Promise Drive Enclosure - 12Gb/s SAS Host Interface - 4U Rack-mountable

Meet a powerhouse of external storage designed for enterprise workloads and demanding data-center environments. The Promise Drive Enclosure combines a dense 24-bay design with a 12Gb/s SAS host interface, delivering scalable, high-throughput storage in a compact 4U footprint. This enclosure is engineered to support mission-critical applications—from video editing and media workflows to backups, archiving, virtualization, and large-scale data consolidation—while maintaining straightforward management and reliable operation. Its architecture centers on flexibility: a Non-RAID mode (commonly referred to as JBOD) provides direct access to individual drives, enabling you to architect storage exactly the way you want, whether you’re building standalone storage pools, integrating with external RAID controllers, or extending an existing storage environment. If you’re seeking a dependable, expandable solution that can scale with growing data needs without sacrificing performance, this Promise enclosure is designed to fit right into your infrastructure.

• 24 x HDD bays in a compact 4U chassis for expansive external storage without sacrificing valuable data-center real estate.
• 12Gb/s SAS host interface delivering ultra-fast data transfer between the enclosure and your server, SAN, or workstation.
• Non-RAID mode for data reliability (JBOD) that provides direct drive access and flexible data organization across all disks.
• Configurable storage modes to adapt to diverse workflows, whether you’re building standalone JBOD, expanding an existing array, or integrating with external controllers.
• 4U rack-mountable design engineered for enterprise deployments, offering durable construction and straightforward rack integration for data centers and professional labs.

Technical Details of Promise Drive Enclosure

• Drive bays: 24 x HDD supported, enabling substantial external storage capacity within a 4U footprint.
• Host interface: 12Gb/s SAS, providing high-throughput connections to servers, storage controllers, and SAN/NAS gateways.
• Chassis form factor: 4U rack-mountable enclosure designed for data-center environments and enterprise workflows.
• Storage configuration: Non-RAID mode supported, offering direct-access, independent drive operation for flexible storage management.
• Expansion and integration: Configurable modes allow seamless integration with existing infrastructure and scalable storage expansion over time.

How to install Promise Drive Enclosure

• Prepare a standard 19-inch rack space and mount the 4U enclosure using the included rails and hardware for secure installation.
• Install up to 24 HDDs into the drive bays, ensuring proper seating and power connections according to your drive model and enclosure guidelines.
• Connect the 12Gb/s SAS host cables from your server, storage controller, or SAN to the corresponding ports on the rear of the enclosure.
• Power on the enclosure and configure the desired storage mode in your server OS or management interface, selecting Non-RAID/JBOD if required.
• In the operating system, initialize volumes as needed, assign drive letters or mounts, and begin data transfer or backup testing to validate performance.

Frequently asked questions

• What is Non-RAID mode?

  Non-RAID mode, commonly referred to as JBOD, presents each hard drive as an independent volume. This mode provides direct access to individual disks and is ideal when you want to manage drives with a separate RAID controller or build custom storage pools across multiple disks without a single large RAID array.

• How many drives can I install?

  The enclosure supports up to 24 hard disk drives, offering ample room for large-scale storage, backups, and archival purposes within a single 4U enclosure.

• What interfaces does it support?

  The system uses a 12Gb/s SAS host interface, enabling high-throughput data transfer to servers, storage controllers, or SAN gateways. This makes it suitable for bandwidth-intensive workloads such as video editing and data-intensive backups.

• Is this suitable for data-center deployments?

  Yes. The 4U rack-mountable form factor, 24-bay capacity, and SAS connectivity are designed for enterprise-scale storage needs in data centers, labs, and professional environments where reliability and scalable expansion are essential.

• Can I mix drive types or use a RAID controller?

  The enclosure is designed for 24 HDDs in a non-RAID configuration. For specific drive type compatibility and RAID functionality, consult your storage controller documentation or the product compatibility list provided by Promise for your exact model and firmware version.