iStarUSA 2U 8-Bay Trayless Storage Server Rackmount Chassis 12Gb/s HDD SFF-8643 Backplane

Discover a compact, powerhouse solution for dense storage deployments with the iStarUSA M-280HD-MATX. This 2U rackmount chassis is engineered to maximize capacity and reliability in data centers, office labs, surveillance systems, and enterprise storage environments. Its trayless design and hot-swappable 3.5" bays let you scale storage rapidly while minimizing downtime. Built around dual HD miniSAS (SFF-8643) backplanes, the M-280HD-MATX is ready to support the latest SAS and SATA drives at 12Gb/s, delivering high-throughput performance for demanding workloads such as backups, media libraries, virtualization, and large-scale archival storage.

• Trayless 8-bay design: Upgrade, replace, or expand capacity quickly with eight hot-swappable 3.5" drive bays in a compact 2U chassis, ideal for dense storage arrays and flexible data growth.
• Dual HD miniSAS backplanes (SFF-8643): Two high-density backplanes provide 12Gb/s SAS/SATA support, enabling fast, scalable connections to the latest HDDs and SAS SSDs while maintaining robust signal integrity and parallel data paths.
• 2U rackmount form factor: A space-efficient footprint designed for standard 19" racks, delivering enterprise-grade resilience and straightforward integration into existing infrastructure with solid chassis construction.
• Trayless, hot-swappable drive support: Replace or expand drives without power-downs, reducing maintenance windows and ensuring high availability for critical applications.
• Enterprise-ready compatibility and performance: Engineered to handle demanding workloads—from large backups to virtualization and media storage—by leveraging 12Gb/s backplanes and broad SAS/SATA drive support for flexible, cost-efficient storage growth.

Technical Details of iStarUSA M-280HD-MATX

• Product type: 2U rackmount storage server chassis
• Bays: 8 x 3.5" drive bays (trayless)
• Backplanes: Two HD miniSAS (SFF-8643) backplanes
• Interface: Supports 12Gb/s SAS/SATA drives
• Drive compatibility: SAS and SATA 3.5" HDDs and compatible SAS/SATA solid-state drives
• Form factor: 2U rackmount
• Build: Sturdy chassis designed for continuous operation in data centers and enterprise environments
• Target use: High-density storage, backups, archiving, and data-intensive applications requiring reliable drive hot-swap and scalable backplane connectivity

How to install iStarUSA M-280HD-MATX

• Prepare your rack space: Ensure a properly grounded, vibration-free 19" rack with adequate cooling and cable management. Confirm there is sufficient clearance for the 2U height and drive bay accessibility.
• Mount the chassis: Secure the M-280HD-MATX into the rack rails using the included mounting hardware, aligning with standard 19" rack dimensions and ensuring a stable, vibration-free installation.
• Connect backplanes and cables: Route and connect SAS/SATA cables from your host controller or RAID controller to the SFF-8643 backplanes. Maintain clean cable runs to maximize airflow and minimize interference.
• Install drives: Insert your 3.5" HDDs into the trayless bays. The trayless design enables quick drive replacement without removable trays—ensure each drive is properly seated and connected to the backplane backplane connectors.
• Configure storage: Power up the system and verify drive detection in your operating system or RAID controller. Create or expand RAID arrays as needed, format volumes, and integrate with your storage management policies for backups, virtualization, or data-tiering applications.

Frequently asked questions

• What drives are compatible with the iStarUSA M-280HD-MATX? It supports SAS and SATA 3.5" drives through the dual SFF-8643 backplanes, allowing a wide range of enterprise and consumer-grade HDDs and SAS/SATA SSDs that meet their respective interface and power requirements.
• What does trayless mean in this chassis? Trayless refers to the drive bays that accept drives without removable caddies or trays. Drives can be slid directly into the backplane, enabling faster drive replacement and simplified maintenance while maintaining hot-swappability.
• Can I use this chassis in a standard data center rack? Yes. The M-280HD-MATX is designed for a standard 19" rack and 2U height, making it suitable for data centers, server rooms, and scalable storage closets.
• Does it include power supplies? The chassis description focuses on the drive backplanes and chassis design. Power supplies and related components are typically provided by your broader system configuration or external enclosures; verify with your supplier or integrator for power options compatible with this chassis.
• What workloads is this chassis ideal for? Its dense 8-bay, trayless design with 12Gb/s SAS/SATA backplanes makes it well-suited for backups, archival storage, media libraries, virtualization storage, surveillance data retention, and other data-intensive workloads that benefit from high drive density and rapid person-to-drive maintenance.