400-AZGS Dell 1.6TB SAS-12GBPS SSD With Tray.

Dell 400-AZGS 1.6TB Mixed Use SAS SSD: Enterprise Storage Performance

Overview of Dell 400-AZGS Enterprise SSD Series

The Dell 400-AZGS represents a sophisticated line of enterprise-grade solid-state drives engineered specifically for data centers and business-critical applications. As part of Dell's comprehensive storage solutions portfolio, these 1.6TB Mixed Use SAS drives deliver the optimal balance of performance, endurance, and reliability that modern enterprises demand. Designed to handle diverse workload requirements, the 400-AZGS series stands as a testament to Dell's commitment to storage innovation and infrastructure optimization.

Enterprise Storage Evolution

Enterprise storage has undergone significant transformation with the advent of SSD technology. The Dell 400-AZGS embodies this evolution, bridging the gap between traditional hard disk drives and next-generation storage solutions. With its SAS interface and advanced flash management, this drive category addresses the growing need for faster data access, improved IOPS, and reduced latency across enterprise environments including servers, storage arrays, and high-performance computing systems.

Technical Specifications Deep Dive

Capacity and Form Factor

The 1.6TB capacity point represents a strategic sweet spot for enterprise deployments, offering substantial storage while maintaining cost efficiency. The 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) design ensures maximum compatibility with existing enterprise infrastructure while optimizing storage density in rack-mounted environments. This form factor has become the industry standard for enterprise storage due to its balance of physical size and performance capabilities.

Physical Dimensions and Compatibility

Measuring 2.75 x 3.94 x 0.59 inches (69.85 x 100.1 x 15mm), the 2.5-inch SFF drive with included tray ensures seamless integration into Dell PowerEdge servers and PowerVault storage systems. The hot-plug tray design facilitates maintenance and replacement without system downtime, a critical requirement for 24/7 enterprise operations.

Interface and Protocol: SAS 12Gbps

The Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface operating at 12 gigabits per second represents the current generation of enterprise storage connectivity. This dual-ported interface provides redundant pathways for data, enhancing reliability and availability. The full-duplex capability allows simultaneous read and write operations, effectively doubling the bandwidth compared to SATA interfaces and ensuring consistent performance under heavy workloads.

SAS Protocol Advantages

SAS technology offers several enterprise-centric advantages including enhanced error recovery, superior signal integrity, and robust command queuing. The 12Gbps data transfer rate translates to approximately 1,200MB/s theoretical throughput, though real-world performance depends on multiple factors including host controller capabilities and workload characteristics.

Flash Technology: TLC NAND for Mixed Use

The Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash architecture represents an optimal balance between cost, capacity, and endurance for mixed workload environments. Each memory cell stores three bits of information, increasing storage density while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability through advanced error correction and wear-leveling algorithms.

Mixed Use Workload Optimization

Mixed Use designation indicates the drive is engineered to handle balanced read/write workloads typically found in enterprise applications. Unlike Read-Intensive or Write-Intensive drives, Mixed Use SSDs like the 400-AZGS provide consistent performance across diverse I/O patterns, making them suitable for applications with varying demand characteristics.

Advanced Format: 512e Sector Technology

The 512-byte emulation (512e) sector format maintains compatibility with legacy systems while utilizing the efficiency of 4K physical sectors. This technology ensures broad operating system and application compatibility while optimizing write operations and improving error correction capabilities. The emulation layer translates traditional 512-byte logical sectors to the underlying 4K physical sectors transparently to the host system.

Performance Characteristics

IOPS and Throughput Capabilities

The Dell 400-AZGS delivers exceptional input/output operations per second (IOPS) performance that significantly outperforms traditional hard drives. With random read IOPS reaching up to 180,000 and random write IOPS up to 65,000 (depending on workload and system configuration), this drive can handle demanding enterprise applications with ease. Sequential read and write performance reaches up to 1,000MB/s and 800MB/s respectively, ensuring rapid data transfer for large file operations.

Latency and Quality of Service

Consistent low latency is a hallmark of enterprise SSDs, and the 400-AZGS typically delivers read latencies below 150 microseconds and write latencies below 50 microseconds. This predictable performance is crucial for applications requiring consistent response times. Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features ensure performance stability even during peak demand periods.

Endurance and Write Cycles

Mixed Use SSDs are characterized by higher endurance ratings compared to Read-Intensive models. The 1.6TB 400-AZGS typically offers a Total Bytes Written (TBW) rating of approximately 5.8 petabytes over its lifespan, equivalent to several full drive writes per day for the warranty period. This endurance level makes it suitable for write-intensive applications including database transaction logs, virtualization, and content delivery networks.

Wear Leveling and Bad Block Management

Advanced wear-leveling algorithms distribute write operations evenly across all available memory cells, preventing premature wear on frequently written sectors. Dynamic and static wear leveling work in concert to maximize drive lifespan. Concurrent bad block management identifies and retires failing memory blocks while maintaining data integrity through redundant capacity.

Reliability and Data Protection

Enterprise-Class Reliability Metrics

The Dell 400-AZGS is engineered for continuous operation in demanding environments with a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) rating typically exceeding 2 million hours. The Uncorrectable Bit Error Rate (UBER) is better than 1 sector per 10^17 bits read, ensuring exceptional data integrity. These reliability metrics far exceed consumer-grade SSDs and traditional hard drives.

Environmental Specifications

Designed for data center environments, the drive operates within a temperature range of 0°C to 70°C and can withstand operational shock up to 1,000 G/0.5ms. Non-operational shock resistance typically reaches 1,500 G/0.5ms, ensuring survival during transportation and handling. Vibration resistance specifications protect against performance degradation in multi-drive configurations.

Power Loss Protection and Data Integrity

Enterprise SSDs require robust power loss protection to prevent data corruption during unexpected power interruptions. The 400-AZGS incorporates power loss protection circuits that provide sufficient hold-up time to complete in-progress writes and commit data from volatile cache to non-volatile memory. This feature is critical for maintaining data consistency in transaction-intensive applications.

End-to-End Data Protection

Comprehensive data protection mechanisms include cyclic redundancy check (CRC) at multiple levels of the data path, from host interface to NAND flash. Error Correction Code (ECC) capabilities correct multiple bit errors per sector, while advanced RAID support enhances data protection at the system level. T10 Protection Information (T10 PI) provides an additional layer of data integrity verification.

Use Cases and Application Scenarios

Server and Storage Array Implementation

The Dell 400-AZGS excels as primary storage in Dell PowerEdge servers and as a performance tier in Dell PowerVault and Compellent storage systems. Its Mixed Use characteristics make it ideal for hyper-converged infrastructure, database servers, and virtualized environments where balanced read/write performance is essential for optimal operation.

Database and Transaction Processing

For database management systems like Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL, the 1.6TB capacity provides ample space for database files while the high IOPS capability ensures rapid transaction processing. The consistent low latency reduces query response times, improving overall application performance. The drive's endurance characteristics accommodate frequent write operations to transaction logs.

Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure

In virtualized environments, the 400-AZGS supports high virtual machine density with fast provisioning and rapid deployment capabilities. The drive's performance profile benefits virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), application virtualization, and cloud computing platforms where storage responsiveness directly impacts user experience and resource utilization efficiency.

Content Delivery and Media Streaming

Media and entertainment applications benefit from the drive's high sequential read performance for content delivery, while its write endurance accommodates frequent content updates. Video streaming platforms, digital asset management systems, and broadcast operations utilize these characteristics to ensure smooth content workflows and rapid asset accessibility.

Compatibility and Integration

Dell Ecosystem Integration

The 400-AZGS is optimized for seamless integration within Dell's server and storage ecosystem. Compatibility includes PowerEdge rack and tower servers, PowerVault direct-attached storage, and Dell EMC storage arrays. The drive undergoes rigorous qualification testing within Dell systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

Firmware and Management Tools

Dell provides comprehensive firmware updates through its support infrastructure, ensuring ongoing performance optimization and security enhancements. The drive is fully manageable through Dell OpenManage, iDRAC, and Storage Manager tools, providing centralized monitoring, health reporting, and predictive failure analysis capabilities.

Multi-Vendor Environment Compatibility

While optimized for Dell systems, the 400-AZGS maintains compatibility with industry-standard SAS implementations from other server and storage vendors. The standard SAS interface ensures interoperability with HPE, IBM, Lenovo, and Supermicro systems, though performance may vary based on controller capabilities and system architecture.

Enterprise Features and Advanced Capabilities

Hot-Plug Functionality

The included tray facilitates hot-plug capability, allowing drive replacement or addition without system shutdown. This feature is essential for maintaining service availability in high-uptime environments. The tray design includes appropriate labeling and status indicators for easy identification during maintenance operations.

Thermal Management

Enterprise SSDs generate significant heat during intensive operations, and the 400-AZGS incorporates advanced thermal monitoring and throttling mechanisms to prevent overheating. The drive dynamically adjusts performance based on temperature sensors, ensuring reliable operation within specified thermal envelopes while maximizing performance under normal conditions.

Security and Encryption

Data security features include optional hardware-based encryption compliant with TCG Enterprise and TCG Opal 2.0 standards. The drive supports cryptographic erase for rapid data sanitization and secure decommissioning. These security capabilities help organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements for data protection.

Sanitize and Secure Erase Operations

For data sanitization and repurposing, the 400-AZGS supports instant secure erase (cryptographic erase) and block erase (physical erase) operations. These features ensure complete data removal without physical destruction, supporting environmental sustainability initiatives while maintaining data security standards.