Dell server and storage...
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I've used "other" drives in several different Dell products, like MD Storage and Servers.
Ever noticed any issues in doing so. -
Since they don't have the Dell firmware, would we lose the ability to see predictive failure etc? (all the nice jazzy stuff)...
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@Jimmy9008 said in Dell server and storage...:
Since they don't have the Dell firmware, would we lose the ability to see predictive failure etc? (all the nice jazzy stuff)...
I found these two links
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https://www.storagereview.com/samsung_magician_and_data_migration_overview
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https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/
They may help
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I've used regular (non-Dell) drives in servers for a while, zero issues. The iDRAC will still show predicted failures, etc in my experience. However, I have had no success putting non-Dell drives into storage devices (we have an MD3xxx, it will not recognize regular drives).
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@Jimmy9008 said in Dell server and storage...:
Does a Dell server/array need to use SSDs from Dell?
Need? No. Talk to xByte, they do testing with third party drives and can tell you what works and what doesn't.
It is generally advised, though, to use Dell parts because it makes warranty work a lot clearer, and guarantees that someone is on the hook for firmware support. If you don't want Dell drives, which is very understandable, the general advice is to also avoid Dell servers. The value is in the homogeneous nature. Once you part it out, the value is mostly lost.
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@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
I've used regular (non-Dell) drives in servers for a while, zero issues. The iDRAC will still show predicted failures, etc in my experience. However, I have had no success putting non-Dell drives into storage devices (we have an MD3xxx, it will not recognize regular drives).
Want to mention the specific drives that are working for you?
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@scottalanmiller said in Dell server and storage...:
t, the value is mo
Since were in the UK whenever I have looked at xByte it seems expensive for import fees. The units are out of warranty, this would be to run non critical storage which can be unavailable using the existing hardware but new disks (which are super expensive direct from Dell).
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@Jimmy9008 said in Dell server and storage...:
Since were in the UK whenever I have looked at xByte it seems expensive for import fee
I'm not suggesting you buy from them, but that they provide resources as to what drives work.
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@scottalanmiller said in Dell server and storage...:
@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
I've used regular (non-Dell) drives in servers for a while, zero issues. The iDRAC will still show predicted failures, etc in my experience. However, I have had no success putting non-Dell drives into storage devices (we have an MD3xxx, it will not recognize regular drives).
Want to mention the specific drives that are working for you?
Looking back at some of the invoices, some are regular drives with the same model number as the Dell ones, others are generic "dell compatible" drives bought on Amazon or NewEgg (simply because they include the hot swap tray for the price of a plain drive). All way cheaper than Dell.
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@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
@scottalanmiller said in Dell server and storage...:
@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
I've used regular (non-Dell) drives in servers for a while, zero issues. The iDRAC will still show predicted failures, etc in my experience. However, I have had no success putting non-Dell drives into storage devices (we have an MD3xxx, it will not recognize regular drives).
Want to mention the specific drives that are working for you?
Looking back at some of the invoices, some are regular drives with the same model number as the Dell ones, others are generic "dell compatible" drives bought on Amazon or NewEgg (simply because they include the hot swap tray for the price of a plain drive). All way cheaper than Dell.
so the secret is to find dell compatible drives?
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@WrCombs That has been my strategy. Works fine in servers, I got burned on ordering generic drives for the DAS. But I can repurpose those drives into a Hyper-V host or something.
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@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
@WrCombs That has been my strategy. Works fine in servers, I got burned on ordering generic drives for the DAS. But I can repurpose those drives into a Hyper-V host or something.
I gotcha
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@WrCombs that being said, we do order Actual Dell enterprise SSDs when we put flash in production machines.
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@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
@WrCombs that being said, we do order Actual Dell enterprise SSDs when we put flash in production machines.
You mean except that Dell manufacturers zero SSDs so it's actually a Samsung, Intel or something else?
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@Pete-S yup, usually Intel, but Dell branded / Dell firmware, and expensive, but the decision makers feel better about the warranty and longevity on production stuff.
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@Pete-S I believe Dell drives are manufactured by Toshiba.
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@Pete-S said in Dell server and storage...:
@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
@WrCombs that being said, we do order Actual Dell enterprise SSDs when we put flash in production machines.
You mean except that Dell manufacturers zero SSDs so it's actually a Samsung, Intel or something else?
Right. The drives Dell uses have Dell specific firmware.
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@wrx7m said in Dell server and storage...:
@Pete-S said in Dell server and storage...:
@RojoLoco said in Dell server and storage...:
@WrCombs that being said, we do order Actual Dell enterprise SSDs when we put flash in production machines.
You mean except that Dell manufacturers zero SSDs so it's actually a Samsung, Intel or something else?
Right. The drives Dell uses have Dell specific firmware.
I don't think it specific to Dell at all, but it is a firmware version that has been tested and evaluated by Dell so they know it works in their products and have the performance they are after.
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@Jimmy9008 said in Dell server and storage...:
Say we had a T640 server, or MD1200 DAS, or MD3820F SAN, could the drives be populated with say Samsung 860 SATA?
The Samsung 860 SATA are consumer drives so you should be looking at PM863 / SM863 instead (or the newer 883 series). That way you get a drive that is the same quality as you would get from Dell.
I imagine that the SAN uses SAS disks though. In that case it's another series.
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I had looked into getting some Intel ssds to put in the cachecade bays on my R720XDs a few years ago. Everyone said that they got the predictive failures or other warning on them because they didn't have the Dell firmware. I didn't end up doing it because I don't need a constant false positive that distracts or hides actual potential issues.
