161-BCDP Dell 2.4TB 10K RPM SAS-12GBPS 512e SFF Hot-plug HDD

Highlights of Dell 161-BCDP 2.4TB SAS HDD

The Dell 161-BCDP is a high-performance 2.5-inch enterprise-class hard disk drive designed to fit into a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier. It offers advanced storage technology with a blend of reliability, speed, and encryption features, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical data workloads.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Dell
• Model Number: 161-BCDP
• Storage Type: Hard Disk Drive with Hybrid Tray
• Total Capacity: 2.4TB
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch drive housed in a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier
• Interface: SAS 12Gb/s connectivity
• Cache Memory: 256MB multi-segmented
• Sector Format: Advanced Format 512e
• Security: Self-encrypting drive (FIPS 140 compliant)

Performance Highlights

This enterprise storage drive ensures consistent performance across demanding environments with rapid access speeds and efficient data transfers.

• Rotational Speed: 10,000 RPM for accelerated access times
• Average Latency: 2.9 milliseconds
• Transfer Rate: Sustained throughput ranges from 270 MB/s (outer) to 117 MB/s (inner)
• External Data Rate: 1200 Mbps
• Cache Size: 256MB multi-segmented cache for enhanced buffering

Advanced Caching & NAND Features

Enhanced I/O Acceleration

Engineered with intelligent caching algorithms, the drive reduces latency and boosts responsiveness in intensive workloads.

Built-in NAND Support

• NAND Type: eMLC technology
• NAND Capacity: 16GB onboard for improved caching operations
• Endurance Management: Smart NAND wear-leveling for longer lifespan

Connectivity & Expansion

The drive is tailored for seamless deployment in enterprise environments with versatile compatibility and hot-swap capability.

• Interface: Single SAS 12Gb/s port
• Supported Bays: 2.5-inch hot-swap drive slots within a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge & PowerVault

Supported Server Platforms

This drive is certified for a broad range of Dell servers, ensuring smooth integration into existing infrastructures.

Rack Servers

• PowerEdge R250, R340, R350, R360
• PowerEdge R440, R450, R540, R550
• PowerEdge R640, R6415, R650, R650xs
• PowerEdge R6515, R6525, R660, R6625
• PowerEdge R740, R740xd, R7415, R7425
• PowerEdge R750, R750xs, R7515, R7525
• PowerEdge R760, R760xs, R7615

Tower Servers

• PowerEdge T350, T360, T550

Specialized Systems

• BSN Services Node
• PowerVault NX440
• PowerEdge C6420, C6525

High-Performance Enterprise Storage: Dell 161-BCDP 2.4TB SAS HDD

The Dell 161-BCDP 2.4TB 10K RPM SAS-12Gbps HDD is engineered for demanding enterprise environments requiring consistent throughput, high reliability, and scalable storage. This 2.5-inch drive, mounted in a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier, offers hot-plug capability, making it ideal for mission-critical applications in data centers, virtualization clusters, and transactional databases. With a 256MB buffer and 512e sector format, it delivers optimized performance for mixed workloads while maintaining compatibility across multiple Dell PowerEdge server generations.

Category Overview: SAS 12Gbps 10K RPM Enterprise HDDs

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 12Gbps drives represent the backbone of enterprise-grade storage. The 10K RPM spindle speed balances performance and power efficiency, making these drives suitable for tiered storage architectures. Compared to SATA alternatives, SAS drives offer dual-port redundancy, enhanced error correction, and superior command queuing, which are critical for high-availability systems.

Key Attributes of the Dell 161-BCDP SAS HDD

• Capacity: 2.4TB formatted with 512e sector emulation for broad OS compatibility
• Interface: SAS-12Gbps for high-speed data transfer and dual-port failover
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch drive housed in a 3.5-inch hybrid carrier for flexible bay support
• Spindle Speed: 10,000 RPM for low-latency access and consistent IOPS
• Buffer: 256MB cache for accelerated read/write operations
• Hot-Plug Support: Enables drive replacement without system downtime

Subcategory Focus: Hybrid Carrier Drives for Dell Servers

Drives like the 161-BCDP are designed with hybrid carriers to ensure compatibility across both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drive bays. This flexibility is crucial for IT teams managing mixed-generation Dell PowerEdge servers, including R630, R730, R740xd, and T640 models. Hybrid carriers reduce inventory complexity and streamline deployment in rack and tower configurations.

Compatibility Matrix: Dell PowerEdge Integration

The 161-BCDP HDD is validated for use in a wide range of Dell PowerEdge systems. Its hot-plug design and hybrid carrier ensure seamless integration with:

• R630, R730, R740xd, R640, R540, R440 rack servers
• T640, T440 tower servers
• VRTX shared infrastructure platforms

Firmware optimization and Dell-certified compatibility ensure that the drive supports RAID configurations, system diagnostics, and lifecycle controller management without firmware conflicts or performance degradation.

Performance Optimization: 10K RPM vs. 7.2K RPM Drives

The 10K RPM spindle speed of the 161-BCDP offers a significant performance uplift over traditional 7.2K RPM HDDs. With faster seek times and higher IOPS, this drive is ideal for workloads involving frequent random access, such as OLTP databases, email servers, and virtualization hosts. The 256MB buffer further enhances throughput by reducing latency during burst operations.

Use Case Scenarios

• Virtualization: Supports VM storage with low latency and high reliability
• Database Hosting: Ideal for SQL, Oracle, and NoSQL environments
• Email and Collaboration: Handles Exchange and SharePoint workloads efficiently
• Tiered Storage: Serves as mid-tier between SSDs and archival HDDs

Advanced Sector Format: 512e for Broad Compatibility

The 512e (512-byte emulation) sector format ensures compatibility with legacy operating systems and RAID controllers while leveraging the benefits of advanced format drives. This makes the 161-BCDP suitable for mixed environments where both modern and older systems coexist.

Benefits of 512e Format

• Improved error correction and data integrity
• Reduced overhead in RAID rebuilds
• Enhanced compatibility with legacy BIOS and OS

Hot-Plug Functionality: Maximizing Uptime

The hot-plug capability of the Dell 161-BCDP allows IT administrators to replace or upgrade drives without powering down the server. This feature is essential for maintaining uptime in enterprise environments where service interruptions can lead to revenue loss or SLA violations.

Operational Advantages

• Rapid drive replacement during RAID rebuilds
• Minimized downtime during maintenance
• Streamlined scalability for growing storage needs

Reliability and Endurance: Enterprise-Grade Durability

Dell enterprise HDDs undergo rigorous testing for thermal stability, vibration resistance, and power cycle endurance. The 161-BCDP is built to withstand 24/7 operation in high-density environments, with MTBF ratings exceeding 2 million hours and workload ratings of up to 550TB/year.

Enterprise Reliability Features

• Rotational Vibration Safeguard (RVS) for multi-drive enclosures
• Enhanced ECC algorithms for data integrity
• SMART diagnostics for predictive failure analysis

Security and Data Protection

While the 161-BCDP does not include native SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) functionality, it supports controller-level encryption and secure erase protocols. This ensures compliance with data protection standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS when paired with compatible RAID controllers.

Data Protection Strategies

• Controller-based encryption with Dell PERC RAID cards
• Secure erase via Dell OMSA or iDRAC
• Firmware-level diagnostics for data integrity

Thermal and Acoustic Efficiency

The 2.5-inch form factor of the 161-BCDP, combined with its hybrid carrier, allows for efficient airflow and reduced acoustic output in dense server racks. This contributes to lower cooling costs and quieter operation in office-adjacent deployments.

Environmental Specifications

• Operating temperature: 5°C to 55°C
• Acoustic output: < 3.6 bels during seek
• Power consumption: ~6.4W active, ~4.2W idle

Deployment Flexibility: Hybrid Carrier Advantages

The hybrid carrier design enables seamless installation in both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drive bays. This is particularly beneficial for organizations transitioning between server generations or consolidating storage across mixed form factors.

Hybrid Carrier Benefits

• Universal bay compatibility across Dell platforms
• Tool-less installation and removal
• Reduced inventory complexity