iStarUSA Inc. BPN-DE230SS-BLACK 2 x 5.25" to 3 x 3.5" SAS/SATA trayless hot-swap cage server accessory

Two 5.25in bays to three 3.5in drives

The iStarUSA BPN-DE230SS-BLACK converts two standard 5.25in front-panel openings into three trayless hot-swap bays for 3.5in SAS or SATA hard drives. It targets server builders and workstation users who need dense, removable storage without occupying additional chassis slots. The aluminum frame and integrated 70mm fan provide structural rigidity and active cooling for sustained operation. A key-locked front bezel adds physical security for multi-user environments.

Replaces fixed internal drive cages

This cage replaces static, screw-mounted drive brackets that require system power-down for every drive change. The trayless hot-swap design lets administrators insert or remove drives while the server remains online, cutting maintenance windows for RAID rebuilds or capacity upgrades. The jump is worth it when uptime matters more than the slight depth increase of the 230mm-deep enclosure and when the host backplane or controller supplies the required 15-pin SATA power and 7-pin SATA data connections.

Three drives at 6Gbps per port

Each bay connects through a 7-pin SATA data link rated for 6Gbps, so three drives can run concurrently at full SATA III or SAS II speed. The dual 15-pin power inputs feed the backplane and the 70mm fan, leaving headroom for typical mechanical drive spin-up currents. The aluminum body acts as a heatsink, but sustained write-heavy workloads on all three drives may push thermal limits if chassis airflow is restricted. Builders needing more than three hot-swap bays or support for 2.5in drives without adapters should look elsewhere.