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

Meet the Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS (Near Line SAS) internal hard drive, a purpose-built solution for high-capacity storage environments that demand speed, reliability, and scalable capacity. Designed for enterprise use, this 3.5" internal drive blends the robustness of SAS with the generous capacity of 18 terabytes, making it an ideal choice for data centers, backup libraries, virtualization hosts, and archival storage. Built to run in demanding workloads, it delivers consistent throughput while maintaining data integrity, so you can rely on it for long-term data retention and rapid access to your most important files. With a 7200rpm spindle speed, 12Gb/s SAS interface, and hot-swappable design, this Lenovo drive is engineered to minimize downtime and maximize performance in multitier storage environments.

Whether you’re expanding an existing storage array or designing a lean, scalable server backbone, this NL-SAS drive provides the balance between mass storage and responsive performance that modern infrastructures demand. It excels in applications where large volumes of data must be stored securely and retrieved quickly, such as media libraries, scientific data sets, backup and recovery systems, and large-scale backups for business continuity. The drive’s nearline SAS architecture helps bridge the gap between high-capacity SATA drives and high-performance enterprise SAS drives, offering a compelling mix of price-per-gigabyte and dependable throughput. Lenovo’s engineering ensures compatibility with drive enclosures and enterprise storage arrays, enabling flexible deployment across a wide range of server and storage platforms.

• High-capacity storage for scalable data growth: with 18 TB of usable space, this NL-SAS drive is designed to store massive data sets, backups, archives, and media libraries without frequent expansion or additional drives. It helps you consolidate storage while keeping costs under control, making it a smart choice for storage growth without compromising performance.
• 12Gb/s SAS interface for fast data transfer: the drive utilizes the Serial Attached SCSI interface at 12 gigabits per second, delivering strong sustained transfer rates and reliable data access for enterprise workloads that require steady I/O. This interface ensures compatibility with modern SAS backplanes and storage controllers, enabling smooth integration into existing infrastructures.
• 3.5-inch form factor with 7200 RPM for throughput: the standard 3.5-inch internal drive body combined with a 7200 RPM spindle speed provides solid sequential read/write performance and responsive random I/O for large-block data transfers, making it suitable for streaming video, large backups, and data-intensive workloads.
• Near Line SAS design for efficient archival and backup use: NL-SAS is optimized for high-capacity, cost-effective storage with reliable access times, making it ideal for bulk storage, backups, and archive tiers where capacity takes precedence but performance remains important.
• Hot-swappable capability and enclosure compatibility: the drive is designed for hot-swappable operation, reducing downtime during maintenance or drive replacement. It is compatible with drive enclosures and storage arrays, allowing seamless insertion into existing hot-swap bays and RAID configurations without system downtime.

Technical Details of Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS HDD

• Capacity: 18 TB
• Interface: 12 Gb/s SAS
• Form Factor: 3.5" Internal
• Type: Near Line SAS (NL-SAS)
• Spindle Speed: 7200 RPM
• Hot Swappable: Yes
• Drive Enclosure Device Supported: Yes

How to Install Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS HDD

• Power down your server or storage chassis and follow your organization's electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures before handling hardware.
• Open the drive bay or remove the existing drive if you are upgrading. Ensure the backplane and enclosure are compatible with NL-SAS drives and 12Gb/s SAS interfaces.
• Insert the Lenovo 18 TB NL-SAS drive into the hot-swap bay or drive tray, aligning it with the connector backplane. Secure the drive with the appropriate screws or tool-less latch as required by your chassis.
• Connect the SAS data and power cables or insert the drive into a hot-swap backplane path. Ensure a snug, secure connection to the backplane to guarantee proper data transfer and power delivery.
• Power on the system and enter your storage management or RAID controller interface. Initialize and format the new drive as part of an array or as a standalone drive, following your preferred storage configuration, RAID level, and data protection policies.
• Verify successful recognition of the 18 TB drive in the operating system or RAID utility, confirm health indicators, and run any necessary integrity checks. Monitor for optimal performance during initial data writes and workload testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is NL-SAS? NL-SAS stands for Near Line SAS, a storage interface designed for high-capacity, cost-effective drives that still offer reliable SAS performance. It is well-suited for archival storage, backups, and bulk data repositories where capacity is a priority and continuous high-speed I/O is less critical than large-scale throughput over time.
• What workloads is this drive best for? This 18 TB NL-SAS drive is ideal for archival storage, backup libraries, media libraries, virtualization data stores, and bulk data repositories. It provides ample capacity for long-term retention and tiered storage strategies, while still delivering dependable transfer rates suitable for streaming, backups, and large data transfers.
• Is the drive hot-swappable? Yes. The drive is designed for hot-swappable operation, enabling maintenance and replacements with minimal downtime in enterprise environments when used in compatible enclosures or backplanes.
• What interface and form factor does it use? The drive uses a 12 Gb/s SAS interface and comes in a standard 3.5-inch internal form factor, making it compatible with a wide range of server backplanes, storage arrays, and enterprise enclosures that support NL-SAS drives.
• How should I deploy this drive in a storage environment? Use it for capacity-focused tiers, such as secondary storage for backups, archives, media libraries, and large data repositories. Pair it with a suitable SAS controller or RAID array to optimize reliability and data protection, and ensure appropriate cooling and power provisioning for sustained workloads.