Dell EqualLogic Hard Drives

Match the drive type to your PS Series model

The letters after an EqualLogic model number name the drive type the array shipped with, and Dell's PS6210 manual says to install only drives of the same type, speed and spin rate in an array.

Some PS Series arrays shipped with 7.2K SATA drives; match those by part number. SSDs for the S, XS and ES models are on the EqualLogic SSDs page linked below.

What the array does when a drive fails

A PS Series array rebuilds onto a spare when it has one. On PS Series firmware 7.0 and later, and on 5.2.5 and 6.0.1 and later, Dell added a copy-to-spare operation that replaces a failing drive without a full RAID rebuild. Without a spare, the RAID set runs degraded and performance can drop; a RAID 6 set survives two simultaneous drive failures, but a further failure in an already degraded set can lose data, which then has to come from backup. Dell's instruction is to replace a failed drive, never reinstall it, and to keep every slot filled with a drive or a blank carrier.

Replacing a failed drive

You can replace a failed EqualLogic drive while the array keeps running; Dell's PS6210 manual describes the drives as hot-swappable. The replacement should match the failed drive's type, speed and spin rate. A larger drive is accepted, but Dell notes that the smallest drive in the array sets how much space can be used on each drive. After insertion the array waits two minutes before configuring the drive into a RAID set, and a drive inserted during RAID reconstruction or verification waits until that operation completes. Dell also warns that removing a drive from its carrier voids the warranty and support contract, so EqualLogic drives travel in their keyed carriers; if a replacement needs one, see Drive Caddies & Trays.

Why the drive must be a Dell EqualLogic part

PS Series arrays accept only Dell-provided drives. Dell writes that it uses specially qualified and tested hard drives for its EqualLogic systems, manages drive quality and firmware only for those drives, and that attempts to use other, unapproved drives will not be successful. A retail Seagate or HGST drive of the same model is therefore not a substitute for the EqualLogic part, even when capacity and speed match; the Dell part number on the failed drive's label is the reliable match. For the interface differences, read SAS vs SATA; for the arrays themselves, see Dell EqualLogic arrays, and for related parts, EqualLogic controllers, EqualLogic SSDs and every storage array hard drive.