2.5 Inch Hard Drive Tray Adapter for Dell Server

thingiverse

Most Dell servers feature connectors capable of handling either SATA or SAS drives, enabling hobbyists to utilize cheaper SATA drives with these machines. However, newer servers have 2.5 inch drive bays, which come at a higher cost due to the price of 2.5 inch hard drives. I acquired a good server that had these 2.5 inch drive bays and since I had a decent supply of 3.5 inch hard drives, I sought out a solution to utilize what I already had instead of incurring additional expenses. By adding a SATA extension cable to this drive tray, you can connect a 3.5 inch SATA hard drive externally to the server. This solution is available on Amazon. The SMAKN(TM) 22-pin (7+15) Sata Male to Female Data and Power Combo Extension Cable - Slimline Sata Extension Cable M/f - 20inch (50cm) is a viable option for this setup, which can be found at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L9R3AKA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. This arrangement can be used in conjunction with the design found at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3177202, which enables you to place 5.25 inch drives on top of the server case. The design features provisions for light pipes, snap retention, and a tab to grip for removal. Holes are also provided for adding light pipes so that activity indicator LEDs can be seen. If no fiber optic light pipe is available, holes sized for clear plastic printing filament can be used.