345-BLPQ Dell 15.36TB 2.5-Inch NVMe Gen4 PCI-E SSD.

Dell 345-BLPQ 15.36TB 2.5-Inch SFF NVMe U.2 Gen4 PCI-E SSD Overview

The Dell 345-BLPQ 15.36TB 2.5-Inch SFF NVMe U.2 Gen4 PCI-E SSD is a high-capacity, enterprise-grade solid-state drive designed to deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and efficiency for modern data center environments. Leveraging the PCIe Gen4 NVMe interface, it offers unparalleled throughput, ultra-low latency, and optimized IOPS performance, making it ideal for high-demand workloads such as virtualization, cloud computing, big data analytics, and AI applications. Its 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) and U.2 connector allow high-density deployments with hot-swappable capability, ensuring minimal downtime during maintenance or upgrades. With a massive 15.36TB storage capacity, this SSD addresses enterprise-level storage requirements while maintaining consistent and reliable performance.

Deployment Benefits

• High-capacity storage for enterprise workloads
• Seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers
• Hot-swap capability for uninterrupted operations
• Reliable performance for mission-critical applications
• Optional hardware encryption and secure erase support

Form Factor and Interface

2.5-Inch SFF Design for Enterprise Environments

The Dell 345-BLPQ’s 2.5-inch SFF design maximizes storage density in rack-mounted servers, allowing data centers to deploy more storage in less space. This form factor is widely supported across Dell PowerEdge servers and other compatible enterprise systems, providing flexibility in deployment. The compact size coupled with hot-swap capability enhances operational efficiency by enabling quick replacement or upgrades without system shutdowns, a critical feature for high-availability applications.

PCIe Gen4 NVMe Interface Advantages

The PCIe Gen4 interface doubles the bandwidth compared to previous generations, enabling higher sequential read and write speeds. The NVMe protocol optimizes command sets for flash storage, reducing latency and supporting multiple queues, which allows servers to process data faster and handle larger workloads simultaneously. This makes the Dell 345-BLPQ ideal for performance-intensive applications such as online transaction processing, virtualization, and large-scale analytics.

U.2 Connectivity for High Performance

Utilizing a U.2 connector, the Dell 345-BLPQ supports hot-swappable deployment and provides robust high-speed connectivity. This interface allows easy integration into enterprise storage arrays and server environments while ensuring uninterrupted operation during drive replacements or upgrades. U.2 also supports advanced management features, allowing administrators to monitor drive health and performance effectively.

Performance Characteristics

High Sequential Throughput

The Dell 345-BLPQ delivers remarkable sequential read and write performance, making it suitable for large-scale file transfers, multimedia processing, and data-intensive applications. High sequential throughput accelerates workloads such as backup operations, scientific simulations, and data analytics pipelines, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall system efficiency.

Random IOPS and Low Latency

Optimized for random read and write operations, the Dell 345-BLPQ provides high IOPS performance and extremely low latency. This ensures rapid data access for mission-critical enterprise applications such as databases, e-commerce platforms, and virtualized workloads. Low latency improves responsiveness and supports real-time analytics for faster decision-making.

Mixed-Workload Optimization

Engineered for enterprise-scale workloads, the Dell 345-BLPQ is capable of handling mixed read/write operations efficiently. It balances endurance and performance, making it suitable for environments where data access patterns vary, including cloud services, AI/ML processing, virtualization, and hybrid storage deployments.

Enterprise Deployment Use Cases

Database Acceleration

The Dell 345-BLPQ significantly improves OLTP and OLAP database performance. It accelerates query execution, reduces transaction times, and ensures consistent access for multiple concurrent users. Enterprises running ERP systems, financial databases, or analytical platforms benefit from faster insights and more reliable performance.

Cloud Computing and SaaS

With its high capacity and performance, the Dell 345-BLPQ is well-suited for cloud-native applications and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deployments. It enables rapid data availability for distributed users, supports scalable workloads, and maintains consistent performance under heavy usage.

High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI

HPC and AI workloads require fast and reliable access to large datasets. The Dell 345-BLPQ supports machine learning training and inference by providing rapid data ingestion, low-latency retrieval, and consistent throughput, which are critical for data-intensive computations, simulations, and predictive modeling.

Reliability and Endurance

Enterprise-Grade Durability

Designed for high-performance enterprise applications, the Dell 345-BLPQ provides enterprise-class durability. It maintains consistent performance over its lifecycle, supporting sustained high read and write operations without degradation. This reliability reduces maintenance costs and extends the overall lifespan of storage infrastructure.

Power Loss Protection

The SSD includes power loss protection (PLP), ensuring that data in transit is safely written to NAND flash during unexpected outages. This feature safeguards critical information, maintaining data integrity and reducing the risk of corruption in mission-critical applications.

Error Correction and Data Integrity

Advanced end-to-end error correction (ECC) and data integrity mechanisms protect against silent data corruption and ensure the accuracy of stored information. This feature is essential for applications in finance, healthcare, research, and other data-sensitive industries.

Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) Options

The Dell 345-BLPQ offers hardware-based encryption through Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) options, ensuring that sensitive enterprise data remains protected at rest without impacting drive performance. This helps organizations comply with strict security and regulatory requirements.

Secure Erase Functionality

Secure erase capabilities enable administrators to completely remove all data before decommissioning or repurposing the SSD. This ensures data privacy, regulatory compliance, and prevents unauthorized data access.

SMART Diagnostics

The Dell 345-BLPQ supports Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART), allowing administrators to track drive health, temperature, wear levels, and error rates. This proactive monitoring reduces downtime and enables early detection of potential failures.

Dell Open Manage Integration

Integrated with Dell Open Manage, the SSD can be centrally monitored and managed across multiple servers. IT administrators can perform firmware updates, track performance metrics, and maintain consistent storage health throughout the data center.

Deployment Best Practices

Workload Optimization

The Dell 345-BLPQ excels in high-capacity, low-latency environments requiring consistent performance across read-heavy and mixed-use workloads. For highly write-intensive applications, alternative write-optimized SSD models may be recommended.