Samsung MZ-ILS3T2N 3.2TB SFF SAS-12GBPS PM1635a SSD

High-Capacity Enterprise SSD

The Samsung PM1635a delivers exceptional performance and reliability, tailored for data-intensive environments. With a robust 3.2TB storage capacity and SAS 12Gbps interface, this 2.5-inch internal SSD is engineered for speed and endurance.

Brand & Product Identity

• Brand Name: Samsung
• Part Identifier: MZ-ILS3T2N
• Series Classification: PM1635a
• Device Category: Internal Solid-State Drive

Storage Specifications & Build Format

• Total Storage Volume: 3.2 Terabytes
• Interface Protocol: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) at 12Gbps
• Drive Dimensions: Compact 2.5-inch form factor
• Manufacturing Status: Actively in mass production

Performance Metrics & Speed Ratings

• Sequential Read Throughput: Up to 940 MB per second
• Sequential Write Capability: Reaches up to 830 MB per second
• Random Read Operations: Handles up to 197,000 IOPS
• Random Write Efficiency: Supports up to 60,000 IOPS

Connectivity & Expansion Options

• Interface Port: Single SAS 12Gbps connector
• Bay Compatibility: Fits standard 2.5-inch drive slots

Optimized for Scalability & Speed

• Advanced SAS interface ensures seamless data transfer
• High IOPS rating boosts responsiveness for critical workloads
• Mass production guarantees availability for large deployments

Samsung PM1635a SAS SSD Overview

In the high-stakes world of enterprise data storage, where every millisecond of latency and every gigabyte of throughput counts, the storage medium is the foundation of performance. The Samsung PM1635a MZ-ILS3T2N stands as a testament to this principle, representing a pinnacle of Solid State Drive technology engineered for the most demanding server and storage array environments. This 3.2TB, 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) drive leverages the robust SAS-12Gbps interface to deliver exceptional bandwidth, relentless reliability, and consistent low-latency performance that hard disk drives (HDDs) and consumer-grade SATA SSDs simply cannot match. Designed for read-intensive and mixed-workload applications, the PM1635a is a critical component for businesses seeking to accelerate data access, streamline operations, and support next-generation applications in data centers, financial analytics, scientific research, and virtualized infrastructures.

Understanding the SAS-12Gbps Advantage

Before delving into the specifics of the PM1635a, it is crucial to understand the interface that powers it: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) at 12 gigabits per second (12Gbps). SAS is a enterprise-grade protocol that builds upon the parallel SCSI standard, offering significant advantages over the more common SATA interface found in consumer devices.

Superior Speed and Full Duplex Communication

The "12Gbps" designation refers to the data transfer rate per lane. A single SAS port can consist of multiple lanes (typically in x4 wide ports), allowing for aggregate bandwidth that far exceeds SATA III's 6Gbps limit. Furthermore, SAS operates in full-duplex mode, meaning it can read and write data simultaneously at the full interface speed. In contrast, SATA is half-duplex, capable of only sending or receiving data at any given moment. This full-duplex capability is a critical differentiator for enterprise workloads where concurrent read/write operations are the norm, effectively doubling the available bandwidth for mixed I/O.

Enhanced Reliability and Connectivity

SAS is built for the data center. It features enhanced error recovery and reporting mechanisms, ensuring data integrity is maintained. A key feature is dual-port support. Most enterprise SAS SSDs, including the PM1635a, incorporate two physical ports. This allows the drive to be connected to two different host controllers simultaneously, enabling multipath I/O and providing critical redundancy. If one controller, cable, or host bus adapter (HBA) fails, the second port can maintain access to the drive, preventing downtime—a non-negotiable requirement for high-availability storage configurations like SAN, NAS, and server clusters.

Scalability and Topology

SAS supports expansive topologies with the use of expanders, allowing a single HBA to connect to a vast number of drives, far beyond the typical four SATA ports per controller. This makes SAS the undisputed choice for large-scale storage arrays and JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) enclosures where density and scalability are paramount.

Deep Dive into the Samsung PM1635a (MZ-ILS3T2N)

The Samsung PM1635a is more than just a SAS SSD; it is a carefully engineered solution optimized for a specific class of enterprise workloads. Its specifications reveal a drive built for endurance, consistent performance, and seamless integration into existing data center ecosystems.

Form Factor and Capacity: The 3.2TB SFF Powerhouse

The drive utilizes the ubiquitous 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) with a height of 15mm. This is a common size for enterprise and datacenter servers and storage shelves, ensuring broad compatibility. The 15mm height often allows for a larger physical capacity and potentially better thermal management than slimmer 7mm drives. The 3.2TB capacity point offers a significant amount of fast, reliable storage in a single drive bay. This capacity is ideal for balancing cost-per-gigabyte with performance density, allowing organizations to pack substantial performance into a limited rack unit space.

Performance Specifications: Built for Sustained Throughput

The PM1635a is engineered to leverage the full potential of the SAS-12Gbps interface. Its performance profile is characterized by high, consistent throughput and excellent IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second).

Sequential Read/Write Performance

The drive is capable of sequential read speeds of up to 1,500 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s. These figures ensure that large data transfers, such as loading massive datasets for analytics, streaming high-resolution media, or performing full backups, are completed in the shortest time possible, eliminating storage bottlenecks.

Random Read/Write Performance (IOPS)

For random access workloads—which are far more common in enterprise environments (e.g., database transactions, virtualization, email servers)—the PM1635a delivers impressive IOPS. It can achieve up to 190,000 Random Read IOPS and 40,000 Random Write IOPS. This high IOPS count, especially on the read side, means the drive can handle a tremendous number of simultaneous small data requests from multiple users and applications without slowing down, ensuring smooth and responsive system performance even under heavy load.

Endurance and Reliability

Enterprise SSDs are defined by their endurance, often measured in Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) or Total Bytes Written (TBW). The PM1635a is classified as a mixed-use drive, striking a balance between read-intensive and write-intensive endurance.

With a rating of 3 DWPD over a 5-year warranty period, this drive is designed to withstand having its entire 3.2TB capacity written to it three times every single day for five years. This translates to a staggering 17.5 Petabytes Written (PBW) endurance rating. This level of endurance provides peace of mind, guaranteeing the drive will not wear out prematurely under the constant write cycles typical of server applications.

This robustness is achieved through several Samsung technologies: high-grade MLC (2-bit per cell) or TLC (3-bit per cell) NAND flash with robust controllers, advanced wear-leveling algorithms that distribute writes evenly across all memory cells, and power-loss protection features that safeguard data in the event of an unexpected power failure.

Advanced Flash Technology and Controller

At the heart of the PM1635a is Samsung's cutting-edge V-NAND (Vertical NAND) technology. Unlike planar NAND, where cells are arranged in a single layer, V-NAND stacks cell layers vertically, achieving higher densities, better performance, and lower power consumption. Coupled with a sophisticated, proprietary SSD controller optimized for the SAS protocol, this NAND flash ensures efficient data management, error correction, and garbage collection, maintaining high performance throughout the drive's lifespan.

Ideal Use Cases and Applications

The specific performance and endurance profile of the Samsung PM1635a SAS SSD makes it perfectly suited for a wide range of demanding enterprise scenarios.

Data Center Server Boot Drives

For servers running critical applications, boot times and OS responsiveness are crucial. The PM1635a provides an extremely fast and reliable boot drive, ensuring servers can come online quickly after maintenance or a reboot and that the host OS operates without storage-related lag.

Storage Area Networks (SAN) and Network-Attached Storage (NAS)

In shared storage environments, performance is aggregated across many clients. The high IOPS and throughput of the PM1635a make it an excellent choice for the performance tier in a SAN or NAS array, accelerating access for all connected users and virtual machines. Its dual-port SAS connectivity is essential for the redundant paths required in these setups.

Database and Transactional Servers

SQL databases, Oracle, and other OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) systems thrive on low latency and high random read/write performance. The drive's ability to handle thousands of small, random I/O operations per second directly translates to faster query times, quicker transaction processing, and a more responsive application for end-users.

Virtualization and VDI Infrastructures

Hypervisors like VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V generate intense and varied storage I/O. Hosting multiple virtual machines on a single server means the underlying storage must handle a "storm" of random read and write requests. The PM1635a's high IOPS and consistent performance prevent I/O bottlenecks, leading to better VM density and a smoother user experience, especially in Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployments.

High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Analytics

In fields like financial modeling, genomic sequencing, and scientific simulation, applications need to read massive datasets into system memory as quickly as possible. The drive's high sequential read speed accelerates this "data ingest" phase, reducing the time scientists and analysts spend waiting for results and increasing overall productivity.

Compatibility and Integration

The Samsung PM1635a is designed for seamless integration into enterprise infrastructure. It is fully compliant with the SAS-2 (6Gbps) and SAS-3 (12Gbps) standards, ensuring backward compatibility with older SAS systems while ready to exploit the full bandwidth of newer 12Gbps controllers and expanders. It can be deployed in servers from major OEMs like Dell EMC, HPE, Cisco, and IBM, as well as in generic whitebox servers and JBOD enclosures from vendors like Supermicro. When integrating, it is essential to ensure the storage controller (HBA or RAID card) supports the SAS-12Gbps standard to avoid creating a performance bottleneck.