StarTech.com 2 Drive 2.5in Trayless Hot Swap SATA Mobile Rack Backplane

Elevate your storage capacity with the StarTech.com 2 Drive 2.5in Trayless Hot Swap SATA Mobile Rack Backplane. This compact, rugged backplane is purpose-built for professionals who demand rapid drive access, minimal downtime, and reliable performance in demanding environments. Designed to fit into a variety of chassis, enclosures, and backplane configurations, it enables you to deploy two 2.5-inch SATA drives in a trayless, hot-swappable format. This means you can add, replace, or expand your storage without powering down your system—perfect for data centers, media editing suites, backups, or home labs where uptime and efficiency matter. The black, durable enclosure is engineered for steady operation, efficient heat dissipation, and consistent connectivity, providing a stable foundation for RAID arrays, drive pools, and performance-tuned storage solutions. Whether you’re building a compact workstation, expanding a server rack, or upgrading an external enclosure, this backplane helps you maximize drive density and streamline maintenance while preserving a clean, professional look.

• Trayless, tool-free design: This backplane eliminates the need for drive trays, allowing you to insert and swap two 2.5-inch SATA drives quickly and without dealing with the bulk of traditional trays. The streamlined, trayless approach reduces installation time, simplifies maintenance tasks, and minimizes clutter inside your enclosure. It also helps prevent misalignment issues that can occur with tray-based systems, ensuring reliable seating and consistent contact with the backplane connectors every time.
• Hot-swappable SATA backplane: Engineered for uptime, the backplane supports hot swapping so you can replace or upgrade drives without powering down the host system, when supported by your infrastructure. This capability is especially valuable for RAID rebuilds, phased migrations, and flexible storage pools where downtime translates into lost productivity. The design integrates seamlessly with SATA controllers and enables smooth drive recognition during operations, contributing to steady performance and streamlined maintenance workflows.
• Dual 2.5-inch drive support: Accommodates two 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or solid-state drives in a compact footprint. This dual-drive arrangement is ideal for RAID 0/1 configurations, mirrored storage for redundancy, or creating hot spare arrays within an enclosure. The trayless interface keeps the form factor tight while delivering the capacity and performance benefits of modern 2.5" drives in a space-saving solution.
• Robust construction and compatibility: Built with a durable black metal enclosure designed to withstand everyday use in demanding environments. The backplane is designed to integrate with a range of chassis and mobile rack adapters, offering dependable mechanical stability and effective heat dissipation to protect drives during prolonged operation. Its compatibility with standard SATA connections ensures straightforward integration into most SATA-based storage ecosystems.
• Simple integration and cable management: The backplane is designed for straightforward installation with clean cable routing. It supports standard SATA data and power interfaces, enabling tidy, organized setups that promote airflow and ease of service. With minimal cabling complexity, you can achieve a professional, efficient build that’s easy to maintain and upgrade over time.

Technical Details of StarTech.com 2 Drive 2.5in Trayless Hot Swap SATA Mobile Rack Backplane

• Drive compatibility: Supports up to two 2.5-inch SATA drives (HDD or SSD).
• Interface and backplane: SATA backplane with hot-swap capability; designed for standard SATA drives and controllers compatible with SATA I/II/III speeds.
• Trayless design: Trayless mounting eliminates drive caddies, enabling faster installation and easier drive replacement.
• Material and finish: Durable black metal enclosure built for reliability, with attention to heat dissipation and mechanical stability.
• Form factor and compatibility: Designed to fit into compatible storage chassis, enclosures, or backplanes that accommodate mobile rack-style installations with standard mounting patterns.
• Power and data connections: Utilizes standard SATA data and power interfaces via the backplane assembly, aligning with typical SATA drive setups.
• Color: Black.
• Notes: Specifications sourced from the vendor catalog and listed against SKU/UPC references for accuracy in procurement and deployment.

- Specifications sourced from vendor catalog (Synnex) using SKU/UPC as reference to ensure accuracy for procurement and compatibility checks.

how to install StarTech.com 2 Drive 2.5in Trayless Hot Swap SATA Mobile Rack Backplane

• Prepare your system: Power down the host or confirm hot-swap readiness for your chassis and RAID/controller setup. Identify an available drive bay or slot that matches the backplane’s mounting footprint and ensure you have the necessary mounting hardware on hand.
• Mount the backplane: Secure the backplane into the chassis or enclosure using the appropriate screws or mounting brackets. Ensure the unit sits squarely in the bay and that all mounting points are firmly tightened to prevent vibration or misalignment during operation.
• Install drives into the trayless bay: Insert up to two 2.5-inch SATA drives into the backplane’s trayless slots. Make sure the drive connectors align with the backplane’s connectors. Push the drives gently until they are fully seated and stable. Avoid forcing drives into place to prevent connector damage.
• Connect power and data: Attach the SATA data cables and power connections from the chassis or backplane to the drives as dictated by your system design. Route cables to minimize obstruction to airflow and maintain an orderly, serviceable interior.
• Secure and verify: Recheck that cables are properly seated, reseat any loose connections, and power on the system. Enter BIOS/UEFI or your operating system to verify that both drives are recognized and that the storage controller is configured as intended (RAID, JBOD, or standalone). If you are implementing a RAID array, configure the array according to your redundancy and performance goals.
• Test hot-swap capabilities: With the system running, perform a controlled drive swap (as permitted by your hardware). Confirm that the new drive is detected without requiring a system reboot and that the RAID/controller rebuilds proceed as expected.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What drives does this backplane support? A: It supports two 2.5-inch SATA drives (HDD or SSD). It is designed for SATA drives and may not support SAS, NVMe, or other interface types unless explicitly stated by StarTech.
• Q: Is it truly trayless? A: Yes. The design eliminates a separate drive tray, enabling direct drive insertion into the backplane slots for a streamlined, compact installation.
• Q: Can I hot-swap drives while the system is running? A: The backplane supports hot-swapping, provided your host controller and chassis support hot-plug for SATA devices. Always follow proper ESD precautions and refer to your hardware’s documentation when performing hot swaps.
• Q: What enclosure or chassis does it fit? A: It is intended to work with chassis and backplanes that support trayless 2.5-inch drive installations and standard mounting patterns. Check your enclosure’s specifications to confirm compatibility with this backplane’s footprint.
• Q: Do I need special drivers? A: Generally not. The backplane presents the drives to the operating system as standard SATA devices, assuming the motherboard or RAID controller supports SATA storage. No separate drivers are typically required for basic operation.