345-BMML Dell 15.36TB NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen4 SFF TLC SSD

Highlights of Dell 345-BMML 15.36TB NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD

The Dell 345-BMML 15.36TB NVMe SSD is a high-capacity, enterprise-grade storage solution built for performance-driven Dell PowerEdge servers. Utilizing PCIe Gen4 NVMe technology and a 2.5-inch U.2 form factor, this read-intensive solid state drive delivers fast data access, consistent throughput, and dependable reliability for modern data center workloads.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 345-BMML
• Product Type: Solid State Drive
• Sub Type: NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen4

Technical Specifications

• Storage Capacity: 15.36TB
• Form Factor: U.2 2.5-Inch SFF
• Flash Memory Technology: 3D TLC NAND
• Endurance Type: Read Intensive

Interface and Connectivity

• Interface: NVMe over PCI Express
• PCIe Standard: PCIe Gen4.0
• Lane Configuration: PCIe x4

Performance Specifications

• Sequential Read Speed (Max): Up to 13,351 MB/s
• Sequential Write Speed (Max): Up to 6,676 MB/s
• Random Read Performance (Max): Up to 2,400,000 IOPS
• Random Write Performance (Max): Up to 300,000 IOPS

Endurance and Reliability

• Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD): 1 DWPD for 5 years
• Designed for: Continuous enterprise server operation

Compatibility

• PowerEdge C6420
• PowerEdge C6520 / C6525
• PowerEdge C6620
• PowerEdge R650 / R650xs
• PowerEdge R6515 / R6525
• PowerEdge R660xs
• PowerEdge R6615 / R6625
• PowerEdge R670 / R6715 / R6725
• PowerEdge R750 / R750xa / R750xs
• PowerEdge R7515 / R7525
• PowerEdge R760 / R760xa
• PowerEdge R7615 / R7625
• PowerEdge R770 / R7715 / R7725 / R7725xd
• PowerEdge R960
• PowerEdge T550 / T560
• PowerEdge XE8640
• PowerEdge XE9640
• PowerEdge XE9680 / XE9680L / XE9685L
• PowerEdge XR7620

Overview of Dell 345-BMML 15.36TB NVMe U.2 Enterprise SSD

The Dell 345-BMML 15.36TB NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen4 2.5-Inch SFF TLC Solid State Drive belongs to a mature and widely adopted enterprise storage category designed to deliver high-capacity, low-latency NVMe performance within traditional 2.5-inch small form factor server architectures. This category bridges the gap between legacy SAS and SATA solid state drives and newer PCIe-based storage technologies, offering a proven and stable NVMe solution that integrates seamlessly into existing enterprise infrastructures. Storage solutions in this category are engineered for continuous operation, predictable performance, and compatibility with a broad range of server platforms.

Role in Transitional and Established Data Centers

Many enterprise data centers operate a mix of legacy and modern hardware, making transitional storage solutions highly valuable. The Dell 345-BMML category plays a critical role in these environments by offering NVMe performance in a familiar 2.5-inch form factor. This allows organizations to upgrade storage performance while preserving existing server investments, reducing migration complexity and capital expenditure. This category is commonly deployed in environments where consistency, compatibility, and long-term support are prioritized. The U.2 interface and SFF design are well understood by IT teams, enabling straightforward deployment and maintenance while still delivering substantial performance improvements over traditional interfaces.

Positioning Within Enterprise Storage Tiers

Enterprise storage architectures often segment resources into tiers based on performance, capacity, and workload characteristics. The Dell 345-BMML category is ideally positioned as a high-performance, read-optimized tier that supports demanding applications without the higher infrastructure requirements of newer form factors. This positioning enables organizations to allocate storage resources strategically and efficiently. By providing predictable NVMe performance at scale, this category supports both performance-sensitive and capacity-driven workloads within the same infrastructure.

PCIe Gen4 NVMe Interface Performance Characteristics

The PCIe Gen4 NVMe interface is a defining feature of the Dell 345-BMML category, offering a substantial increase in bandwidth compared to PCIe Gen3-based storage. PCIe Gen4 doubles the per-lane data transfer rate, enabling NVMe drives to achieve higher throughput and lower latency. This interface ensures that the storage subsystem can keep pace with modern processors and memory technologies. The NVMe protocol further enhances efficiency by eliminating legacy command overhead and enabling highly parallel I/O operations. This combination allows drives in this category to deliver consistent performance across a wide range of enterprise workloads, particularly those dominated by read operations.

Queue Depth, Parallelism, and Workload Scaling

Enterprise environments frequently involve multiple applications and users accessing storage simultaneously. The Dell 345-BMML category supports deep queue depths and extensive parallelism, allowing thousands of concurrent NVMe commands to be processed efficiently. This capability is essential for maintaining stable performance in virtualized and multi-tenant environments. By leveraging NVMe’s multi-queue architecture, drives in this category distribute workloads effectively across internal resources. This ensures that performance remains consistent even as demand scales.

Latency Consistency and Quality of Service

Predictable latency is a core requirement for enterprise applications that depend on reliable response times. The Dell 345-BMML category is engineered to deliver stable low-latency performance under sustained read workloads. Firmware optimizations prioritize read operations and manage background processes to minimize latency variation. This focus on quality of service makes the category suitable for databases, analytics platforms, and application servers that require consistent data access behavior.

U.2 2.5-Inch SFF Form Factor Advantages

The U.2 2.5-inch small form factor is a key element of this storage category, offering broad compatibility with existing enterprise server designs. Unlike newer form factors that may require specialized chassis, the U.2 SFF design fits into standard 2.5-inch drive bays, simplifying upgrades and replacements. The Dell 345-BMML category leverages this compatibility to provide NVMe performance without disrupting established infrastructure layouts. The physical design supports hot-swap capability, front-accessible installation, and standardized cabling, all of which are familiar to enterprise IT teams. This familiarity reduces operational complexity and accelerates deployment timelines.

Thermal Behavior

Thermal efficiency is a critical consideration for high-capacity NVMe drives operating in dense server configurations. The Dell 345-BMML category is designed to operate within defined thermal and power envelopes suitable for 2.5-inch SFF environments. Effective heat dissipation ensures stable performance during continuous operation. Power management features dynamically adjust energy consumption based on workload intensity, helping organizations balance performance and efficiency. This is particularly important in large-scale deployments where power costs can be significant.

Serviceability

Enterprise storage solutions must support maintenance without disrupting active workloads. The Dell 345-BMML category includes full hot-swap functionality, allowing drives to be installed or removed while systems remain online. This capability supports high-availability architectures and minimizes downtime. Robust connectors and firmware safeguards ensure that hot-swap operations are safe and reliable, preserving data integrity and system stability.

TLC NAND Architecture and Read Intensive Design

The Dell 345-BMML category utilizes triple-level cell NAND flash technology to achieve high storage density and cost efficiency. TLC NAND stores three bits per cell, enabling large capacities such as 15.36TB within a compact drive. This density supports storage consolidation strategies that reduce hardware footprint and operational overhead. Read-intensive optimization ensures that the endurance profile of TLC NAND aligns with intended workloads. Drives in this category are designed for environments where data is written relatively infrequently but accessed repeatedly, making them ideal for reference datasets, analytics repositories, and content libraries.

Endurance and Wear-Leveling

Advanced wear-leveling algorithms are essential for extending the lifespan of TLC-based enterprise SSDs. The Dell 345-BMML category employs intelligent wear management techniques that distribute write activity evenly across memory cells. This approach minimizes localized wear and helps maintain consistent performance over time. Firmware continuously monitors NAND health metrics and adjusts operation to balance endurance and performance. This proactive management ensures reliable operation throughout the drive’s service life.

ECC and Data Integrity Mechanisms

Enterprise storage reliability depends on robust data integrity protections. The Dell 345-BMML category incorporates advanced error correction technologies that detect and correct data errors before they affect applications. These mechanisms operate transparently, ensuring data accuracy without compromising performance. End-to-end data protection frameworks further enhance reliability by maintaining consistency across the entire data path, from host interface to NAND flash.

15.36TB Capacity and Storage Consolidation Benefits

The 15.36TB capacity offered by the Dell 345-BMML category enables significant storage density within a single 2.5-inch drive. This high capacity allows organizations to reduce the number of drives required to meet their storage needs, simplifying infrastructure design and management. By consolidating data onto fewer physical devices, enterprises can reduce cabling complexity, improve airflow within server chassis, and lower overall power consumption. These benefits contribute to reduced operational costs and improved data center efficiency.

Enterprise Application

Virtualized environments benefit greatly from high-capacity NVMe storage that delivers consistent read performance. The Dell 345-BMML category supports dense storage pools that can be dynamically allocated to virtual machines, improving flexibility and resource utilization. Consistent performance across large capacities ensures predictable behavior for enterprise applications, supporting service-level objectives and performance isolation.

Analytics, Reporting, and Read-Dominant Workloads

Analytics and reporting workloads often involve scanning large datasets multiple times, making read performance a critical factor. The Dell 345-BMML category delivers the throughput and latency characteristics required to accelerate data access and query execution. Faster read performance enables quicker insights and more responsive reporting systems, supporting data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Firmware Intelligence and Enterprise Features

Firmware sophistication is a defining aspect of enterprise NVMe storage categories. The Dell 345-BMML category incorporates intelligent firmware that actively manages performance, reliability, and endurance. This firmware adapts to workload patterns in real time, ensuring optimal operation under varying conditions. Comprehensive telemetry reporting provides administrators with detailed insight into drive health, temperature, wear levels, and error statistics. This visibility supports proactive maintenance strategies and informed capacity planning.

Dell PowerEdge Integration

Seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers is a core strength of the Dell 345-BMML category. The drive is designed to work harmoniously with Dell server BIOS, firmware, and management tools, ensuring consistent behavior across supported configurations. Validated firmware and certified compatibility reduce deployment risk and simplify integration within enterprise environments.

Operational Stability

Enterprise storage solutions must deliver value over extended operational lifecycles. The Dell 345-BMML category benefits from structured lifecycle support, including firmware updates, security patches, and technical assistance. These elements contribute to predictable ownership costs and long-term stability. Regular updates help maintain compatibility with evolving server platforms and address emerging performance or security requirements.

Reliability and Continuous Availability

Security and reliability are integral to the design of the Dell 345-BMML category. Drives incorporate features that protect data at rest and support secure decommissioning when retired or repurposed. These capabilities align with enterprise security policies and compliance requirements. Extensive validation and quality control processes ensure that drives can operate continuously under demanding data center conditions, delivering consistent performance and reliability.

High Availability and Enterprise Resilience

High availability is a critical requirement for enterprise storage deployments. The Dell 345-BMML category supports architectures that minimize downtime through hot-swap capability, predictive failure monitoring, and integration with redundancy mechanisms. These features help organizations maintain service continuity and protect mission-critical applications from disruption.

Scalable Storage Architecture

The combination of PCIe Gen4 NVMe performance and the widely adopted U.2 2.5-inch form factor positions the Dell 345-BMML category as a scalable and future-proof storage solution. As data volumes and performance requirements grow, this category provides a stable foundation that can evolve alongside enterprise infrastructure. Support for dense deployments and high-speed NVMe connectivity ensures that capacity and performance can scale efficiently, protecting infrastructure investments and supporting long-term growth strategies.