Dell PowerVault MD3820F
The Dell PowerVault MD3820F is a high-performance 2U SAN array utilizing dual 16Gb Fibre Channel controllers and 24 2.5-inch drive bays. Designed for I/O-intensive workloads, mixed VMware environments, and transactional database services, the MD3820F leverages 2.5-inch high-RPM SAS drives and solid-state disks to deliver low latencies over Fibre Channel fabrics.
Also written as: PowerVault MD3820F, Dell MD3820F, MD3820F 2.5-inch 16Gb FC 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 | 24x 2.5-inch SAS/SSD drive bays in 2U enclosure; expands up to 192 drives |
| Raw capacity | Up to 48TB raw storage in base enclosure with SAS drives; supports SSD caching |
| 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 MD3620F
- Next generation: Dell PowerVault ME4024
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
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
Works together
How the Dell PowerVault MD3820F 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 MD3820F.
- 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 MD3820F: what to check
Test cache memory and backup battery health on both controllers, confirm 16Gb transceivers are recognized in MDSM, check 24 drive sleds, and verify dual 600W power modules.
FAQ
Does the MD3820F support SSD read caching?
Yes, High Performance Tier (HPT) and SSD Cache features allow solid-state drives to accelerate random read workloads.
Can the MD3820F be connected to 8Gb FC switches?
Yes, 16Gb optical transceivers backwards-negotiate to 8Gb and 4Gb switch ports.
Buying or selling PowerVault MD3820F?
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 MD3820F Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27