Dell PowerVault MD3600i
The Dell PowerVault MD3600i is an early 10GbE iSCSI SAN storage system featuring dual controllers and 12 3.5-inch drive bays in a 2U chassis. Built to bring 10-Gigabit Ethernet storage throughput to virtualization clusters and database environments, the MD3600i delivered reliable IP-based block presentation without requiring specialized FC switches or HBAs.
Also written as: PowerVault MD3600i, Dell MD3600i, MD3600i 10GbE iSCSI 2U Array
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerVault MD |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Sep 2011 |
| End of sale | Jan 2016 |
| End of support | Jan 2021 |
| Controller type | Dual active-active 10GbE iSCSI RAID controllers, 2GB or 4GB cache per controller |
| Drive bays | 12x 3.5-inch SAS/NL-SAS drive bays in 2U enclosure; expands up to 192 drives |
| Raw capacity | Up to 48TB raw storage in base enclosure (with 4TB drives) |
| Host interface | 2x 10GBASE-T or 10GbE SFP+ iSCSI host ports per controller (4 ports total) |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 600W AC power supplies |
Generations
- Next generation: Dell PowerVault MD3800i
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-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
X7K8W Dell 3.5-inch Gen14/Gen15/Gen16 Hot-Plug Drive Caddy Tray (LFF)
Works together
How the Dell PowerVault MD3600i 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 R320 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R420 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R520 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R620 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R720 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R720xd 2U 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-9710 14U director chassis
Dell Connectrix MDS-9706 9U director chassis
Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S 1U switch
Dell Connectrix MP-7840B 2U switch
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 R320 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R420 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R520 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R620 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R720 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R720xd 2U 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 N2024 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N2024P 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N2048 1U switch
Dell PowerSwitch N2048P 1U switch
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
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 PowerVault MD3600i.
- 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 PowerVault MD3600i: what to check
Verify whether controller ports are 10GBASE-T or SFP+ optical, inspect RAID cache battery status, confirm MDSM utility connectivity, and test redundant power supplies.
FAQ
Can the MD3600i coexist with 1GbE management traffic?
Yes, dedicated 1GbE out-of-band management Ethernet ports are separate from the 10GbE data path ports.
What RAID levels does the MD3600i support?
It supports RAID 0, 1, 10, 5, 6, and Dynamic Disk Pools (DDP).
Buying or selling PowerVault MD3600i?
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 MD3600i Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27