Dell EMC Data Domain storage, now known as PowerProtect DD, is the industry leader in backup, deduplication, and disaster recovery storage. These appliances help enterprises reduce storage costs, speed up backup and recovery, and protect against ransomware.
Save up to 80%: Data Domain Storage and Parts
In this article, we compare Dell EMC Data Domain storage lineup, including DD3300, DD6400, DD6900, DD9400, and DD9900. We’ll cover their features, technical specs, storage capacities, and ideal use cases, helping IT decision-makers find the right solution.
What is Dell EMC Data Domain (PowerProtect DD)?
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is a purpose-built backup storage appliance designed for high-performance, deduplicated storage. It ensures fast, efficient backups and provides enterprise-grade security, including ransomware protection and cloud integration.
Key Features:
✅ Data Deduplication – Reduces storage requirements by up to 65:1
✅ Fast Backup & Restore – Ingest speeds of up to 94TB/hour (with DD boost)
✅ Scalability – From small businesses to multi-petabyte enterprises
✅ Multi-Cloud Tiering – Native support for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
✅ Cyber Resilience – Features like Retention Lock and SecureVault protect against ransomware
Dell EMC Data Domain Model Comparison
Quick Comparison Table
Model | Capacity (Usable) | Max Drives | Max Throughput | Best For |
DD3300 | 4TB – 32TB | 12 | 4.2TB/hr and 7.0TB/hr with DD Boost | Small businesses & remote offices |
DD6400 | 8TB – 172TB | 16 | 12.7TB/hr and 27.7TB/hr with DD Boost | Mid-sized businesses |
DD6900 | 24TB – 288TB | 24 | 15TB/hr and 33TB/hr with DD Boost | Growing enterprises |
DD9400 | 48TB – 1.5PB | 48 | 26TB/hr and 57TB/hr with DD Boost | Large enterprises |
DD9900 | 576TB – 1.25EB | 96 | 41TB/hr and 94TB/hr with DD Boost | Multi-petabyte storage environments |
Dell EMC Data Domain Models in Detail
PowerProtect DD3300 – Entry-Level Backup for SMBs
The DD3300 is designed for small businesses and remote offices. It provides cost-effective backup storage with enterprise-grade deduplication.
Key Specs:
Capacity: 4TB – 32TB (usable)
Max Backup Throughput: 4.2TB/hr
Drives: SAS HDDs (4TB, 8TB, 12TB)
Encryption: AES-256
Cloud Tiering: AWS, Azure, GCP
Best For: SMBs, remote office backups
PowerProtect DD6400 – Mid-Range Backup for Growing Businesses
The DD6400 is ideal for mid-sized businesses needing scalable backup storage with higher performance than the DD3300.
Key Specs:
Capacity: 8TB – 172TB
Max Backup Throughput: 14TB/hr
Drives: SAS HDDs (4TB, 8TB)
Encryption: AES-256
Cloud Tiering: AWS, Azure, GCP
Best For: Growing enterprises, mid-sized data centers
PowerProtect DD6900 – High-Performance Enterprise Backup
The DD6900 is designed for fast backup and restore speeds with greater scalability.
Key Specs:
Capacity: 24TB – 288TB
Max Backup Throughput: 33TB/hr
Drives: SAS HDDs (4TB, 8TB)
Encryption: AES-256
Cloud Tiering: AWS, Azure, GCP
Best For: Large-scale enterprise backups
PowerProtect DD9400 – Large-Scale Backup for Data Centers
The DD9400 is designed for large enterprises that require high-throughput, scalable backup storage.
Key Specs:
Capacity: 48TB – 1.5PB
Max Backup Throughput: 57TB/hr
Drives: SAS HDDs (4TB, 8TB)
Encryption: AES-256
Cloud Tiering: AWS, Azure, GCP
Best For: High-performance backup for large organizations
PowerProtect DD9900 – Multi-Petabyte Enterprise Backup
The DD9900 is Dell’s most powerful backup storage, designed for massive data environments.
Key Specs:
Capacity: 576TB – 1.25EB
Max Backup Throughput: 68TB/hr
Drives: SAS HDDs (4TB, 8TB)
Encryption: AES-256
Cloud Tiering: AWS, Azure, GCP
Best For: Large-scale enterprises needing extreme scalability
Dell EMC Data Domain Key Technologies
Deduplication – Save Up to 55:1 Storage
Dell PowerProtect DD removes duplicate data before storage, reducing backup size significantly. Example:
100TB of data → Only 2TB stored with deduplication
Cloud Tiering – Seamless Backup to AWS, Azure, and GCP
PowerProtect DD supports native cloud tiering, enabling:
Offsite backup storage
On-demand restores
Cost-effective long-term retention
Cyber Resilience & Ransomware Protection
Retention Lock: Protects backup data from unauthorized changes
SecureVault / Data Invulnerability Architecture: Creates air-gapped, immutable backup storage
AES-256 Encryption: Ensures data security at rest and in transit
Which Dell EMC Data Domain Model is Right for You?
Use Case | Best Model |
Small business, remote office | DD3300 |
Mid-sized company backup | DD6400 |
Large enterprise backup | DD6900 |
Data center-scale storage | DD9400 |
Multi-petabyte environments | DD9900 |
Save up to 80%: Data Domain Storage and Parts
Comments