Dell PowerVault MD3800F
The Dell PowerVault MD3800F is an entry-to-midrange 2U Fibre Channel storage array equipped with dual 16Gb FC controllers and 12 3.5-inch drive bays. Designed for mid-sized enterprise SAN deployments, branch-office virtualization, and SQL database clusters, the MD3800F combines high-speed 16Gb optical fabric connectivity with affordable 3.5-inch capacity economics.
Also written as: PowerVault MD3800F, Dell MD3800F, MD3800F 16Gb FC 2U Array
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerVault MD |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Sep 2014 |
| End of sale | Jan 2020 |
| End of support | Jan 2025 |
| Controller type | Dual active-active 16Gb Fibre Channel RAID controllers, 4GB or 8GB cache per controller |
| Drive bays | 12x 3.5-inch SAS/NL-SAS/SSD drive bays in 2U enclosure; expands up to 192 drives |
| Raw capacity | Up to 120TB raw storage in base enclosure |
| Host interface | 4x 16Gb SFP+ Fibre Channel host ports per controller (8 ports total) |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 600W AC power supplies |
Generations
- Previous generation: Dell PowerVault MD3600F
- Next generation: Dell PowerVault ME4012
Compatible parts
Network adapters
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
OCP adapters
540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network 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)
SSDs
400-AZPZ Dell 1.92TB SAS Read Intensive 12Gb/s 2.5-inch Hot-Plug SSD
Works together
How the Dell PowerVault MD3800F connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, 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 R220 1U rack
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
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-9148S 1U switch
Dell Connectrix MDS-9710 14U director chassis
Dell Connectrix MP-7840B 2U switch
Dell Connectrix MDS-9396S 2U switch
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
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
- What an hour of downtime costs outagecost.org
- 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 MD3800F.
- 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 MD3800F: what to check
Verify internal RAID controller cache battery health, inspect installed 16Gb FC SFP+ optical transceivers, confirm MDSM management connectivity, and check power supply fans.
FAQ
What speed do the FC ports on the MD3800F negotiate at?
The 16Gb FC ports auto-negotiate to 16Gb, 8Gb, or 4Gb Fibre Channel fabrics.
How does the MD3800F expand capacity?
Via 12Gb mini-SAS HD expansion ports connecting to MD1200 or MD1220 disk expansion enclosures.
Buying or selling PowerVault MD3800F?
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 MD3800F Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27