. A small SSD tier accelerates metadata and hot pages inside the dense array via auto-tiering.
How much memory does it have?
The current ME5 spec lists 8GB system plus 16GB cache per controller (24GB total); some earlier documents quoted 16GB per controller.
What power and rack planning is needed?
Dual 2200W supplies on 200-240 VAC, 7507 BTU and up to 135 kg loaded; rack load rating and depth must be planned.
What encryption is supported?
AES-256 SEDs including FIPS 140-2 Level 2 drives, with KMIP external key management.
How do I order a configured ME5084?
Give us your capacity target and host details; we configure drives, controllers, cabling and service, then quote the complete dense array.
Is the dense chassis suitable for primary databases?
It is optimized for capacity and cost; latency-sensitive databases are better served by the ME5024/ME5224 with all-flash media.
How does the ME5084 compare with ME484 shelves?
ME484 units are controllerless expansion enclosures, while the ME5084 is itself a dual-controller base array that can host ME484 shelves behind it.
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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