DELL PowerVault MD3460 Data Storage System

The DELL PowerVault MD3460 is an ultra-dense, high-performance 4U storage array designed for organizations facing rapid data growth. It supports up to 60 internal drives (mix of 2.5" and 3.5") and utilizes the 12Gb/s SAS protocol to deliver exceptional throughput. The system is highly scalable, allowing expansion up to 180 drives (720 TB total capacity) using expansion enclosures. Key features include Dynamic Disk Pools (DDP), which simplify data protection, and SSD Caching for tiered storage performance. With dual active-active controllers and 8GB of cache per controller, the MD3460 is optimized for virtualization workloads and high-density storage environments where efficiency and cost-per-gigabyte are critical.

Key Specifications:

• Form Factor: 4U High-Density Rackmount.

• Drive Count: Up to 60 hot-plug drives (SAS, NL-SAS, SSD) per chassis.

• Max Capacity: Scalable to 180 drives via MD expansion units.

• Connectivity: 12Gb/s SAS, supporting direct connection of up to 4 HA-servers.

• Controllers: Dual controllers are required for MD3460 models.

• Cache: 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB per controller with permanent flash-based backup.

• Software Features: Dynamic Disk Pools, Thin Provisioning, and VMware virtualization support.

• Power: 1755W AC power supply (DC not supported for high-density models).