HPE Drive Enclosure 12Gb/s SAS – 2U Rack-Mountable, 24-Bay 2.5" Enclosure

The HPE Drive Enclosure 12Gb/s SAS is a high-density storage chassis engineered for data-intensive environments. Designed to pair with HPE servers and storage controllers, this 2U rack-mountable enclosure delivers a scalable foundation for enterprise workloads, virtualization, database activity, backups, and large-scale media libraries. With 24 x 2.5" bays and a robust 12Gb/s SAS backplane, it provides the agility and reliability needed to expand storage capacity while maintaining strong performance, compact footprint, and simplified management for data center operators.

• Massive 24-bay capacity in a 2U form factor: A dense chassis that fits neatly into standard 19-inch racks, enabling high-density storage expansion without sacrificing valuable data center space. Ideal for consolidation, data archiving, and rapid deployment of large drive pools.
• 12Gb/s SAS host interface and backplane: Delivers high-speed data transfer with low latency to meet the demands of demanding applications, virtualization hosts, and sequential workloads while maintaining steady performance across all bays.
• Front-access, hot-swappable 2.5" drive bays: Facilitates drive replacement and maintenance without powering down the system, reducing downtime and keeping critical workloads online during drives upgrades or replacements.
• 2U rack-mountable chassis for scalable data center growth: Standard 19-inch rack compatibility ensures easy integration into existing rack infrastructure, with reliable cooling and power distribution designed for sustained operation.
• Enterprise-grade reliability and compatibility: Built to integrate with HPE storage controllers and servers, offering consistent performance, robust backplane architecture, and predictable compatibility across enterprise environments.

Technical Details of HPE Drive Enclosure

• Drive bays: 24 x 2.5-inch drive bays, front-loading for easy access and replacement.
• Drive interface: 12Gb/s SAS backplane providing high-bandwidth, low-latency connections from the host interface to each drive bay.
• Host interface: 12Gb/s SAS host interface designed to work with compatible SAS controllers and HBAs in enterprise servers.
• Chassis height: 2U rack-mountable enclosure, optimized for dense data center deployments and efficient cooling.
• Front panel design: Accessible drive bays with clear indication and straightforward drive installation to streamline maintenance.
• General compatibility: Engineered for seamless integration with HPE storage controllers and servers for reliable performance in enterprise workloads.

How to install HPE Drive Enclosure

• Prepare the rack: Ensure proper clearance, attach mounting rails, and align the enclosure with existing equipment in the rack. Use appropriate cage nuts and rack screws to secure the chassis.
• Position the enclosure: Slide the drive enclosure into the rack, align mounting points, and firmly fasten it to prevent movement during operation.
• Connect host interfaces: Attach 12Gb/s SAS cables from the HPE storage controller or SAS HBAs to the enclosure’s backplane ports. Route cables neatly to maintain airflow and reduce cable strain.
• Power and cooling: Connect the enclosure to the data center power distribution and ensure adequate cooling within the rack. Verify cooling airflow paths are unobstructed.
• Install drives and configure: If drives are prepopulated, confirm each drive is seated correctly. After powering on, use your storage controller’s management interface to recognize the enclosure and initialize the drive pool as needed.

Frequently asked questions

• What does this enclosure support? It supports up to 24 x 2.5-inch drives, enabling dense storage expansion for enterprise workloads and scalable data management.
• Is the enclosure hot-swappable? Yes. The drive bays are front-access and hot-swappable, allowing drive replacement without powering down the system.
• What interfaces are involved? The enclosure uses a 12Gb/s SAS host interface and backplane to connect to compatible HPE controllers and servers for high-speed data transfer.
• Is it compatible with non-HPE hardware? The enclosure is designed to integrate with HPE storage controllers and servers; compatibility with non-HPE equipment depends on driver and controller support and should be verified with your hardware vendor.
• What workloads is it best suited for? Ideal for virtualization, large-scale databases, backup and recovery, media libraries, and other data-intensive applications requiring dense, reliable storage in a 2U footprint.