- Will this drive work in my IBM System x3550 M5?
- It is the 00NA231 part listed for the x3550 M5, so it fits that server's 2.5-inch hot-swap bays. Check your server's drive backplane and RAID controller support SAS 12Gb/s before installing.
- Is this drive new or refurbished?
- That depends on the seller, and the listing does not state condition. Ask the seller directly whether the unit is new, pulled, or refurbished before buying.
- How does it compare with an SSD?
- An enterprise SSD will beat it on random reads, writes and latency by a wide margin. The 15K SAS drive makes sense mainly where you need a matched IBM part or large sequential capacity per bay at lower cost than flash.
- Does it need a RAID controller?
- No, but most servers use one. The drive connects through a SAS backplane; a supported RAID controller handles mirroring or parity if you want redundancy.
- What is in the box?
- Typically just the drive itself. The hot-swap carrier or caddy is often sold separately, so confirm with the seller whether a tray is included for your server model.
- Can I mix it with other drives in the same server?
- Yes, as long as the drives are compatible with the same backplane and controller. Mixing speeds and capacities works, but the array runs at the slowest drive's performance and the smallest drive's capacity.
- Where is the IBM 00NA231 600GB 15000RPM SAS 12Gb/s Hot Swappable 2.5-Inch Hard Drive cheapest?
- At Gotodirect, for $322.96, as of our latest check.