Dell PowerStore 3000T
The Dell PowerStore 3000T is a high-performance enterprise all-flash storage array engineered for core corporate virtualization, transactional database clustering (Oracle, SQL Server), and multi-protocol enterprise NAS. Equipped with dual active-active controller nodes totaling 48 processing cores and 768GB of memory, the 3000T delivers rapid response times across mixed block and file workloads. Powered by hardware-assisted data deduplication and compression, it scales both vertically via expansion shelves and horizontally across a four-appliance cluster. Secondary market purchasers should test cache battery integrity and verify controller memory parity.
Also written as: PowerStore 3000T, Dell EMC PowerStore 3000T
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerStore |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | May 2020 |
| Cpu platform | Dual active-active storage nodes, Intel Xeon Gold 6240 (24 cores per node, 48 cores per appliance) |
| Memory max (GB) | 768 |
| Drive bays | Up to 25x 2.5-inch NVMe SSDs in base DPE; expands up to 96 drives across DAEs |
| Raw capacity | Up to 3.5 PB effective capacity per appliance |
| Network onboard | 4-port 25GbE Mezzanine; 2x I/O module slots per node supporting 32Gb FC, 25GbE, or NVMe/TCP |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 1800W Platinum power supplies |
Generations
- Previous generation: Dell Unity XT 680XT
- Next generation: Dell PowerStore 3200T
Works together
How the Dell PowerStore 3000T connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 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 R6525 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R7525 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R250 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R350 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R450 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R550 2U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BBUU Dell Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BCMU Dell Emulex LPe35002 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BBUV Dell QLogic 2692 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
Switches
Dell Connectrix DS-6610B 1U rack
Dell Connectrix DS-6620B 1U rack
Dell Connectrix DS-7720B 1U rack
Dell Connectrix MDS-9148T 1U rack
Optics
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 R6525 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R7525 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R250 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R350 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R450 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R550 2U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
540-BCOW Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Network Adapter
540-BDCE Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
Switches
Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5248F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5232F-ON 1U rack
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-SR-AR Arista 10GBASE-SR SFP+ Optical Transceiver
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
- Dell PowerEdge R6525 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R7525 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R250 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R350 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R450 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R550 2U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
- 540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
- 540-BCOW Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Network Adapter
- 540-BDCE Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
Switches
- Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5248F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5232F-ON 1U rack
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-SR-AR Arista 10GBASE-SR SFP+ Optical Transceiver
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 PowerStore 3000T.
- 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
- Pure Storage Storage Flasharray X50
- NetApp Aff A400
Buying a used 3000T: what to check
Verify each controller node holds 384GB RAM (768GB total per appliance). Confirm BBU battery health status via PowerStore Manager CLI, and verify 32Gb FC SFP+ optics.
FAQ
What host connectivity does the PowerStore 3000T provide?
Up to 16 front-end ports per appliance supporting 32Gb/16Gb Fibre Channel, 25GbE/10GbE iSCSI, and NVMe-oF.
Can the 3000T cluster with other PowerStore models?
Yes, PowerStore supports mixed clustering of different T-series models (e.g. 1000T, 3000T, 5000T) in a single unified cluster.
Buying or selling 3000T?
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 PowerStore 3000T Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27