400-BRHG Dell Near Line SAS 12GBPS 4TB 7.2K 512n 3.5inch Hot-Plug HDD

Dell 400-BRHG 4TB Nearline SAS 12Gbps 3.5-inch Hot-Plug HDD

The Dell 400-BRHG 4TB Nearline SAS 12Gbps hard disk drive with tray offers enterprise-grade storage designed for reliability, scalability, and long-term efficiency. Built for Dell PowerEdge servers across multiple generations, this drive is engineered to balance cost, performance, and endurance while simplifying large-scale data management.

Key Specifications of Dell 400-BRHG

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 400-BRHG
• Device Type: Hot-Plug Nearline Hard Disk Drive
• Storage Capacity: 4TB
• Form Factor: 3.5-inch with Tray
• Interface: SAS 12Gbps
• Buffer: 256MB Cache
• Sector Size: 512n (Advanced Format)

Technical of Overview

• Model/Part: 400-BRHG (Dell OEM)
• Capacity: 4TB
• Interface: 12Gb/s SAS
• Form factor: 3.5-inch
• RPM: 7,200
• Sector size: 512n
• Use cases: backup, archive, capacity tier

Performance Features

• This high-capacity HDD is optimized for applications requiring bulk storage and smooth data handling
• Spindle Speed: 7200 RPM
• Average Latency: 4.16 ms
• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 1.2 Gbps (external)
• Consistent throughput for demanding workloads

Expansion & Connectivity

• Interface: 1 x SAS 12Gbps
• Hot-Plug Support: 3.5-inch bays
• Seamless tray integration for Dell servers

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge & PowerVault Systems

• The Dell 400-BRHG is fully tested and certified for use in a wide range of Dell PowerEdge 14G, 15G, 16G, and 17G servers, ensuring guaranteed performance and seamless integration.

Highlights & Benefits

• Optimized for Dell PowerEdge and PowerVault platforms
• Hot-plug design allows quick replacement without interrupting operations
• Reliable 7200 RPM speed ensures consistent performance
• Large 256MB buffer improves data caching and access
• Supports mission-critical workloads and long-term deployment

Best Use Cases

• Large data repositories
• Backup and recovery solutions
• Virtualization and cloud environments
• Enterprise storage arrays
• High-availability business applications

Data Integrity & Security

• Enterprise-grade SAS interface for secure, high-speed connections
• Consistent performance under heavy workloads
• Reduced latency and optimized error handling

400-BRHG Dell Near Line SAS 12Gbps 4TB 7.2K 512n 3.5" Hot-Plug Hard Disk Drive

The 400-BRHG Dell Near Line SAS drive is a purpose-built storage component designed for enterprise-class systems where large-capacity, cost-effective, and reliable nearline storage is required. With a native 12Gb/s SAS interface, 4TB capacity, and a rotational speed of 7,200 RPM, this 3.5-inch, 512n sector, hot-plug drive balances capacity and performance for archival, backup, and cold-to-warm tier workloads. This category encompasses variants and compatible models used across Dell PowerEdge servers, modular storage arrays, and JBOD enclosures that demand dense storage per bay, predictable latency, and robust connectivity.

Performance Characteristics and Real-World Throughput

Although raw throughput and latency are influenced by enclosure, backplane, RAID controller, and workload profile, 400-BRHG the 12Gb/s SAS interface provides a high-bandwidth path for sequential reads and writes. Measured in practical deployments, a single 7.2K 4TB NL-SAS drive typically delivers:

Use Cases & Best-Fit Scenarios

Backup Targets and Secondary Storage

The 4TB capacity and favorable cost-per-GB make these drives ideal as backup targets for on-premises backup appliances, deduplication arrays, and tape-replacement solutions. Their sustained sequential throughput handles backup windows, while SAS reliability reduces the risk of drive replacement during backups.

Archive & Long-Term Retention

For data that must be retained but accessed infrequently (e.g., archives, compliance data), NL-SAS provides a cost-effective solution with enterprise-grade features such as error recovery and ruggedized mechanical design for continuous operation.

Object Storage & Scale-Out Systems

Scale-out storage platforms and object stores (S3-compatible appliances) often combine many NL-SAS drives to achieve petabyte-scale capacity. The 3.5-inch form factor maximizes density per rack unit while the SAS interface supports enterprise management.

LED Indicators and Diagnostic Tools

Dell systems provide activity, fault, and locate LEDs on drive carriers. Use server management tools (iDRAC, Open Manage) to cross-reference drive slot indicators with logical drive information, SMART status, and predictive failure warnings.

SMART and Predictive Failure

Enable SMART 400-BRHG and regular health checks via Dell Open Manage or third-party monitoring stacks. Look for critical SMART attributes that commonly predict failure increased reallocated sectors, pending sectors, or high read-error rates — and replace drives proactively to avoid data loss and lengthy rebuilds.

Firmware, Considerations

Firmware plays a crucial role in drive stability and compatibility. Dell often releases firmware that addresses interoperability, performance, and security issues. Best practices include:

• Keep a baseline image of validated firmware across homogenous clusters to avoid mixed-firmware behavior.
• Test firmware updates in a staging environment when possible; firmware updates can change drive behavior under certain controllers.
• Authenticate firmware sources and follow vendor instructions to avoid bricking or invalidating warranties.

Energy Use & Thermal Management

7,200 RPM drives consume more power than lower-RPM archival drives but less than 10K/15K enterprise spindles. Designing efficient cooling and power distribution within racks is essential. Estimate power per bay and design redundant power supplies accordingly. Maintain recommended airflow paths in the chassis — blocked or reversed airflow drastically increases drive temperatures and shortens lifespan. Use environmental sensors and chassis fan control to ensure thermal thresholds are not exceeded during high-IO or rebuild operations.

Noise and Rack Considerations

Multiple 3.5-inch drives in a dense enclosure generate measurable acoustic noise; plan for data center acoustic policies and hardware placement away from noise-sensitive areas.

When NL-SAS is the Right Choice

NL-SAS is ideal when capacity density, moderate sequential performance, enterprise manageability, and cost-efficiency are the primary drivers. Use NL-SAS for bulk storage, backup, archival, and as part of tiered storage policies where SSDs handle hot data.

APIs and Automation

Automate drive lifecycle tasks — firmware updates, health checks, and drive replacement workflows — using vendor APIs (iDRAC REST API, Redfish) or orchestration tools to reduce human error and speed remediation.

My drive shows SMART warnings  should I replace it immediately

SMART warnings often indicate increasing risk. Evaluate the specific attributes (reallocated sectors, pending sectors). If in a RAID array with hot-spares and a non-critical dataset, you may schedule replacement; for critical data, replace immediately after ensuring backups are current.

Can I use this drive in a non-Dell enclosure

Yes, technically the 12Gb/s SAS drive uses standard SAS signalling and mechanical dimensions; however, Dell OEM firmware and caddy design may have vendor-specific behaviors. Validate compatibility, particularly for the enclosure’s backplane and management features.

Regulatory & Industry Certifications

Enterprise drives often comply with industry standards for emissions, safety, and data integrity. Check product documentation for certifications such as:

• CE, FCC (electromagnetic compliance)
• RoHS (hazardous substances)
• Various country-specific safety approvals

For regulated industries, verify that the drive’s manufacturing and firmware processes meet procurement requirements.

Closing Product Details

In the context of capacity-driven enterprise needs, the Dell 400-BRHG Near Line SAS 12Gbps 4TB 7.2K 512n 3.5" hot-plug hard disk drive represents a pragmatic balance of storage density, manageability, and cost efficiency. Its characteristics make it suitable for backup tiers, archive systems, and scale-out object storage where predictable performance, enterprise-class connectivity, and hot-swap serviceability are priorities. When combined into arrays with considered RAID strategies, modern controllers, and an effective maintenance and monitoring plan, these drives form the backbone of many cost-optimized, high-capacity deployments.

Next Steps for IT Teams

When preparing to deploy or replace drives in your environment, document compatibility checks, schedule firmware and health assessments, and plan for a phased rollout that reduces risk. Leverage vendor support and proven best practices to achieve predictable operations and maintain data integrity at scale.