Product Description
IBM ESLS EXP24SX SAS Storage Expansion Enclosure
The IBM ESLS EXP24SX SAS Storage Enclosure is a high-density 2U SAS expansion drawer that adds 24 small form factor (SFF) SAS bays to compatible IBM Power Systems servers. This Gen2-bay enclosure (also referred to as EXP24SX) supports 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity, hot-plug SFF-3 carriers, full RAID configurations, and redundant components, delivering scalable capacity and performance for AIX, IBM i, and Linux workloads on Power8, Power9, and select Power10 servers.
Product Description
The IBM ESLS (feature code ESLS, also known as EXP24SX SFF Gen2-bay Drawer) is a 2U rack-mount SAS storage expansion enclosure designed to extend the storage capacity of IBM Power Systems servers. It accommodates up to twenty-four 2.5-inch SFF SAS HDDs or SSDs in hot-plug SFF-3 carriers, connected via dual 12 Gb/s SAS ports (Mini-SAS HD connectors) to the host server's SAS adapters or integrated SAS controllers. The enclosure supports RAID 0/1/5/6/10 managed by the attached host (integrated controller or VIOS), with full hot-swap support for drives and dual redundant hot-plug power supplies and cooling fans. It uses the same carrier design as internal Power Systems bays, allowing seamless mixing of SAS HDDs (10K/15K RPM) and SAS SSDs (mainstream and enterprise classes). The EXP24SX is ideal for growing database, virtualization, file-serving, and backup workloads, providing cost-effective, high-density capacity expansion without consuming additional PCIe slots on the host. It attaches to Power8/Power9 servers via compatible SAS adapters (#EJ0x, #EJ1x, #EJ2x series) or integrated ports, and to select Power10 models with SAS support.
Features
- 24 × 2.5-inch SFF SAS bays for maximum density in 2U form factor.
- 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity (backward compatible with 6 Gb/s SAS).
- Hot-plug SFF-3 carriers with blind-swap capability.
- Dual redundant hot-plug 580W AC power supplies and cooling fans.
- Full RAID support (0/1/5/6/10) via host controller or VIOS.
- Intermix of SAS HDDs (10K/15K RPM) and SAS SSDs (various endurance classes).
- LED indicators for power, fan status, and drive activity.
- Rack-optimized design with integrated cable management.
Technical Specifications
- Model / Feature Code: ESLS (EXP24SX SFF Gen2-bay Drawer)
- Form Factor: 2U rack-mount
- Drive Bays: 24 × 2.5-inch SFF (hot-plug SFF-3 carriers)
- Interface: Dual 12 Gb/s SAS ports (Mini-SAS HD connectors)
- Supported Drives: SAS HDD (10K/15K RPM, 300 GB–1.8 TB+), SAS SSD (387 GB–3.84 TB+, 1–10 DWPD)
- RAID Support: Managed by host server (integrated controller or VIOS)
- Power: 2 × redundant hot-plug 580W AC power supplies
- Cooling: Redundant hot-plug fans
- Dimensions: 8.6 cm H × 44.7 cm W × 75 cm D (typical 2U depth)
- Weight: Approximately 20–30 kg fully populated (configuration dependent)
- Cabling: Mini-SAS HD cables (length and type host-dependent)
Compatibility
The IBM ESLS EXP24SX enclosure is compatible with:
- Power Systems Models:
- Power8: S814 (8286-41A), S822/S824 (8284-22A), E870/E880 (9119-MME/MHE), and others
- Power9: S914 (9009-41A/41G), S922 (9009-22A/22G), S924 (9009-42A), E950/E980, and related models
- Power10: Select scale-out models with SAS support (limited; NVMe preferred internally)
- Operating Systems: AIX 7.1+, IBM i 7.1+, Linux (RHEL/SUSE/Ubuntu), VIOS
- Attachment: SAS adapters (#EJ0N/#EJ0P/#EJ0S, #EJ1x, #EJ2x series) or integrated SAS ports on host
- Drive Support: All IBM-qualified 2.5-inch SFF SAS HDDs and SSDs (feature codes #59xx/#ESxx)
- Limitations: Not compatible with NVMe (NVMe uses different drawers/adapters); backward compatible with 6 Gb/s SAS
Verify exact adapter requirements, cable lengths, firmware levels, and placement rules via IBM Sales Manual or resources for your specific Power Systems model.
Warranty
This product comes with a 60-day warranty covering parts and functionality.
