012W3T Dell PERC H840 SAS-12GBPS PCI Express 3.1 8-Lane RAID Controller

Dell 012W3T PERC H840 SAS-12GBPS PCI-E RAID Controller

The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 SAS-12GBPS PCI Express 3.1 8-Lane RAID Controller with 4GB NV Cache is a powerful and reliable storage solution designed to enhance the performance of enterprise-level server environments. This RAID controller card is specifically engineered for businesses and data centers that require high throughput, reliability, and seamless management of data storage systems. Offering advanced RAID functionality, it supports various RAID levels to ensure data redundancy, improve performance, and minimize downtime for mission-critical applications.

Key Features

The Dell PERC H840 SAS-12GBPS PCI Express 3.1 8-Lane RAID Controller is packed with features that ensure high reliability, enhanced performance, and improved data management. Below are the key features that make this RAID controller a standout choice for server administrators:

1. SAS-12GBPS Support

This RAID controller is equipped with SAS-12GBPS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface technology, providing high-speed data transfer rates of up to 12Gbps. This speed ensures efficient data throughput, particularly in environments that demand rapid access to storage resources. The SAS-12GBPS technology allows users to manage multiple drives in a scalable and performance-oriented environment.

2. PCI Express 3.1 8-Lane Interface

The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 features a PCI Express 3.1 x8 interface, delivering increased bandwidth and lower latency. This results in faster data access, especially for storage-intensive applications such as virtualization, databases, and high-performance computing. The x8 lane ensures that the controller is not a bottleneck in your system's overall performance, making it an excellent option for modern servers.

3. 4GB Non-Volatile Cache

One of the standout features of this RAID controller is its 4GB NV (Non-Volatile) cache. The 4GB NV cache helps improve read and write operations, reducing latency and speeding up the overall performance of your RAID array. The non-volatile aspect means that the data stored in the cache is preserved even during power loss, ensuring that no critical data is lost in the event of an unexpected power failure. This makes the 012W3T Dell PERC H840 an excellent choice for data protection and system reliability.

4. Flexible RAID Configuration

This RAID controller supports multiple RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60. The flexibility of choosing different RAID configurations allows you to tailor the storage setup to your specific needs. Whether you require redundancy for data protection or maximum performance for demanding applications, the PERC H840 can be configured to suit your use case.

5. Enhanced Data Protection

Data protection is a top priority for any organization, and the 012W3T Dell PERC H840 does not disappoint in this regard. It comes with several built-in features to prevent data loss and ensure high availability. The controller's support for RAID levels 1, 5, 6, 10, and 60 ensures redundancy, while the 4GB NV cache provides fast write-back caching. Additionally, the controller features advanced error detection and correction mechanisms to further enhance data integrity.

Applications and Use Cases

The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 RAID controller is suitable for a wide range of applications and use cases, particularly in enterprise environments where performance, scalability, and reliability are critical. Some of the most common applications of this RAID controller include:

1. Virtualization Environments

In virtualization environments, where multiple virtual machines (VMs) are running on a single physical server, storage performance is key to maintaining smooth operations. The high-speed SAS-12GBPS interface and PCIe 3.1 x8 lanes ensure that storage access for VMs is fast and responsive. Additionally, the ability to configure different RAID levels allows administrators to choose the appropriate level of redundancy and performance for their virtualized infrastructure.

2. Database Servers

For database servers, where data access speeds are critical for performance, the 012W3T Dell PERC H840 RAID controller offers excellent throughput and low latency. The controller supports large storage arrays and ensures that data is accessed quickly, even under heavy load. The ability to configure multiple RAID arrays also allows database administrators to balance performance and data protection effectively.

3. High-Performance Computing (HPC)

High-performance computing environments, such as scientific research, simulation, and big data analytics, often require fast data access and high storage throughput. The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 is an ideal choice for these demanding workloads, thanks to its high-speed interface, large cache, and robust data protection capabilities.

4. Enterprise Data Centers

In large-scale data center environments, managing storage efficiently is crucial. The flexibility of the PERC H840, combined with its scalability, makes it perfect for data centers that need to manage vast amounts of data. With support for multiple drives and advanced RAID configurations, this controller ensures that data is protected and available even in the event of hardware failures.

Choose the 012W3T Dell PERC H840

When considering a RAID controller for your server or storage solution, the Dell PERC H840 offers several advantages over other options. Here are some reasons why you should consider the 012W3T Dell PERC H840 RAID controller for your enterprise storage needs:

1. Enhanced Performance

The PERC H840 RAID controller is designed for high-performance environments. Its PCIe 3.1 x8 interface and 12Gbps SAS speeds provide optimal throughput for both read and write operations. This makes it an ideal choice for environments where performance is critical, such as databases, virtualized workloads, and high-performance computing applications.

2. Scalability

As businesses grow, their storage needs tend to increase. The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 is highly scalable, supporting large storage arrays that can be expanded as needed. Whether you're adding more drives to an existing array or upgrading your system, this RAID controller offers the scalability to meet your growing storage requirements.

3. Reliability

Reliability is essential when it comes to managing mission-critical data. With built-in data protection features such as RAID support, NV cache, and error detection/correction mechanisms, the PERC H840 ensures that your data is protected at all times. The non-volatile cache also offers an added layer of security, as it retains data in the event of power loss.

4. Easy Management

The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 RAID controller comes with comprehensive management tools that allow administrators to configure, monitor, and manage storage arrays with ease. The intuitive interface and management software streamline the process of creating and maintaining RAID arrays, making it easier to monitor the health of your storage system and take proactive measures if issues arise.

Supported RAID Levels

The 012W3T Dell PERC H840 supports a wide range of RAID levels, which provides flexibility to balance performance, redundancy, and capacity based on specific needs. Below are the supported RAID levels:

RAID 0

RAID 0 offers striping across multiple drives for improved performance but provides no redundancy. This RAID level is best suited for applications that require maximum speed but can tolerate data loss in the event of a drive failure.

RAID 1

RAID 1 mirrors data across two drives, providing redundancy. This is an ideal choice for applications where data redundancy and fault tolerance are more important than performance.

RAID 5

RAID 5 uses block-level striping with parity data distributed across multiple drives. This configuration provides both data redundancy and improved performance, making it suitable for environments that need a balance between capacity, performance, and fault tolerance.

RAID 6

RAID 6 is similar to RAID 5 but with two parity blocks, providing extra redundancy. This level offers a higher level of fault tolerance, which is crucial in large storage arrays where multiple drive failures can occur.

RAID 10

RAID 10 combines the benefits of RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping) to provide both high performance and redundancy.