Dell EqualLogic PS4100 12×3.5″

Dell EqualLogic PS4100 – 12-Bay 3.5″ iSCSI SAN Storage Array for Scalable Enterprise Storage

The Dell EqualLogic PS4100 is a powerful, mid-range storage array designed to deliver enterprise-class storage performance and intelligent management for growing business environments. Featuring 12 x 3.5-inch bays, this iSCSI-based SAN solution offers scalable, reliable, and high-performance storage that’s perfect for virtualization, database hosting, backups, and general-purpose workloads.

As part of Dell’s EqualLogic PS Series, the PS4100 combines automated storage management with easy-to-scale architecture and seamless integration with existing infrastructure, making it an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking for enterprise-level storage without complexity.

Key Features of Dell EqualLogic PS4100

• Form Factor: 2U rackmount with 12 x 3.5″ drive bays

• Storage Capacity: Supports SAS, NL-SAS, or SATA drives up to 12TB each

• Connectivity: Dual controllers with 1GbE iSCSI ports (4 total)

• Redundancy: Hot-swappable drives, redundant power supplies & cooling

• RAID Support: RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 options

• Management Interface: EqualLogic Group Manager & CLI

• Data Protection: Snapshot, replication, thin provisioning

• Integration: VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix, and more

Scalable Performance for Growing Environments

The Dell EqualLogic PS4100 is engineered for environments that demand both flexibility and scalability. Its auto-sensing, self-managing storage architecture allows storage resources to grow seamlessly as business needs expand. You can combine multiple EqualLogic PS arrays—such as PS6100 or PS6210—with the PS4100 to build a larger, unified storage pool.

Thanks to its virtualized storage environment, the PS4100 enables smooth load balancing, automatic tiering, and intelligent data movement between arrays, improving performance and utilization without manual intervention.

Virtualization & Application Integration

The Dell EqualLogic PS4100 is fully certified and integrated with leading virtualization platforms such as:

• VMware vSphere with VAAI integration

• Microsoft Hyper-V and System Center

• Citrix XenServer

This integration means administrators can provision storage directly from their hypervisor dashboards and use advanced features like thin provisioning, snapshots, and replication to protect and optimize VM workloads.

Redundancy and High Availability

High availability is a core strength of the Dell EqualLogic PS4100. It includes:

• Dual active-active controllers for failover protection

• Redundant hot-swappable drives and PSUs

• Multi-path I/O support for uninterrupted data access

• Auto-failover and replication features for disaster recovery

These features reduce downtime risks and ensure business continuity, even during firmware updates or component failures.

Management Made Easy

With Dell EqualLogic Group Manager, users can:

• Easily provision volumes

• Monitor performance and health

• Set snapshot schedules and replication policies

• Track capacity usage across arrays

Also included is SAN HQ, Dell’s advanced monitoring tool that provides in-depth analytics, reporting, and proactive alerts to help prevent performance bottlenecks.

Use Cases for Dell EqualLogic PS4100

The PS4100 is ideal for:

✅ Virtual machine hosting
✅ Database applications (SQL, Oracle)
✅ File and print services
✅ Email archiving (Exchange, Zimbra)
✅ Disk-based backup and restore solutions
✅ Small data center or branch office deployments

Its simplicity, combined with enterprise-grade capabilities, makes it a favorite for IT departments seeking storage reliability without requiring deep SAN expertise.

Why Choose Dell EqualLogic PS4100?

✔️ Scalable from a single unit to multiple arrays
✔️ Virtualization ready with VAAI and Hyper-V support
✔️ Easy management via intuitive tools
✔️ Enterprise features at SMB pricing
✔️ Built-in data protection with snapshots & replication
✔️ Trusted Dell quality and service support

Conclusion

The Dell EqualLogic PS4100 delivers powerful and flexible SAN storage in a compact 2U form factor. With advanced features like automated tiering, simple management, high availability, and seamless scalability, it’s a storage solution that evolves with your business.

Whether you’re running virtual workloads, handling large volumes of business data, or building a hybrid cloud strategy, the Dell EqualLogic PS4100 offers the performance, reliability, and simplicity your infrastructure demands.

References

Dell EMC Official SC Series Page