Dell PowerProtect DD6900

Name: Dell PowerProtect DD6900
Brand: Dell

CurrentStorage2U appliance + shelves

The Dell PowerProtect DD6900 is a versatile mid-tier backup appliance combining high data reduction ratios with scalable throughput for mid-sized enterprise data centers. With ingest rates reaching up to 33 TB/hr and expansion up to 288TB raw capacity, the DD6900 delivers enterprise-grade cyber resilience, automated cloud tiering, and seamless integration with major backup software.

Also written as: PowerProtect DD6900, Dell DD6900, DD6900 Midrange Backup Appliance

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Specifications

Brand	Dell
Family	PowerProtect DD
Form factor	2U appliance + shelves
Released	Sep 2019
Cpu platform	Dual Intel Xeon Silver 2nd Gen processors
Memory max (GB)	192
Raw capacity	Up to 288TB raw / 18.7PB logical usable capacity with Cloud Tier
Ingest throughput	Up to 33 TB/hr with DD Boost
Network onboard	Modular I/O supporting 25GbE SFP28, 10GbE, and 16Gb Fibre Channel
Power supply	Dual redundant hot-plug 1100W power supplies

Generations

Previous generation: Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD6800

Compatible parts

HBAs

540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BCMU Dell Emulex LPe35002 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter

Transceivers

407-BCBI Dell 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)

Rail kits

770-BCKW Dell ReadyRails II Sliding Rails for 2U PowerEdge Servers (B6)

Drive caddies

DXD9H Dell 2.5-inch Gen14/Gen15/Gen16 Hot-Plug Drive Caddy Tray (SFF)

SSDs

400-AZPZ Dell 1.92TB SAS Read Intensive 12Gb/s 2.5-inch Hot-Plug SSD
400-BDSD Dell 3.84TB SAS Read Intensive 12Gb/s 2.5-inch Hot-Plug SSD

Works together

How the Dell PowerProtect DD6900 connects to servers, storage and the network: 2 ways, with the parts and products on each path.

Fibre Channel SAN iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet

Fibre Channel SAN

Serverwith an FC HBAFC switchtwo fabrics, A and BStorage arrayFC host ports

Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).

Servers

Adapters for the server

540-BBUU Dell Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BBUV Dell QLogic 2692 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BCMS Dell QLogic 2770 Single Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter

Switches

Dell Connectrix MDS-9148T 1U rack
Dell Connectrix DS-6610B 1U rack
Dell Connectrix DS-6630B 2U switch
Dell Connectrix ED-DCX7-8B 14U director chassis

Optics

407-BBOG Dell 16Gb Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
407-BCBI Dell 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16G FC SFP+ ELWL 25 km

Fibre Channel SAN: how it fits together

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet

Server10/25/100GbE NICEthernet switchstorage VLAN, two switchesStorage arrayiSCSI or NVMe/TCP ports

Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.

Servers

Adapters for the server

540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter

Switches

Optics

407-BBOU Dell 10GbE SFP+ SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 300m MMF)
407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
SFP-10G-LR-AR Arista 10GBASE-LR SFP+ Optical Transceiver Module

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet: how it fits together

Plan and size it

Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
SAN transport and NVMe over FC for backup mrplanb.com
Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com

Check compatibility with Dell

Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Dell has tested with the Dell PowerProtect DD6900.

Compatibility Dell E-Lab Navigator (storage and SAN interoperability) (free vendor sign-in)
Support Dell Support: drivers, manuals and service tag lookup

Equivalent models from other brands

Buying a used PowerProtect DD6900: what to check

Check internal SSD cache drive wear levels, verify controller memory sticks, test 10GbE/25GbE interface negotiation, and ensure SAS expansion cables are included.

FAQ

What backup software packages integrate natively with the DD6900?

Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, Dell NetWorker, Veeam Backup & Replication, Commvault, and Veritas NetBackup via DD Boost.

Can the DD6900 start with lower capacity and expand later?

Yes, capacity can start as low as 24TB and scale up incrementally via shelf additions and capacity licenses.

Buying or selling PowerProtect DD6900?

New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.

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Sources

Dell PowerProtect DD6900 Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27