6NF96 Dell 1.6TB SAS 12GBPS SSD Mixed Use Hot Plug.

Dell 6NF96 1.6TB SSD SAS for 14G PowerEdge Servers

Overview of Dell 6NF96 Solid State Drive

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 6NF96
• Drive Type: Solid State Drive (SSD)
• Sub-Type: 1.6TB SAS 12Gbps Mixed Use

Key Technical Specifications

Device Features

• Capacity: 1.6TB
• Interface: SAS 12Gbps
• Form Factor: 2.5 Inch
• Flash Technology: TLC SSD
• Special Features: Mixed-use workload optimization, 512 Emulation (512e)

Expansion and Connectivity Options

• Interface Connection: 1 x SAS 12Gb/s
• Drive Bay Compatibility: 1 x Hot-plug - 2.5 Inch

Server Compatibility

The Dell 6NF96 SSD is designed to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of PowerEdge servers, ensuring high performance and reliability for enterprise environments.

Compatible Dell PowerEdge Servers

• PowerEdge C6420, C6525
• PowerEdge R340, R440, R640, R6415, R6515, R6525
• PowerEdge R740, R740xd, R7415, R7425, R7515, R7525
• PowerEdge R840, R940, R940xa

Performance Highlights

Optimized for Mixed-Use Workloads

This 1.6TB SAS SSD delivers balanced read/write performance, making it ideal for databases, virtualization, and enterprise applications requiring consistent speed and endurance.

Reliability and Hot-Swap Capability

• Hot-pluggable design enables drive replacement without downtime
• 512e technology ensures compatibility with older and modern storage infrastructures
• Enhanced durability for demanding server workloads

Dell 6NF96 1.6TB SSD SAS Overview

The Dell 6NF96 1.6TB Solid State Drive is engineered for high-performance storage environments, particularly for the Dell PowerEdge 14th generation servers. This drive falls under the Mixed Use category, providing an optimal balance between read and write operations. With a 12Gbps SAS interface, 512e sector size, and TLC NAND technology, this SSD is designed to enhance server efficiency, reduce latency, and support demanding enterprise workloads.

High-Speed SAS Interface

Equipped with a 12Gbps Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface, the Dell 6NF96 SSD ensures seamless data transfer with minimal bottlenecks. This high-speed interface is ideal for mixed-use workloads, enabling rapid access to large datasets and faster processing in transactional environments. The SAS protocol also offers robust error correction and reliability features, which are crucial for enterprise-class applications.

Mixed Use Capability

The mixed-use classification of this SSD signifies its ability to handle both read-intensive and write-intensive tasks efficiently. Unlike purely read-optimized or write-optimized drives, mixed-use SSDs are versatile, making them suitable for virtualized environments, databases, and general-purpose server storage. The 1.6TB capacity ensures adequate space for enterprise applications, while maintaining high endurance and performance consistency.

512e Sector Size

With a 512e sector size, the Dell 6NF96 SSD provides compatibility with legacy applications while offering improved storage efficiency. The emulation of 512-byte sectors on 4K physical sectors optimizes data management and improves input/output operations per second (IOPS), ensuring better server performance under mixed workload conditions.

Form Factor and Hot-Plug Design

The Dell 6NF96 SSD comes in a 2.5-inch form factor, making it a standard fit for modern rack-mounted servers. The compact design allows for dense storage configurations without compromising airflow or cooling. Its hot-plug capability ensures that drives can be replaced or upgraded without powering down the server, minimizing downtime and maintaining continuous operations in critical enterprise environments.

Tray Integration for Dell PowerEdge 14G Servers

This SSD includes a tray specifically designed for 14th generation Dell PowerEdge servers, ensuring secure installation and optimal connectivity. The tray simplifies the drive replacement process, reducing maintenance time and potential handling errors. The combination of tray and hot-plug support makes this drive highly convenient for IT administrators managing large-scale data centers.

TLC NAND Technology

The 6NF96 utilizes Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash memory, which stores three bits per cell. While TLC drives traditionally offer slightly lower endurance compared to MLC, the Dell 6NF96 mitigates this with advanced wear-leveling and error correction algorithms. This ensures reliable performance, prolonged lifespan, and consistent speed across mixed workloads.

Enterprise-Class Endurance and Reliability

Dell’s 6NF96 SSD is engineered for enterprise-grade reliability. Features such as power-loss protection, end-to-end data path protection, and advanced error correction codes (ECC) safeguard against data corruption and drive failures. The drive’s high mean time between failures (MTBF) ensures predictable performance, making it suitable for mission-critical applications such as databases, virtualization, and high-performance computing.

Performance Specifications

The Dell 6NF96 1.6TB SSD delivers exceptional IOPS and throughput for mixed-use workloads. Its 12Gbps SAS interface combined with optimized firmware enables low latency, high-speed read and write operations, and predictable performance under heavy load. This makes it ideal for environments requiring high transaction rates, including cloud computing, financial systems, and large-scale enterprise applications.

Optimized for Virtualization

Mixed-use SSDs like the Dell 6NF96 are particularly effective in virtualized server environments. High-density virtual machines (VMs) can strain storage infrastructure with unpredictable workloads. This SSD provides the speed, endurance, and IOPS necessary to support multiple VMs simultaneously, ensuring fast boot times, responsive applications, and reliable storage performance.

Energy Efficiency

Despite its high performance, the Dell 6NF96 is designed to be energy-efficient. Lower power consumption reduces operational costs and minimizes heat generation within server racks. Energy efficiency is critical for large-scale deployments where multiple drives operate concurrently, contributing to a greener data center footprint.

Compatibility and Certification

This SSD is certified for Dell PowerEdge 14G servers, ensuring seamless integration and reliable operation. Dell’s rigorous testing guarantees firmware compatibility, stable performance, and extended support. Certification also ensures that the drive is recognized by Dell management tools, enabling monitoring, updates, and maintenance through centralized systems.

Applications and Use Cases

The Dell 6NF96 1.6TB Mixed Use SSD is suitable for a variety of enterprise storage applications. Its performance and reliability make it ideal for:

• High-transaction databases
• Virtualized server environments
• Data analytics and business intelligence
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
• Content management and file storage
• Cloud-based applications and storage nodes

Data Center Optimization

Integrating the 6NF96 SSD into server infrastructure helps optimize data center performance. Faster storage reduces latency across applications, enabling more efficient CPU utilization and improved response times. The drive’s endurance and reliability also decrease the frequency of replacements and maintenance, contributing to lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and operational efficiency.

Backup and Redundancy Support

While primarily designed for active workloads, the Dell 6NF96 also supports secondary storage tasks such as backups and snapshots. Its predictable performance and durability make it suitable for RAID configurations, enhancing redundancy and data protection in enterprise environments.

Security Features

Data security is paramount in enterprise SSDs. The Dell 6NF96 supports advanced security protocols, including self-encrypting drive (SED) options, ensuring data is protected at rest. Coupled with Dell server management tools, administrators can enforce encryption policies and monitor drive security, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and corporate policies.

Comparison with Other SSD Types

Compared to read-intensive or write-intensive drives, mixed-use SSDs like the 6NF96 provide a balanced solution for environments where workloads are unpredictable. Read-intensive drives are optimized for workloads dominated by read operations, such as content delivery and analytics. Write-intensive drives are built for heavy logging and transactional applications. Mixed-use SSDs bridge the gap, offering versatility for combined read/write scenarios without compromising endurance or performance.

Advantages Over Traditional HDDs

Traditional spinning hard drives (HDDs) cannot match the Dell 6NF96 SSD in terms of speed, reliability, or energy efficiency. SSDs eliminate mechanical latency, provide higher IOPS, and offer better shock resistance, making them ideal for enterprise server applications. The 2.5-inch form factor further enables higher storage density and more flexible deployment in modern server racks.

Firmware and Management Capabilities

Dell provides robust management and firmware update tools for the 6NF96 SSD. Firmware updates enhance performance, fix bugs, and add new features, while management tools enable real-time monitoring of drive health, temperature, and usage. These capabilities allow IT administrators to proactively maintain storage infrastructure and avoid potential failures.

Scalability Considerations

The Dell 6NF96 1.6TB SSD supports scaling in enterprise environments. Its compact form factor allows dense storage configurations, while SAS connectivity ensures high-speed communication with multiple drives. Enterprises can expand storage arrays without sacrificing performance, enabling future-proof infrastructure capable of handling growing data demands.

Maintenance and Lifecycle Management

Maintaining enterprise SSDs is critical for long-term reliability. Dell 6NF96 SSDs feature predictive failure analysis and SMART monitoring, enabling proactive maintenance before issues impact operations. Hot-plug design simplifies replacements, reducing downtime and improving overall serviceability. Proper lifecycle management ensures consistent performance and extends the usable lifespan of storage infrastructure.

Endurance Ratings and Lifespan

The endurance of mixed-use SSDs is rated based on drive writes per day (DWPD). The Dell 6NF96 is designed to handle substantial daily write workloads, making it suitable for enterprise environments where frequent data updates occur. Combined with wear-leveling algorithms, the drive maintains performance and data integrity throughout its lifecycle.

Environmental and Operational Considerations

Operating in a variety of temperature and humidity conditions, the Dell 6NF96 SSD meets enterprise standards for environmental tolerance. This ensures consistent performance even in high-density server racks where cooling can be a challenge. Compliance with industry standards guarantees that the drive operates reliably under diverse conditions.