Dell 345-BHMV 3.84TB SAS 24GBPS MU SFF SED SSD

Dell 345-BHMV 3.84TB Mixed Use SSD Overview

The Dell 345-BHMV 3.84TB SAS 24Gbps Mixed Use 2.5-inch Hot-Plug SED SSD is a high-performance enterprise-grade solid-state drive engineered for demanding workloads in Dell PowerEdge 14th, 15th, and 16th generation servers. Designed to deliver exceptional throughput, reliability, and security, this SSD is ideal for mixed-use applications that require balanced read/write performance. With its 24Gbps SAS interface, self-encrypting drive (SED) capabilities, and hot-plug support, it offers a robust solution for data centers, virtualization environments, and mission-critical enterprise deployments.

Interface and Performance Characteristics

The 24Gbps SAS interface represents a significant leap in enterprise storage bandwidth, doubling the throughput of previous 12Gbps SAS drives. This enhanced interface allows the Dell 345-BHMV SSD to achieve faster data transfer rates, reduced latency, and improved IOPS performance across mixed-use workloads. Whether deployed in transactional databases, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), or high-volume web applications, the drive ensures consistent performance under sustained load.

Key Performance Metrics

• Sequential Read Speed: Up to 2,100 MB/s
• Sequential Write Speed: Up to 1,800 MB/s
• Random Read IOPS: Up to 250,000
• Random Write IOPS: Up to 100,000
• Latency: Sub-millisecond response times

Mixed-Use Optimization

Classified as a mixed-use SSD, the Dell 345-BHMV is optimized for environments with a balanced ratio of read and write operations. This makes it suitable for workloads such as email servers, CRM platforms, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The drive’s endurance rating supports a moderate number of drive writes per day (DWPD), ensuring long-term reliability without sacrificing performance.

Form Factor and Compatibility

Featuring a 2.5-inch small form factor (SFF), the Dell 345-BHMV SSD is designed for high-density server configurations. Its hot-plug capability allows for seamless drive replacement or upgrades without system downtime, which is critical for maintaining uptime in enterprise environments. The drive is fully compatible with Dell PowerEdge 14G, 15G, and 16G servers, including models such as R640, R740xd, R750, and R760.

Hot-Plug Functionality

Hot-plug support enables IT administrators to insert or remove the SSD while the server is operational. This feature is essential for minimizing service interruptions during maintenance, scaling, or failure recovery. The drive integrates smoothly with Dell’s iDRAC and OpenManage tools, allowing for real-time monitoring and management.

Supported Server Models

• Dell PowerEdge R640, R740, R740xd
• Dell PowerEdge R750, R760
• Dell PowerEdge T640, MX740c, MX840c
• Compatible with 14G, 15G, and 16G server generations

Drive Tray and Carrier Options

The SSD is typically shipped with a Dell-certified drive tray or carrier, ensuring secure installation and optimal airflow within the server chassis. These trays are engineered for tool-less installation and are compatible with Dell’s hot-swap bays.

Security Features: Self-Encrypting Drive (SED)

The Dell 345-BHMV SSD incorporates advanced security features, including self-encrypting drive (SED) technology. SEDs automatically encrypt all data written to the drive using AES 256-bit encryption, ensuring data protection at rest. This is particularly valuable for organizations handling sensitive information such as financial records, healthcare data, or intellectual property.

SED Benefits

• Hardware-based encryption with zero performance impact
• Instant secure erase for rapid decommissioning
• Compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)
• Protection against unauthorized access in case of drive theft

Secure Erase and Key Management

The drive supports secure erase commands that cryptographically erase the encryption key, rendering all data inaccessible. Dell’s enterprise management tools facilitate key rotation and drive sanitization, ensuring compliance with corporate security policies.

Endurance and Reliability

Enterprise SSDs like the Dell 345-BHMV are built for durability and sustained performance. With a 3.84TB capacity and mixed-use endurance rating, this drive supports a wide range of applications without compromising lifespan. It features wear-leveling algorithms, error correction code (ECC), and power-loss protection to safeguard data integrity.

Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD)

The DWPD rating for this SSD typically ranges between 1 to 3, depending on workload and usage patterns. This translates to reliable performance over a 5-year duty cycle, even in environments with moderate write intensity.

MTBF and UBER Ratings

• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): >2 million hours
• Unrecoverable Bit Error Rate (UBER): <1 in 10¹⁷ bits read

Power-Loss Protection

Integrated capacitors provide power-loss protection, ensuring that in-flight data is safely written to NAND in the event of unexpected power failure. This feature is critical for maintaining transactional integrity in database and financial systems.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Dell 345-BHMV SSD is versatile enough to support a broad spectrum of enterprise applications. Its balanced performance profile makes it ideal for mixed-use scenarios where both read and write operations are frequent and critical.

Primary Use Cases

• Virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V)
• Database servers (SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL)
• Enterprise email and collaboration tools
• Web hosting and content delivery networks
• ERP and CRM systems

Deployment in RAID Configurations

The SSD performs exceptionally well in RAID 10 and RAID 5 configurations, offering redundancy and performance. Dell’s PERC RAID controllers fully support this drive, enabling advanced caching and fault tolerance.

Scalability and Tiered Storage

In tiered storage architectures, the Dell 345-BHMV can serve as the performance tier, complementing high-capacity HDDs used for archival or cold data. Its low latency and high throughput make it ideal for front-end storage layers.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Management

Power consumption is a critical factor in data center operations. The Dell 345-BHMV SSD is engineered for energy efficiency, consuming significantly less power than traditional spinning disks while delivering superior performance.

Typical Power Consumption

• Active Read/Write: ~6.5 Watts
• Idle: ~2.5 Watts

Thermal Characteristics

The drive operates within a temperature range of 0°C to 70°C and includes thermal throttling mechanisms to prevent overheating. Dell servers provide active cooling and airflow management to maintain optimal operating conditions.

Environmental Compliance

• RoHS Compliant
• Halogen-Free Design
• Low Carbon Footprint Manufacturing

Firmware and Management Tools

Dell provides robust firmware support and management utilities for the 345-BHMV SSD. Firmware updates can be deployed via Dell Repository Manager or iDRAC, ensuring the drive remains secure and optimized.

SMART Monitoring and Diagnostics

The SSD supports SMART attributes for health monitoring, including wear level, temperature, and error rates. These diagnostics are accessible through Dell OpenManage and third-party tools for proactive maintenance.