DELL 345-BKJK 960GB SAS 12GBPS RI TLC 2.5 Inch SSD.

Product Overview Of DELL 345-BKJK 960GB SAS 12GBPS SSD

Key Attributes of the 2.5" SAS Solid-State Drive

• Massive 960GB storage designed for data-heavy enterprise applications
• Supports SAS 12Gb/s interface for ultra-fast data throughput
• Tailored for read-centric workloads with a 1 DWPD endurance rating
• Employs advanced TLC V-NAND flash memory for reliability and efficiency
• Integrated SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) technology ensures data protection

 Manufacturer Details

• Brand: DELL
• Model Part Number: 345-BKJK
• DELL-Certified for use in 14G, 15G, and 16G PowerEdge Servers

 Essential Specifications

• Model: 345‑BKJK
• Type: Internal Solid-State Drive (SAS SSD)
• Capacity: 960 GB
• Memory: TLC V‑NAND
• Interface: SAS 12 Gb/s
• Endurance: 1 DWPD (Read‑Intensive)
• Security: Hardware-based Self‑Encrypting Drive (SED)
• Sequential Read / Write: up to 4150 MB/s / 1450 MB/s
• Random Read / Write IOPS: up to 595,000 / 75,000
• Form Factor and Dimensions: 2.5‑inch; 15 mm x 69.85 mm x 100.45 mm
• Hot‑Plug Tray: Included
• Compatibility: Broad suite of Dell PowerEdge servers
• Management Tools: SMART, iDRAC, OpenManage compatibilities
• Warranty: Dell-certified product support

Form Factor & Interface Advantages

• Compact 2.5-inch form allows easy integration into compatible Dell servers
• Hot-pluggable tray enhances serviceability and uptime
• SAS-3 (12Gb/s) interface delivers higher bandwidth and better scalability than SATA

Sequential & Random I/O Performance Metrics

• Up to 4150MB/s sequential read speeds for rapid data access
• Sequential write capabilities reach up to 1450MB/s
• Handles intense workloads with 595,000 IOPS for random reads
• Achieves 75,000 IOPS during random write operations

Engineered for Enterprise Environments

• Specifically certified and validated by Dell for PowerEdge systems
• Self-encrypting technology enhances security compliance and data integrity
• Ideal for environments requiring consistent read-intensive performance

Drive Specifications and Physical Dimensions

• Drive Height: 15mm ±0.5mm
• Width: 69.85mm ±0.25mm
• Length: Up to 100.45mm
• Single SAS port with 12Gbps throughput

Extensive Compatibility Across Dell PowerEdge Platforms

Compatible Server Models

• R-Series: R340, R440, R450, R550, R640, R650xs, R6515, R6525, R660, R6615, R6625, R740, R740xd, R7425, R750xs, R7515, R7525, R760, R760xs, R7615, R7625, R840, R940, R940xa
• C-Series: C6420, C6525, C6620
• HS-Series: HS5610
• T-Series: T550

Optimal Bay Fit

• Designed for 2.5-inch hot-swappable bays
• Ensures tool-free, efficient upgrades in supported enclosures

 Built for Read-Intensive Environments

• 1 Drive Write Per Day (DWPD) rating optimized for applications with high read/write ratios
• Perfect fit for data warehousing, web servers, content delivery, and virtual machines

Impressive Storage Solution: 960 GB SAS SSD for Enterprise-Grade Deployment

Overview of the 345-BKJK Dell Certified Solid-State Drive

The 345‑BKJK Dell 960 GB SAS SSD is a robust, enterprise-level storage device engineered for high-performance environments. Designed with an emphasis on read-intensive workloads, this self‑encrypting drive blends reliability, speed, and security in a compact 2.5‑inch hot‑plug form factor.

Featuring a durable TLC V‑NAND architecture and read-intensive endurance rating, this SSD ensures long-lasting operation in demanding data-centric applications. Certified for seamless compatibility with Dell PowerEdge servers, it simplifies integration while maximizing throughput, data integrity, and compliance.

Security-Centric Design: Self‑Encrypting Drive (SED) with Hardware-Based Protection

Prioritizing data security, the 345‑BKJK incorporates robust hardware-level encryption, transforming stored information into unreadable ciphertext unless properly authenticated. This SED functionality not only safeguards sensitive data but also supports compliance mandates in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government.

With onboard encryption management, administrators can utilize drive-level key configuration, leveraging subordinate security protocols and policies to automate data protection without introducing performance bottlenecks.

Endurance and Reliability: Tailored for Read-Intensive Environments

Engineered to address usage patterns characterized by heavy read operations, this SSD offers a 1 DWPD (Drive Write Per Day) endurance rate—sufficient for workloads where reads significantly outnumber writes. Typical scenarios include content delivery networks, large-scale file staging, analytics platforms, and web hosting servers.

By optimizing NAND wear patterns and leveraging error-correction algorithms, the 345‑BKJK sustains stability and consistent performance through its expected service life, even when handling thousands of I/Os.

Compact Form and Hotswap Capabilities

Measuring a slim 2.5‑inch form factor with precise dimensions (15 mm height, 69.85 mm width, 100.45 mm length), this SSD is engineered for flawless alignment in modern server architectures. The streamlined design ensures efficient air flow and rack density in data center layouts.

The hot‑plug tray supports tool‑less insertion and removal, enabling maintenance or upgrades while the server remains powered—minimizing downtime and simplifying drive replacement in rack-mounted systems.

Performance Highlights: Speed, IOPS, Throughput

Blistering Sequential Throughput Rates

• Sequential Read: Reaches up to 4150 MB/s, enabling rapid streaming reads and efficient bulk data transfers.
• Sequential Write: Delivers up to 1450 MB/s, supporting quick build‑out of large files, log dumps, or backup snapshots.

These peak transfer rates are vital for environments that rely on extensive I/O operations, such as virtualization hosts, backup systems, and big data ingestion pipelines.

Exceptional Random I/O Performance

• Random Read IOPS: Up to 595,000 operations per second—ideal for multi-threaded access and database workloads.
• Random Write IOPS: Achieves up to 75,000 operations per second—effective for tasks involving frequent metadata updates or transaction logging.

High IOPS capability ensures responsive performance across diverse applications—accelerating database queries, virtual machine provisioning, boot storms, and file system operations.

Interface and Connectivity: SAS 12 Gb/s

Equipped with a single SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) interface supporting 12 Gb/s signaling, the 345‑BKJK SSD ensures scalable bandwidth and low-latency access. SAS architecture delivers enterprise-level reliability and dual-port resiliency (in supported configurations), enhancing both throughput and redundancy.

Compared to legacy SATA drives, this SAS interface enables superior command queuing, multipath I/O capabilities, and error resilience—boosting overall system robustness in mission-critical deployments.

Compatibility Across Dell PowerEdge Platforms

Certified Support for a Broad Range of Server Models

This SSD bears Dell certification, confirming interoperability with a wide array of PowerEdge servers, including but not limited to:

• 14G/15G/16G PowerEdge platforms
• R‑Series rack servers: R340, R440, R450, R550, R640, R650xs, R6515, R6525, R660, R6615, R6625, R740, R740xd, R7425, R750xs, R7515, R7525, R760, R760xs, R7615, R7625, R840, R940, R940xa
• C‑Series compute sleds: C6420, C6525, C6620
• HS‑Series dense servers: HS5610
• T‑Series tower systems: T550

Whether deployed in colocation racks, on-premises hardware clusters, or cloud-proximate data centers, this SSD is tailored to integrate seamlessly with PowerEdge ecosystems.

Optimized Bay Alignment and System Integration

Dimensioned for 2.5‑inch hot‑swappable bays, the 345‑BKJK slides into existing trays without the need for tool-based extraction or insertion. Internal indicators (LEDs) or status monitoring ensure prompt visibility into drive operation and health.

Firmware support includes SMART telemetry and Dell system management utilities for rapid monitoring and predictive maintenance within enterprise-grade orchestration platforms.

Enhanced Business Benefits and Use Cases

Maximizing Operational Efficiency in Enterprise Environments

By combining high sequential throughput with scalable random I/O, this SSD sustains consistent and efficient performance in heavily loaded data centers. Organizations benefit from faster transaction processing, reduced latency, and cost-effective storage consolidation.

Secure Data Protection Through Hardware Encryption

The integrated SED technology reinforces the data protection stack—ideal for organizations governed by compliance frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, FISMA, and PCIe DSS. Encryption at rest is handled transparently, with minimal performance overhead.

Streamlined Infrastructure Operations

Hot‑plug capability and Dell certification diminish administrative complexity by facilitating painless maintenance, scalable upgrades, and simplified deployment. This fosters operational continuity and helps IT teams maintain system availability with fewer manual interventions.

Technical Specifications Snapshot

NAND Architecture & Flash Memory Type

Utilizes advanced TLC (Triple-Level Cell) V‑NAND flash technology that increases the number of bits per memory cell while maintaining endurance and performance. This layered cell design provides a balance of storage density, speed, and longevity.

Endurance Rating — 1 DWPD

The 1 DWPD (Drive Write Per Day) spec aligns with workloads where read operations dominate write activity, making it a budget-friendly and optimized solution for archival access, content delivery, and read-first caches.

Physical Dimensions and Mechanical Attributes

• Height: 15 mm ± 0.5 mm
• Width: 69.85 mm ± 0.25 mm
• Length: Up to 100.45 mm
• Form Factor: 2.5‑inch
• Tray Type: Hot‑plug compatible

Supported Interfaces & Connectivity

Features robust SAS 3.0 interface capabilities with 12 Gb/s signal speed, offering scalable bandwidth for multi‑drive environments and high-throughput scenarios.

Throughput & Random I/O Efficiency

• Sequential Read: up to 4150 MB/s
• Sequential Write: up to 1450 MB/s
• Random Read IOPS: up to 595,000
• Random Write IOPS: up to 75,000

Operational Context: Applications & Strategic Advantages

Ideal Workload Profiles

• Virtualization Hosts & VM Boot Storms: Accelerated response during mass provisioning or startup of virtual machines.
• Database Acceleration: Optimized for read-heavy transactional systems, analytics queries, and caching layers.
• Content Delivery & File Staging: Fast access for frequently read media assets, software distribution, and file-based architectures.
• Backup Systems & Disaster Recovery RPO: High speed and reliability support faster snapshot retrieval and reduced recovery time objectives.
• Software‑Defined Storage Layers: Effective as cache or read-tier storage in layered architectures like hyper-converged infrastructure or storage virtualization.

Cost‑Efficiency & Scalability

With its balance between performance, capacity, and endurance, the 345‑BKJK offers a cost-optimized solution compared to higher-DWPD or enterprise-class drives. Its efficient design and broad compatibility allow IT teams to scale storage infrastructure progressively and selectively.

Dell certification ensures compatibility, warranty alignment, and support—reducing risk and complexity when expanding or migrating storage systems.

Security & Compliance Integration

Enterprise compliance profiles benefit from full-disk encryption handled at the device layer. As the drive enforces encryption by default, data remains protected even if the device is physically removed or repurposed—ideal for secure decommissioning or hot-swappable environments.

Drive Monitoring & Lifecycle Handling

SMART and Telemetry Reporting

The drive supports industry-standard SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data reporting. Integrated controllers and system software can issue diagnostics, forecast wear, and alert administrators proactively for preventive maintenance.

Firmware Updates and System Integration Tools

Dell’s firmware update toolchain and management suite (like iDRAC, OpenManage) allow remote flash management and drive parameter tuning. This ensures the SSD always operates with the latest enhancements, bug fixes, and performance optimizations.

Lifecycle and Warranty Assurance

Backed by Dell’s service and support channels, the 345‑BKJK drive comes with a defined warranty and qualification for replacement. By deploying Dell-certified hardware, enterprises preserve coverage terms and reduce administrative friction during support events.

Comparative Considerations

For workloads that exhibit heavier write cycles, consider alternatives with multi-DWPD ratings or enterprise-grade endurance. If using SATA-only environments, SATA SSDs may offer backward compatibility but lack SAS-level performance benefits.

Upgrade Path and Scalability

Starting with the 960 GB read-intensive SED model allows flexibility to scale or tier storage design. Future STACK optimizations might include mixing high-capacity archival drives with low-latency caching media, with the 345‑BKJK serving as a fast-read backbone.

Application Scenarios: Practical Usage Examples

High-Volume Read Workloads in Virtualization Farms

In VDI clusters or virtual server farms, multiple VMs often contend for reads simultaneously—during boot storms or patch deployments. Deploying 345‑BKJK drives accelerates VM startup sequences, increases responsiveness, and reduces bottlenecks during provisioning.

Database Acceleration in Analytics and Reporting Environments

Businesses processing heavy analytical queries—like OLAP dashboards, data mining, and reporting engines—rely on fast read access to index columns or frequently accessed datasets. The SSD’s high random read performance dramatically enhances query times.

Secure File Distribution and Media Libraries

Media streaming platforms, SaaS distributions, or secure archival repositories benefit from encrypted and fast replicated catalogs. The hardware encryption and sequential throughput enable quick and secure dissemination of files at scale.

Backup Tier Acceleration and Rapid Recovery

During disaster recovery or frequent backups, rapid media retrieval is essential. As a high-read-tier cache or direct backup stage, these SSDs facilitate fast restore times and reduce critical recovery windows in DR scenarios.

Edge and Hybrid Data Center Deployments

Hybrid cloud and edge computing nodes that demand low-latency, secure data access gain from the 345‑BKJK’s compact, encrypted, and server-certified profile. Its integration with Dell’s remote management ecosystem simplifies edge operations spanning multiple distributed sites.

Vendor Assurance and Post-Sale Support

Dell Certification Standards

As an officially certified Dell component, the 345‑BKJK aligns with PowerEdge server requirements, firmware compatibility, and system-level diagnostics. This certification ensures hassle-free validation, driver support, and lifecycle alignment.

Firmware Lifecycle and Security Patches

Dell periodically releases firmware updates that address performance optimizations, security hardening, and compatibility enhancements. These are accessible via Dell’s support site and update frameworks, allowing smooth firmware refresh cycles.

Service-Level Support and Warranty Provisions

Deploying validated SSDs like this one safeguards warranty and support entitlements. Dell support teams can troubleshoot storage issues efficiently, reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) and optimizing maintenance workflows.

Optimizing Your Storage Strategy with the 345‑BKJK SSD

Best Fit Deployment Scenarios

• Enterprise-level read-priority services where encryption and reliability are paramount.
• Environments leveraging Dell PowerEdge infrastructure seeking seamless compatibility.
• Virtualized or containerized ecosystems needing fast volume provisioning and boot times.
• Policy-driven, encrypted, and auditable storage for regulated industries.

Hybrid Storage Landscapes

Mixed-tier storage strategies—combining this SSD with high-capacity SAS/HDD tiers—deliver economical performance: SSDs for frequently accessed data, HDDs for archival or infrequently accessed assets. The SSD’s low-latency layer optimizes throughput without inflating costs.

Future-Proofing Your Infrastructure

With evolving enterprise demands—like AI/ML read-intensive workflows, expanded VDI scales, or real-time analytics—the 345‑BKJK provides foundational speed and encryption while offering a scalable platform for growth.