StarTech.com HSB3SATSASBA 3-Bay Trayless Hot-Swap Mobile Rack Backplane - 3.5" SAS II/SATA III 6 Gbps - Aluminum - Internal - Fan
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Product Features
Technical Overview
This 3-bay backplane delivers robust storage expansion with support for three 3.5" SAS II or SATA III drives. The host interface uses Serial ATA/600 (6 Gbps) connectivity, ensuring compatibility with modern motherboard SATA ports or HBA cards. Drive interfaces include both Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and SATA/600, covering revision I/II/III for SATA (1.5/3.0/6.0 Gbps) and revision I/II for SAS (3.0/6.0 Gbps).
The internal form factor is optimized for standard 5.25" drive bay installation, requiring two adjacent bays. A built-in cooling fan maintains proper airflow across all three drives, helping to prevent thermal throttling and extend drive lifespan. The aluminum chassis not only provides structural rigidity but also enhances heat dissipation compared to plastic alternatives.
Relevant factors for this section include Number of Hard Drives Supported, Number of Hard Drives Installed, Number of Total Expansion Bays, Number of 3.5" Bays. When those points are considered together, they give buyers a clearer picture of how the product is equipped, how it fits into deployment, and what kind of day-to-day role it is meant to support.
Key Product Advantages
This mobile rack backplane combines enterprise-grade features with practical design elements that simplify storage management in demanding environments. The trayless architecture reduces hardware clutter and speeds up drive replacement procedures during maintenance windows or capacity upgrades.
Secure Operation
A key lock mechanism secures the drive bays against unauthorized removal, while the UL VO flammability rating ensures the enclosure meets stringent safety standards for electrical components.
- Key lock design prevents unauthorized access
- UL VO flammability rating for safety compliance
Enhanced Monitoring
Dedicated power and activity LEDs for each drive bay provide immediate visual feedback on drive status, helping administrators quickly identify drives that are powered on, active, or experiencing issues.
- Individual LEDs per drive bay
- Clear status indication at a glance
Deployment / Use Cases
The HSB3SATSASBA backplane is ideal for IT professionals who need to add hot-swappable storage to existing systems without investing in dedicated external enclosures. Its compatibility with both SAS and SATA drives makes it suitable for heterogeneous storage environments where different drive types coexist.
Common deployment scenarios include upgrading tower servers with additional hot-swap bays, creating backup storage nodes with easy drive rotation, or building media servers where drive accessibility is crucial. The enclosure works well in small business servers, home labs, video editing workstations, and surveillance system storage arrays where frequent drive access or replacement is necessary.
Server Storage Expansion
Add three hot-swappable drive bays to compatible servers that lack sufficient native hot-swap capability, enabling easier maintenance and capacity upgrades without system downtime.
Mixed Drive Environment
Support both enterprise SAS drives and consumer SATA drives in the same enclosure, providing flexibility for tiered storage strategies or legacy system integration.
Physical Profile
Constructed from solid aluminum with a black finish, this backplane offers both aesthetic consistency with most computer chassis and superior thermal performance. The dimensions (4.30" H × 5.70" W × 7.60" D) are optimized for dual 5.25" bay installation, with a weight of 2.70 pounds ensuring stability once mounted. The aluminum construction not only dissipates heat effectively but also resists vibration better than plastic alternatives, creating a more stable environment for sensitive hard drives.
- Width
- 5.25"
- Depth
- 7.60" (193.04 mm)
- Height
- 4.30" (109.22 mm)
- Weight
- 2.70 lb (1224.70 g)
What's in the Box
This product ships complete with all necessary components for installation and operation.
Highlights
- Supports three 3.5" SAS II or SATA III drives
- Trayless hot-swap design for tool-free drive replacement
- Aluminum construction with built-in cooling fan
- Key lock security for drive bay protection
- Installs in two standard 5.25" drive bays
- 6 Gbps SATA/600 host interface
- Individual power and activity LEDs per drive
- UL VO flammability rated for safety
- 2-year limited warranty
- RoHS compliant for environmental standards
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | StarTech.com |
| Manufacturer Part Number | HSB3SATSASBA |
| Brand Name | StarTech.com |
| Product Name | 3 SATA HDD Backplane |
| Packaged Quantity | 1 Each |
| Product Type | Drive Enclosure |
| Technical Information | |
| Number of Hard Drives Supported | 3 |
| Number of Hard Drives Installed | No |
| I/O Expansions | |
| Number of Total Expansion Bays | 3 |
| Number of 3.5" Bays | 3 |
| Network & Communication | |
| Wireless LAN | No |
| Interfaces/Ports | |
| Drive Interface | Serial Attached SCSI (SAS),SATA/600 |
| Host Interface | Serial ATA/600 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Color Family | Black |
| Product Color | Black |
| Product Material | Aluminum |
| Cooling Fan | Yes |
| Form Factor | Internal |
| Compatible Drive Bay Width | 5.25" |
| Height | 4.30" (109.22 mm) |
| Width | 5.70" (144.78 mm) |
| Depth | 7.60" (193.04 mm) |
| Weight (Approximate) | 2.70 lb (1224.70 g) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Package Contents | 3 SATA HDD Backplane 1 x Installation Screw Kit 1 x Instruction Manual 2 x Bay Key s 3 x 18" SATA Cables |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Environmentally Friendly | Yes |
| Environmental Certification | EU RoHS |
| Environmental Compliance | Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) 2,Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH),Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) |
| Warranty | |
| Limited Warranty | 2 Year |
User Manual
FAQ
What types of drives does this backplane support?
This backplane supports 3.5" Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) revision I/II drives and SATA revision I/II/III drives. It is compatible with SAS drives running at 3.0 or 6.0 Gbps and SATA drives running at 1.5, 3.0, or 6.0 Gbps. The trayless design accommodates standard 3.5" hard drives without requiring additional trays or adapters.
How many drive bays does this enclosure have and what size?
This enclosure has three dedicated 3.5" drive bays. All three bays support hot-swappable operation and are designed for 3.5" form factor hard drives. The entire unit installs into two adjacent 5.25" drive bays in a compatible computer case or server chassis.
Does this backplane include cooling for the drives?
Yes, the backplane includes a built-in cooling fan that provides active airflow across all three drive bays. This helps maintain optimal operating temperatures for the installed drives, which can extend their lifespan and prevent thermal throttling that might impact performance during sustained operations.
What security features does this mobile rack include?
The backplane features a key lock mechanism that secures the drive bays against unauthorized removal. When locked, the drives cannot be physically removed from the enclosure without the corresponding key. This provides basic physical security for sensitive data or in shared environments where drive tampering is a concern.
What is included in the package with this backplane?
The package includes the 3-bay backplane unit, an installation screw kit for mounting, an instruction manual, two bay keys for the lock mechanism, and three 18-inch SATA cables for connecting the backplane to your motherboard or host bus adapter. All necessary hardware for installation is provided.
What warranty and environmental certifications does this product have?
This product comes with a 2-year limited warranty from StarTech.com. It is also EU RoHS compliant, meeting the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive. The product complies with RoHS 2, REACH, and WEEE environmental standards, ensuring it meets current regulations for electronic equipment manufacturing and disposal.
| Qty | Price | Available |
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