HPE 800GB SAS-12Gbps SSD: Powering ProLiant Gen7 Servers with Write-Intensive Performance

Overview of the HPE 800GB 2.5-inch SFF SAS-12Gbps SSD

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Mainstream Endurance SAS-12Gbps Standard Carrier Enterprise Mainstream Write Intensive Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for HPE ProLiant Generation7 (Gen7) servers. Engineered to meet the demands of enterprise environments, this SSD delivers exceptional speed, reliability, and endurance for write-intensive workloads such as databases, virtualization, and high-performance computing (HPC). This article provides a detailed exploration of the SSD’s specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and ideal use cases, offering IT professionals a comprehensive guide for deployment.

Key Specifications

Capacity and Form Factor

Capacity: 800 GB, providing ample storage for enterprise applications.

Form Factor: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF), ideal for space-constrained server environments.

Height: 15 mm (0.60 inches), ensuring compatibility with standard server bays.

Interface and Performance

Interface: SAS-12Gbps, offering superior bandwidth compared to SATA drives, with a maximum external data transfer rate of 12 Gb/s.

Sequential Read Throughput: Up to 1000 MiB/s, enabling rapid data access for read-intensive tasks.

Sequential Write Throughput: Up to 565 MiB/s, supporting efficient data writes.

Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 66,000, ideal for transactional workloads with frequent small data accesses.

Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 62,000, ensuring robust performance for write-heavy applications.

Endurance and Reliability

Endurance: Rated for 10 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD), suitable for write-intensive workloads with a lifetime write capacity of approximately 4,500 TB.

NAND Flash Type: Multi-Level Cell (eMLC), balancing performance and cost for enterprise use.

Features: Includes TRIM support for optimized performance and HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge for monitoring drive health and lifespan.

Power Consumption

Idle: 2.07 Watts

Random Read/Write: 3.40 Watts

Sequential Read: 5.63 Watts

Sequential Write: 8.59 Watts

Maximum: 9.00 Watts

Physical and Connectivity

Plug Type: Hot-Pluggable, allowing drive replacement without server downtime.

Carrier Type: Standard Carrier, ensuring secure installation and compatibility.

Interfaces: 1 x SAS 12 Gb/s

Compatible Bay: 2.5-inch SFF

Features and Benefits

High Performance for Write-Intensive Workloads

The HPE 800GB SSD is optimized for write-intensive applications, delivering high Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and low latency. With 66,000 random read IOPS and 62,000 random write IOPS, it excels in environments requiring frequent data writes, such as Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems, e-commerce platforms, and financial applications. The SAS-12Gbps interface provides double the bandwidth of SATA drives, ensuring faster data transfers and reduced bottlenecks.

Enhanced Reliability and Data Protection

HPE Enterprise SSDs are backed by over 2.4 million hours of rigorous testing, ensuring high reliability. The drive features Digitally Signed Firmware to protect against unauthorized modifications, enhancing data security. Additionally, the HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge compatibility allows IT administrators to monitor drive wear and predict potential failures, reducing the risk of data loss.

Hot-Swap Capability

The hot-pluggable design enables drive replacement or upgrades without shutting down the server, minimizing downtime in mission-critical environments. The Standard Carrier ensures proper alignment and secure connections during installation.

Energy Efficiency

With a maximum power consumption of 9.00 Watts, the SSD is energy-efficient compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), reducing operational costs in data centers. Its low idle power consumption (2.07 Watts) further contributes to energy savings.

Seamless Integration

The SSD integrates seamlessly with HPE ProLiant Gen7 servers, leveraging existing infrastructure for easy deployment. It supports HPE’s Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management tools, enabling real-time monitoring of drive health and performance.

Compatibility with ProLiant Gen7 Servers

The HPE 800GB SSD is specifically designed for ProLiant Generation7 servers, including models such as:

HPE ProLiant ML Series: ML110 Gen7, ML350 Gen5/Gen6/Gen7, ML370 Gen5/Gen6/Gen7, ML570 Gen3/Gen4/Gen5

HPE Storage Systems: D2700, MSA50, MSA60, MSA70, X1500 Gen2, X16000 Gen2, X1800 Gen2, X3400 Gen2, X3800 Gen2

Before deployment, verify compatibility with specific server models using HPE’s compatibility documentation or by contacting HPE support. Ensure that the server’s RAID controller firmware is updated to support the SAS-12Gbps interface.

Ideal Use Cases

Transactional Databases

The SSD’s high IOPS and low latency make it ideal for relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) that require frequent write operations. It supports real-time data processing and transaction-heavy workloads in e-commerce and financial applications.

Virtualization

Virtualized environments running VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or other hypervisors benefit from the SSD’s high performance and endurance, ensuring smooth operation for multiple virtual machines and virtual desktops.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

The SSD is suitable for HPC workloads, such as scientific simulations, financial modeling, and AI/ML training, where rapid data access and write performance are critical.

Big Data Analytics

For big data analytics platforms, the SSD’s fast data access speeds enhance application responsiveness, enabling efficient processing of large datasets.

Deployment and Maintenance Tips

Pre-Deployment Checklist

Verify compatibility with your specific ProLiant Gen7 server model.

Update server firmware and RAID controllers to ensure seamless integration.

Purchase from trusted vendors like StoragePartsDirect or HPE-authorized resellers to ensure authenticity and warranty coverage.

Installation

Use the Standard Carrier to securely install the SSD in a 2.5-inch SFF bay.

Ensure proper alignment to avoid connection issues.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Utilize HPE iLO tools to monitor SSD health, performance, and wear levels in real-time.

Regularly apply HPE-provided firmware updates to maintain security and compatibility.

Leverage predictive analytics to schedule drive replacements proactively, minimizing disruptions.

Conclusion

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch SFF Mainstream Endurance SAS-12Gbps Standard Carrier Enterprise Mainstream Write Intensive SSD is a robust and reliable storage solution for HPE ProLiant Gen7 servers. Its high performance, endurance, and advanced features like Digitally Signed Firmware and hot-swap capability make it an excellent choice for write-intensive enterprise workloads. By leveraging HPE’s management tools and ensuring compatibility, IT teams can deploy this SSD to enhance data center efficiency and performance, making it a strategic investment for modern enterprise environments.