HGST Ultrastar Data102 SE4U102-102 Drive Enclosure — 12Gb/s SAS, 4U Rack-Mountable High-Density Storage

The HGST Ultrastar Data102 SE4U102-102 Drive Enclosure is the pinnacle of high-density storage designed for modern data centers, cloud service providers, and enterprise IT environments. Built around a robust 4U form factor, this enclosure delivers an exceptionally dense storage solution that scales your capacity while preserving reliability, efficiency, and einfacher management. With a native 12Gb/s SAS host interface, it provides the fast, dependable throughput needed for demanding workloads such as virtualization, backups, media workflows, analytics, and big data. The Data102 SE4U102-102 is engineered to integrate seamlessly with enterprise storage architectures, offering a dependable, scalable backbone for growing data needs.

• High-density 102-bay chassis in a 4U form factor: Designed to maximize rack space, the Data102 SE4U102-102 consolidates a large number of drives into a compact 4U enclosure, enabling expansive storage pools in data centers and private clouds without sacrificing accessibility or serviceability.
• 12Gb/s SAS host interface for rapid data transfer: The enclosure features a 12Gb/s SAS interface to connect to servers and storage controllers, delivering the throughput and bandwidth necessary for sustained I/O workloads and large-scale data operations.
• Hot-swappable drive trays and front-access design: Drive bays are hot-swappable to minimize downtime during maintenance, enabling rapid drive failures or upgrades without powering down critical systems. A front-access layout simplifies service in dense rack environments.
• Enterprise reliability with scalable expansion: Built for long-term reliability in data centers, the Data102 enclosure works with Ultrastar drives and compatible storage controllers to deliver a scalable expansion path for growth, backups, and archival needs.
• Rack-ready, enterprise-grade construction: The enclosure is designed for 19-inch racks and 4U height, combining rugged chassis construction with practical serviceability and robust cooling and power delivery suitable for 24/7 operations.

Technical Details of HGST Ultrastar Data102 SE4U102-102 Drive Enclosure

• Form factor: 4U rack-mountable enclosure designed to fit standard 19-inch server racks.
• Drive bays: 102 hot-swappable drive bays (3.5-inch form factor) for dense storage expansion and flexible drive configurations.
• Host interface: 12Gb/s SAS host interface to connect to servers or storage controllers, enabling high-throughput data transfer.
• Backplane: 12Gb/s SAS backplane optimized for reliable, high-speed data paths between drives and the host.
• Power: Designed for enterprise use with dual power paths to support redundancy and uptime in data centers.
• Cooling: Redundant cooling provisions (fans) to maintain stable operating temperatures under heavy workloads.
• Management considerations: Built to integrate with existing Ultrastar ecosystems, with indicators and serviceability aligned to enterprise maintenance practices.
• Physical dimensions: 4U height in a standard 19-inch rack footprint, suitable for dense rack environments while preserving serviceability.
• Compatibility: Optimized for Ultrastar drives and enterprise-grade storage configurations, ideal as a scalable expansion node in large deployments.

How to Install HGST Ultrastar Data102 SE4U102-102 Drive Enclosure

• Plan the rack layout: Identify a suitable location in your data center rack, ensuring adequate cable access, cooling, and clearance for front-door operation and drive tray removal. Prepare rack rails compatible with your enclosure and your 4U height.
• Install in the rack: Secure the Data102 SE4U102-102 enclosure into the rack using the supplied mounting rails and hardware. Verify level alignment and tighten mounting screws to ensure stability for high-density drives and vibration control.
• Connect power and cooling: Connect the dual power supplies to a reliable power source to support redundancy. Ensure fans and cooling paths are unobstructed to maximize airflow and prevent thermal throttling during peak I/O.
• Attach the host interface: Connect the 12Gb/s SAS cables from your server or storage controller to the enclosure’s host ports. Use appropriate cable lengths that avoid excessive bend radii while maintaining signal integrity.
• Power up and verify: Power on the enclosure and verify that status LEDs indicate normal operation. Confirm that the server or storage controller recognizes the enclosure as a JBOD or as a raw expansion unit depending on your configuration.
• Configure storage in the host system: In your operating system or storage management software, configure the 102 drives as required (JBOD, pass-through, or part of a larger RAID/ storage pool). Follow your controller’s guidance for initializing and formatting the drives, creating storage pools, and applying redundancy as needed.
• Monitor and maintain: Establish monitoring for drive health, temperature, and power usage. Regularly check drive trays, hot-swap operations, and firmware updates for the enclosure and any connected controllers to ensure ongoing reliability.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the HGST Ultrastar Data102 SE4U102-102 Drive Enclosure? It is a high-density, 4U rack-mountable storage enclosure designed for enterprise environments, offering a 12Gb/s SAS host interface and a large number of hot-swappable drive bays to support expansive data storage needs.
• How many drives does it hold? The SE4U102-102 enclosure is configured to accommodate 102 drives in a 4U chassis, providing a massive storage footprint for data centers and cloud deployments.
• What kind of interface does it use? It uses a 12Gb/s SAS host interface to connect to servers and storage controllers, delivering the bandwidth required for modern workloads and large-scale data movement.
• Is this enclosure hot-swappable? Yes. The design includes hot-swappable drive bays, enabling maintenance or drive replacement without powering down the entire system and reducing downtime.
• Where is it best used? This enclosure is ideal for enterprise storage expansion, data centers, and cloud service providers seeking scalable, reliable, and dense storage expansion with enterprise-grade durability.
• What drives are recommended with the Data102? While designed to work with HGST Ultrastar drives, it is compatible with Ultrastar-class drives for optimized performance and reliability in enterprise environments.