Dell PowerVault MD1220
The Dell PowerVault MD1220 is a 2U direct-attached storage (DAS) enclosure holding twenty-four 2.5-inch drives, connecting via 6Gb/s SAS SFF-8088 ports. Designed to provide high-density spindle or SSD expansion for Dell PowerEdge servers, the MD1220 delivers high transactional I/O throughput in a space-saving 2U enclosure. Paired with PERC H800/H810 controllers, it was widely used for SQL database logging and virtual machine storage. In the second-hand market, it is popular for all-flash homelab setups and dedicated SSD testbeds. Buyers should ensure all 24 drive trays are supplied.
Also written as: PowerVault MD1220, Dell MD1220, MD1220 6Gb SAS JBOD
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerVault |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Mar 2010 |
| End of sale | Dec 2015 |
| End of support | Dec 2020 |
| Drive bays | 24x 2.5-inch hot-swap SAS/SSD drives |
| Raw capacity | Up to 48TB raw capacity per enclosure |
| Network onboard | Dual redundant Enclosure Management Modules (EMM) with 6Gb/s mini-SAS (SFF-8088) ports |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 600W power supplies |
Generations
- Next generation: Dell PowerVault MD1420
Compatible parts
Hard drives
400-AJPC Dell 600GB 10K RPM SAS 12Gb/s 512n 2.5in Hot-Plug Hard Drive
400-AJPD Dell 1.2TB 10K RPM SAS 12Gb/s 2.5-inch Hot-Plug Hard Drive
Works together
How the Dell PowerVault MD1220 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
Direct-attached SAS
12Gb SAS uses Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors; older 6Gb gear uses Mini-SAS (SFF-8088). Adapter cables exist, but the link runs at the slower speed.
Servers
Dell PowerEdge R430 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R530 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R630 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730xd 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R230 1U rack
Adapters for the server
405-AANT Dell 12Gbps SAS HBA Dual Port External PCIe Controller
405-AASU Dell HBA355e External SAS 12Gb/s Host Bus Adapter
05-50076-01 Broadcom HBA 9500-16e PCIe 4.0 Tri-Mode 16-Port External Host Bus Adapter
4Y37A09724 Lenovo ThinkSystem 440-16e SAS/SATA PCIe Gen4 12Gb HBA
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- LTO tape prices and archive advisor tapebackup.org
- Enterprise backup Ledger: backup software scored mrplanb.com
- LTO tape for backup mrplanb.com
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Equivalent models from other brands
- HPE D2700 Jbod
Buying a used MD1220: what to check
Check SFF-8088 SAS ports on dual EMM modules, verify dual 600W power supplies, and confirm that 2.5-inch drive trays are included.
FAQ
What connection does the MD1220 require?
External mini-SAS SFF-8088 cables connected to an external SAS HBA or RAID controller.
How many drives fit in the MD1220?
Twenty-four 2.5-inch SAS spinning hard drives or solid-state drives.
Buying or selling MD1220?
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 PowerVault MD1220 Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27