Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″ – High-Density 2U Server for Storage-Intensive Enterprise Workloads

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″ is a high-performance, storage-optimized 2U rack server designed for enterprises that demand maximum capacity, reliability, and scalability. With dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 processors and support for up to twelve 3.5-inch hot-swappable drive bays, this configuration is tailored for data-heavy workloads where storage density, throughput, and flexibility are essential.

The R720XD is ideal for software-defined storage (SDS), backup and archiving, virtualization, big data analytics, file servers, and enterprise applications that require both high-capacity storage and robust compute performance.

Key Features of the Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″

High-Performance Compute and Scalable Memory

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD supports dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 series processors, delivering multi-core compute power for demanding enterprise workloads. With up to 24 DDR3 DIMM slots supporting 768GB memory at speeds up to 1866MT/s, the server ensures smooth performance even under virtualized, memory-intensive, or high-throughput data applications.

This makes the R720XD perfect for:

• Virtualization and VDI hosts

• Database servers and transactional applications

• High-performance computing (HPC)

• Enterprise application backends

The combination of dual-socket CPUs and expandable memory allows businesses to scale their infrastructure over time without replacing hardware.

Maximum Storage Density: 12×3.5″ Hot-Swap Drives

The R720XD is designed for storage-intensive environments, offering twelve 3.5-inch hot-swappable drives in a 2U chassis. This high-density setup provides:

• Massive storage capacity for file, backup, and archival systems

• Support for SATA, SAS, and nearline SAS drives

• Configurable hardware RAID controllers for performance or redundancy

• Optional Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) for enhanced security

For environments requiring even more storage, additional rear drive options and expansion enclosures are supported. The flexibility of drive configuration allows IT teams to balance capacity, performance, and security according to organizational needs.

Advanced I/O and Expansion Capabilities

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″ comes with multiple PCIe Gen3 slots, enabling expansion for:

• High-speed networking (10GbE or 40GbE adapters)

• Additional RAID controllers for complex storage setups

• GPU accelerators for HPC or AI/ML workloads

The server’s design ensures that I/O-intensive workloads can scale easily, providing the adaptability necessary for evolving enterprise requirements. Onboard networking options reduce the need for additional PCIe slots, freeing expansion lanes for compute acceleration.

Simplified Management and Remote Administration

iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller

Dell’s iDRAC7 offers comprehensive remote management capabilities, including:

• Hardware monitoring and diagnostics

• Firmware updates without OS agents

• Deployment of operating systems and server images remotely

• Virtual console and media for Enterprise license users

This ensures administrators can maintain servers, troubleshoot issues, and deploy configurations from anywhere, reducing downtime and on-site visits.

Dell OpenManage Integration

The R720XD seamlessly integrates with Dell OpenManage Essentials and OpenManage Mobile. It also supports IPMI 2.0, allowing integration with third-party management solutions such as Microsoft System Center, VMware vCenter, or other monitoring tools.

This centralized management approach simplifies server administration across data centers and hybrid cloud environments.

Enterprise-Grade Security

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″ includes multiple security layers to protect hardware, data, and remote access:

• Trusted Platform Module (TPM): Secure boot and hardware-based encryption

• Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs): Protects data at rest without impacting performance

• Secure Remote Access: Restricts unauthorized access to management interfaces

• Lifecycle Controller Security: Ensures secure and verified firmware updates

These features help organizations meet regulatory compliance, safeguard sensitive data, and protect infrastructure against firmware-level threats.

Why Choose Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″?

• Dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 processors for multi-core performance

• Up to 768GB DDR3 memory for virtualization and data-intensive workloads

• 12 hot-swap 3.5″ drives for maximum storage density

• Flexible drive options: SATA, SAS, nearline SAS, and SEDs

• PCIe Gen3 expansion for networking, RAID, and GPU support

• iDRAC7 and Lifecycle Controller for complete remote management

• Dell OpenManage integration and IPMI 2.0 support

• Enterprise-grade security with TPM, SEDs, and secure remote access

• Ideal for backup, archiving, software-defined storage, big data, virtualization, and high-throughput file workloads

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R720XD 12×3.5″ is a robust, scalable server that combines maximum storage capacity, high compute performance, and enterprise-grade management, making it a perfect solution for storage-intensive data center environments.

For more details, you can view the data sheet on our website using the following links: Spec sheet , Technical Guide