Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS 3.5" Internal Hard Drive — 12Gb/s SAS, Hot-Swappable

Step into scalable, enterprise-grade storage with the Lenovo 18 TB Hard Drive. Built for data centers, server rooms, and high-demand storage environments, this 3.5" internal NL-SAS HDD delivers massive capacity with dependable performance. Designed for use in storage arrays, NAS systems, and Lenovo servers, it combines a high-capacity footprint with Nearline SAS efficiency to keep backups, archives, and large datasets readily accessible. Its hot-swappable capability minimizes maintenance downtime, making it an ideal choice for 24/7 operations that require quick drive replacement without interrupting critical workloads. Whether you’re expanding an existing storage array or building a new scale-out solution, this Lenovo HDD is engineered to deliver consistent throughput, reliability, and long-term value.

• Massive 18 TB capacity provides ample room for archives, backups, media libraries, scientific datasets, and other data-heavy workloads, reducing the need for frequent drive additions and simplifying capacity planning.
• Nearline SAS (NL-SAS) with 12 Gb/s SAS interface delivers steady throughput for sequential access patterns, streaming backups, and large-file transfers—well-suited for backup windows, data archiving, and media workflows in enterprise environments.
• 3.5-inch internal form factor is the standard for enterprise storage servers, backplanes, and high-capacity storage arrays, enabling efficient rack mounting, optimized airflow, and compatibility with a broad ecosystem of Lenovo hardware.
• Hot-swappable design minimizes downtime by allowing rapid drive replacement without powering down the system or disrupting ongoing operations, a must-have for high-availability storage deployments and maintenance windows.
• Enterprise-grade reliability and Lenovo compatibility engineered for Lenovo storage ecosystems, this HDD integrates seamlessly with Lenovo servers, storage enclosures, and backplanes, offering dependable performance in data-center environments and long-term durability for continuous workloads.

Technical Details of Lenovo 18 TB Hard Drive

• Capacity: 18 TB
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch internal hard drive
• Interface: 12 Gb/s SAS
• Drive Type: NL-SAS (Near Line SAS)
• Hot Swappable: Yes
• Storage System Compatibility: Optimized for Lenovo storage systems, servers, and enterprise backplanes
• Usage: Designed for archival, backup, and sequential data workloads in data centers

How to install Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS Hard Drive

• Power down or entry into hot-swap maintenance mode if your storage backplane supports hot-swapping. Confirm that you have a compatible drive bay and tray for a 3.5-inch HDD in your enclosure or server chassis.
• Identify an available drive bay in your Lenovo-compatible storage system, NAS, or server with NL-SAS compatibility. Ensure proper airflow and clearance around the drive for cooling.
• Insert the Lenovo 18 TB drive into the drive tray or backplane slot, ensuring the connector alignment is correct and the drive seats firmly in place. Secure the tray or latch as required by your enclosure.
• Connect the drive to the SAS backplane controller using the appropriate SAS cables, verifying that the backplane recognizes the new drive. If your system supports hot-swap, monitor status indicators to confirm a successful addition.
• Power on (or resume operation) and use your storage management software to initialize the drive, allocate it to the desired pool or RAID array, and verify health status. Run a basic integrity check or SMART monitoring as part of routine maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What workloads is the Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS drive best suited for?
  A: It is ideal for archival storage, backups, media libraries, and large sequential data transfers within data-center, NAS, and storage-array environments. NL-SAS combines high capacity with efficient streaming performance for long-term storage needs.
• Q: Is this drive compatible with non-Lenovo systems?
  A: While designed for Lenovo storage ecosystems, NL-SAS drives can be used in other enterprise backplanes or servers that support NL-SAS and 3.5-inch form factors, provided the backplane supports the interface and the drive’s health checks pass. Always verify compatibility with your hardware vendor before deployment.
• Q: How does hot-swapping benefit my storage environment?
  A: Hot-swapping allows you to replace a failed or degraded drive without powering down the system, reducing downtime and keeping critical services online. This is essential for high-availability configurations and continuous data access.
• Q: What maintenance or monitoring should I perform on this drive?
  A: Regularly monitor SMART attributes, drive health, and temperatures through your storage management software. Schedule periodic consistency checks if your environment supports them, and ensure firmware and drivers are up to date to maximize reliability.
• Q: How much power does the drive consume and how does it impact rack density?
  A: Power and thermal characteristics vary by model and enclosure. In typical enterprise deployments, the 18 TB NL-SAS drive is designed with power efficiency considerations to balance density and cooling in modern data centers. Refer to Lenovo specs for exact figures in your environment.
• Q: What installation considerations should I keep in mind for data integrity?
  A: Always back up critical data before performing drive replacements or expansions, verify that the drive has completed initialization and health checks, and maintain a recommended RAID or storage pool configuration that aligns with your performance and redundancy requirements.