Dell PowerProtect DD9900
The Dell PowerProtect DD9900 is an enterprise-scale protection storage appliance built for massive enterprise workload consolidation, multi-petabyte backup repositories, and mission-critical cyber recovery vaults. Powered by dual Intel Xeon Scalable processors and 100GbE networking, the DD9900 achieves up to 94 TB/hr throughput and shrinks physical storage requirements by an average of 65x.
Also written as: PowerProtect DD9900, Dell DD9900, DD9900 High-End Backup Appliance
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerProtect DD |
| Form factor | 2U appliance + shelves |
| Released | Sep 2019 |
| Cpu platform | Dual Intel Xeon Scalable 2nd Gen (Cascade Lake) processors |
| Memory max (GB) | 768 |
| Raw capacity | Up to 1.25PB raw / 81PB logical usable capacity with Cloud Tier |
| Ingest throughput | Up to 94 TB/hr with DD Boost |
| Network onboard | Modular I/O supporting 100GbE QSFP28, 25GbE SFP28, 10GbE, and 16Gb/32Gb FC |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 1600W power supplies |
Generations
- Previous generation: Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD9800
- Next generation: Dell PowerProtect DD9910
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 DD9900 connects to servers, storage and the network: 2 ways, with the parts and products on each path.
Fibre Channel SAN
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
Dell PowerEdge R6515 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R7515 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R6525 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R7525 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R240 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R340 1U rack
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
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
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
- Dell PowerEdge R6515 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R7515 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R6525 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R7525 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R240 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R340 1U rack
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
Dell PowerSwitch N3224F-ON 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N3224P-ON 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N3224T-ON 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N3248P-ON 1U switch
Optics
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 DD9900.
- 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 DD9900: what to check
Inspect SSD metadata cache drives in the controller, verify DD OS license keys (DD Boost, Retention Lock, Encryption), test 100GbE/25GbE network cards, and check dual 1600W power supplies.
FAQ
How many ES40 or DS60 expansion shelves can the DD9900 support?
The DD9900 supports multiple external shelves scaling up to 1.25PB of physical capacity.
Does the DD9900 support high availability (HA)?
Yes, an optional dual-controller active/standby High Availability configuration is supported for non-stop backup environments.
Buying or selling PowerProtect DD9900?
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.
Sources
- Dell PowerProtect DD9900 Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27