342-5521 Dell 1.2TB 10K RPM SAS-6GBPS Hard Drive with Tray

Dell 342-5521 1.2TB 10K RPM SAS 6Gb/s Hard Disk Drive

The Dell 342-5521 1.2TB Hard Drive is a high-performance enterprise storage solution engineered for Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell Power Vault storage systems. Featuring a 10,000 RPM spindle speed, SAS 6Gb/s interface, and 64MB cache buffer, this hard disk drive delivers exceptional reliability, fast data access, and dependable performance for business-critical applications, virtualization environments, database servers, and data center workloads. Designed with a Small Form Factor (SFF) 2.5-inch configuration and supplied with a Dell hot-plug tray, this enterprise-grade HDD enables seamless installation, maintenance, and storage expansion without interrupting server operations.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 342-5521
• Product ID: 474300

Technical Specification

• Device Type: Internal Hard Disk Drive
• Category: Dell Hard Drive
• Sub-Category: 10K RPM Enterprise HDD
• Generation: SAS
• Capacity: 1.2TB
• Spindle Speed: 10,000 RPM
• Buffer Size: 64MB Cache
• Average Seek Time: 4.5ms
• External Transfer Rate: 6Gb/s (750MB/s)

Physical Characteristics

• Drive Size: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor
• Form Factor: 2.5" x 1/3H
• Enclosure Type: Internal
• Hot-Swap Capability: Yes
• Drive Tray: Included and Attached

Enhanced Reliability

Enterprise-class SAS drives are engineered for 24/7 operation and mission-critical workloads. The Dell 342-5521 is designed to withstand continuous usage in business environments, providing dependable storage performance and long-term durability.

Hot-Plug Convenience

The included hot-swap tray allows administrators to replace or upgrade drives without shutting down the server. This capability minimizes downtime and simplifies maintenance procedures in enterprise environments.

Virtualization Platforms

The Dell 342-5521 hard drive is well suited for virtual machine environments where consistent IOPS and rapid storage access are required to support multiple virtualized workloads.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Servers

Dell PowerEdge T-Series Servers

• T20
• T110 Gen II
• T310
• T320
• T330
• T410
• T420
• T430
• T440
• T610
• T620
• T630
• T640
• T710

Dell PowerEdge R-Series Servers

• R210 Gen I
• R210 Gen II
• R220
• R230
• R310
• R320
• R330
• R410
• R415
• R420
• R430
• R510
• R515
• R530XD
• R610
• R620
• R630
• R710
• R715
• R720
• R720XD
• R730
• R730XD
• R805
• R810
• R815
• R820
• R830
• R900
• R905
• R910
• R920
• R930

Dell PowerEdge C-Series Servers

• C1100
• C2100
• C6100
• C6220

Dell PowerEdge M-Series Blade Servers

• M420
• M510
• M520
• M600
• M605
• M610
• M610x
• M620
• M630
• M710
• M710XD
• M805
• M820
• M830
• M905
• M910
• M915

Compatibility with Dell PowerVault Storage Systems

Supported PowerVault Models

• M1000e
• MD1120
• MD1200
• MD1220
• MD3200
• MD3220
• MD3220i
• MD3400
• MD3420
• MD3420i
• MD3460
• MD3600
• MD3620
• MD3620i
• MD3820i
• MD3860i

Dell 1.2TB Hard Drive 10K RPM SAS-6Gbps HDD Overview

The Dell 342-5521 1.2TB Hard Drive is a high-performance enterprise storage solution engineered for demanding server environments that require dependable data access, consistent throughput, and long-term reliability. Featuring a 10,000 RPM spindle speed, SAS 6Gbps interface, and a 64MB cache buffer, this hard drive is designed to support mission-critical applications, virtualization workloads, business databases, cloud infrastructure, and data-intensive operations. The included tray simplifies installation and maintenance in compatible Dell PowerEdge servers and storage systems, making it an ideal choice for organizations seeking efficient and scalable storage expansion.

Enterprise-Class Storage Architecture

Enterprise environments require storage devices that can deliver consistent performance around the clock. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive is built specifically for data centers and business-critical applications where uptime and reliability are essential. Unlike consumer-grade drives, enterprise hard disks undergo rigorous validation processes to ensure dependable operation under heavy workloads and continuous usage conditions. The combination of a 1.2TB storage capacity and 10K RPM rotational speed enables this drive to handle intensive read and write operations while maintaining low latency. Organizations relying on transactional databases, virtual machines, and collaborative business applications benefit from the balance of capacity and performance offered by this enterprise storage device.

Designed for Business-Critical Operations

Modern enterprises rely on storage systems that can process large volumes of information quickly and accurately. The Dell 342-5521 drive supports these requirements by providing fast data retrieval and reliable storage capabilities. Its enterprise-grade construction helps minimize downtime and ensures consistent operation even in demanding environments. Whether deployed in corporate data centers, private cloud infrastructures, or departmental servers, this hard drive delivers the performance required to support critical workloads and business continuity objectives.

1.2TB Capacity for Expanding Data

The 1.2TB storage capacity provides a substantial amount of space for business applications, operating systems, databases, and user-generated content. Organizations continue to generate increasing volumes of data, making scalable storage solutions essential for maintaining productivity and operational efficiency. This capacity level is particularly beneficial for businesses seeking a balance between performance and storage density. It enables administrators to consolidate workloads while reducing the number of drives required within server environments. The result is improved space utilization and simplified storage management.

Efficient Data Storage

Data growth remains a challenge for organizations across all industries. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive helps address this challenge by offering sufficient storage capacity for numerous enterprise applications. Companies can store extensive databases, application files, backups, and operational records without compromising performance. The drive's capacity also supports virtualization initiatives, allowing multiple virtual machines to operate efficiently within a shared storage infrastructure. This capability contributes to improved resource utilization and reduced infrastructure costs.

10K RPM Performance Advantages

One of the defining characteristics of the Dell 342-5521 hard drive is its 10,000 RPM rotational speed. Faster spindle speeds translate into reduced seek times, quicker data access, and improved overall responsiveness. These benefits are particularly valuable in enterprise environments where storage performance directly impacts application efficiency. The 10K RPM design enables the drive to process transactions more rapidly than standard enterprise hard drives operating at lower rotational speeds.

Enhanced Data Access Speeds

Rapid access to stored information is critical for maintaining productivity and supporting business operations. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive is optimized to deliver fast response times, enabling applications to retrieve and process information with minimal delay. This capability is especially beneficial in environments where users access shared resources simultaneously. By reducing latency and improving throughput, the drive helps maintain a responsive computing experience for end users and administrators alike.

SAS 6Gbps Interface Technology

The Serial Attached SCSI interface remains a preferred storage technology for enterprise environments due to its reliability, scalability, and performance capabilities. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive utilizes a SAS 6Gbps connection that delivers robust data transfer performance while supporting advanced enterprise storage features. SAS technology provides advantages over traditional desktop storage interfaces by offering improved error handling, dual-port connectivity options, and enhanced reliability. These features contribute to greater system stability and better support for mission-critical applications.

Reliable Enterprise Connectivity

Reliable data transmission is essential for maintaining application performance and protecting valuable business information. The SAS 6Gbps interface ensures efficient communication between the hard drive and the host system, reducing bottlenecks and supporting consistent throughput. Organizations operating demanding workloads benefit from the interface's ability to sustain high levels of performance while maintaining data integrity. This capability makes the Dell 342-5521 a valuable component within enterprise storage infrastructures.

Scalable Infrastructure Integration

As organizations expand their IT environments, storage scalability becomes increasingly important. SAS technology supports large-scale deployments and enables seamless integration into existing storage architectures. The Dell 342-5521 drive can be incorporated into enterprise storage arrays, server clusters, and virtualization platforms with ease. This flexibility helps businesses adapt to changing requirements while preserving compatibility with existing infrastructure investments.

64MB Cache

The integrated 64MB cache buffer enhances overall drive performance by temporarily storing frequently accessed data and optimizing read and write operations. Cache memory plays a critical role in improving storage efficiency, particularly in environments with repetitive data access patterns. By reducing the need for repeated physical disk operations, the cache contributes to faster response times and improved application performance. This optimization helps organizations maximize the value of their storage infrastructure while maintaining consistent operational efficiency.

Efficient Workload Handling

Enterprise applications often generate unpredictable workloads that require storage systems to respond quickly and effectively. The 64MB cache buffer enables the Dell 342-5521 hard drive to manage these demands by accelerating data access and improving processing efficiency. Whether handling database queries, application requests, or file transfers, the cache mechanism helps maintain smooth and reliable performance across diverse workloads.

Hot-Swap Compatibility

Hot-swap functionality enables organizations to perform drive replacements without shutting down critical systems. This capability is especially valuable in environments where continuous availability is required to support business operations. The included tray supports efficient drive management while helping organizations maintain service continuity during maintenance activities and storage upgrades.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Servers

The Dell 342-5521 hard drive is engineered to operate seamlessly within compatible Dell PowerEdge server environments. Dell's validation processes ensure interoperability between storage devices and server platforms, resulting in improved reliability and optimized performance. Using validated components helps organizations maintain warranty compliance while reducing compatibility concerns that may arise when integrating third-party hardware.

Database Management Systems

Databases rely heavily on storage performance to process queries, transactions, and reporting functions. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive provides the speed and reliability necessary to support database environments ranging from small business applications to enterprise-scale deployments.

Virtualization Infrastructure

Virtualized environments consolidate multiple workloads onto shared hardware resources. The combination of 1.2TB capacity, 10K RPM speed, and SAS connectivity enables the drive to support virtual machines efficiently while maintaining consistent performance.

Cloud Computing Platforms

Private and hybrid cloud infrastructures require dependable storage solutions capable of handling dynamic workloads. The Dell 342-5521 helps organizations meet these demands by providing reliable storage performance and enterprise-grade durability.

Reliability and Data Integrity

Reliability is a fundamental requirement for enterprise storage systems. The Dell 342-5521 hard drive is designed to operate continuously in demanding environments while maintaining high levels of data integrity. Enterprise-grade components and rigorous testing procedures contribute to dependable long-term performance. Organizations can confidently deploy this drive in mission-critical environments where data availability and operational continuity are essential. Its robust construction helps protect valuable business information while supporting ongoing productivity and growth objectives.