HPE 800GB SATA SSD: Powering Enterprise Efficiency with Smart, Reliable Storage

Overview of the HPE 800GB 2.5-inch SFF Value Endurance MLC SATA-6Gbps Smart Carrier SSD

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Value Endurance Multi-Level Cell (MLC) SATA-6Gbps Smart Carrier Enterprise Value Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance, cost-effective storage solution designed for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. Engineered for read-intensive workloads, this SSD offers enterprise-grade reliability, efficiency, and manageability at an affordable price point. With features like Power Loss Protection (PLP), Smart Carrier technology, and a SATA-6Gbps interface, it is an ideal choice for data centers running applications such as big data analytics, cloud computing, and database management. This article explores the SSD’s specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and use cases, providing a comprehensive guide for IT professionals.

Technical Specifications

Key Specifications

Device Type: Solid State Drive - Hot-Swap

Capacity: 800 GB

Form Factor: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF)

Interface: SATA 6Gbps

Plug Type: Hot Pluggable

NAND Flash Memory Type: Multi-Level Cell (MLC)

Carrier Type: Smart Carrier (SC)

Workload Type: Value Endurance (VE)

Endurance DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day): 0.3

Drive Transfer Rate: 6 Gb/sec (external)

Sequential Reads: 480 MB/s

Sequential Writes: 445 MB/s

Random Reads: 64,000 IOPS

Random Writes: 12,000 IOPS

Interfaces: 1 x SATA 6 Gb/s

Compatible Bay: 2.5" SFF

Features: Supports Power Loss Protection (PLP)

Physical and Environmental Specifications

Operating Temperature: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)

Power Consumption: Varies based on workload (specific power metrics not provided in standard specifications)

Bundled Components: HPE Smart Carrier (SC)

The HPE 800GB SSD leverages MLC NAND flash technology, which stores two bits per cell, offering a balance between cost, performance, and endurance compared to Single-Level Cell (SLC) or Triple-Level Cell (TLC) alternatives. Its low endurance rating of 0.3 DWPD makes it suitable for read-intensive applications rather than write-heavy workloads.

Key Features

Smart Carrier Technology

HPE’s Smart Carrier design enhances drive manageability by providing an intuitive interface for monitoring drive status. It includes:

System Status LED Icons: Display critical status information.

Spinning Activity Ring: Reflects the data-writing process, offering visual feedback on drive activity.

Do Not Remove Button: Prevents accidental removal during operation, reducing the risk of data loss.

Power Loss Protection (PLP)

The SSD includes Power Loss Protection, a critical feature for enterprise environments. PLP ensures data integrity by safeguarding in-flight data during unexpected power outages, minimizing the risk of corruption and ensuring operational continuity.

HPE Digitally Signed Firmware

The drive features digitally signed firmware, which prevents unauthorized access and ensures that the firmware originates from a trusted source. This enhances security and protects against potential vulnerabilities in enterprise settings.

HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge

Integrated with HPE’s management tools like Smart Storage Administrator (SSA), the SmartSSD Wear Gauge allows IT teams to monitor the drive’s lifespan and predict potential failures, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.

Benefits for Enterprise Environments

Cost-Effective Performance

The HPE 800GB SATA SSD delivers enterprise features at an entry-level price, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional 72 GB and 146 GB 15K HDDs. Its high random read performance (64,000 IOPS) and competitive cost per IOPS make it ideal for read-intensive workloads, such as data warehousing and active archiving.

Enhanced Reliability

Backed by over 3.35 million hours of testing and qualification, this SSD ensures high reliability and durability. The combination of MLC flash, PLP, and digitally signed firmware provides robust data integrity and long-term performance.

Energy Efficiency

The SSD’s low power consumption contributes to reduced operational costs and a smaller environmental footprint, aligning with modern data center goals for sustainability and efficiency.

Simplified Management

Integration with HPE’s iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) management tools and Smart Carrier technology enables proactive monitoring, predictive analytics, and streamlined maintenance, minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency.

Compatibility with HPE ProLiant Servers

Supported Server Models

The HPE 800GB SSD is compatible with a wide range of HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers, including:

ProLiant DL Series: DL20 Gen9, DL60 Gen9, DL80 Gen9, DL120 Gen8/Gen9, DL160 Gen8/Gen9, DL180 Gen8/Gen9, DL320e Gen8/Gen9, DL360 Gen8/Gen9, DL380 Gen8/Gen9, DL560 Gen8/Gen9, DL580 Gen8/Gen9

ProLiant ML Series: ML110 Gen8/Gen9, ML150 Gen8/Gen9, ML310e Gen8/Gen9, ML350 Gen8/Gen9

ProLiant SL Series: SL230s Gen8/Gen9, SL250s Gen8/Gen9, SL270s Gen8/Gen9

ProLiant XL Series: XL170r Gen9, XL190r Gen9, XL220a Gen9, XL230a Gen9, XL250a Gen9

ProLiant WS Series: WS460c Gen8, WS460c Gen9 Graphics/Graphics Expansion

Storage Arrays: D3700, D2220sb, StoreEasy 1830, StoreEasy 1840

Deployment Considerations

Firmware Updates: Regularly update the SSD’s firmware using HPE’s iLO tools to ensure optimal performance and security.

Compatibility Verification: Always consult HPE’s official compatibility matrix to confirm support for specific server configurations.

Workload Alignment: This SSD is optimized for read-intensive workloads. For write-intensive or mixed-use applications, consider HPE’s Write Intensive or Mixed Use SSDs, such as the 800GB SAS-12Gbps models.

Ideal Use Cases

Big Data Analytics

The SSD’s high random read IOPS (64,000) and sequential read throughput (480 MB/s) make it well-suited for big data analytics, where rapid data access is critical for processing large datasets.

Cloud Computing

In cloud environments, the SSD’s reliability, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness support scalable infrastructure, enabling efficient handling of virtualized workloads and active archiving.

Database Applications

The drive’s performance characteristics and PLP feature ensure low-latency access and data integrity for database applications, such as read-heavy transactional systems.

Data Warehousing

For data warehousing, the SSD provides ample storage capacity (800 GB) and high read performance, making it ideal for storing and retrieving large volumes of historical data.

Comparison with Other HPE SSDs

SATA vs. SAS SSDs

While the HPE 800GB SATA-6Gbps SSD offers cost-effective performance, HPE’s SAS-12Gbps SSDs (e.g., HPE 800GB SAS-12Gbps Write Intensive SSD) provide higher bandwidth and better suitability for write-intensive workloads, with a DWPD of up to 25.0 and sequential read throughput of 1000 MiB/s. However, SAS SSDs come at a higher cost, making the SATA model a better choice for budget-conscious deployments.

Read Intensive vs. Mixed Use vs. Write Intensive

Read Intensive (RI): Like the HPE 800GB SATA SSD, RI drives (e.g., HPE VK0800GEYJT-SC) are optimized for high read IOPS with low write endurance (<1 DWPD).

Mixed Use (MU): MU SSDs (e.g., HPE 1.6TB SAS-12Gbps MU SSD) offer a balance of read and write performance (3 DWPD), suitable for versatile workloads.

Write Intensive (WI): WI SSDs (e.g., HPE 800GB SAS-12Gbps WI SSD) are designed for high write endurance (≥10 DWPD), ideal for applications like OLTP.

Deployment and Maintenance Tips

Installation

Ensure the server is powered down or the drive bay supports hot-swapping before installing the SSD.

Use the Smart Carrier’s guided installation to securely mount the drive in a 2.5-inch SFF bay.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Leverage HPE’s Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) and iLO tools to monitor drive health, wear levels, and performance metrics.

Schedule regular firmware updates to maintain security and performance.

Use predictive analytics to anticipate drive wear and plan replacements proactively.

Best Practices

Deploy this SSD in read-intensive environments to maximize its lifespan and performance.

For mixed or write-intensive workloads, evaluate higher-endurance SSDs to avoid premature wear.

Maintain proper cooling to keep the SSD within its operating temperature range (32°F to 140°F).

Conclusion

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch SFF Value Endurance MLC SATA-6Gbps Smart Carrier Enterprise Value SSD is a reliable, cost-effective storage solution for HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. Its combination of high read performance, enterprise-grade features like PLP and Smart Carrier technology, and compatibility with a wide range of servers makes it a versatile choice for read-intensive enterprise workloads. By leveraging HPE’s management tools and adhering to best practices, IT teams can maximize the drive’s performance, reliability, and lifespan, making it a valuable asset for modern data centers in 2025 and beyond. For organizations seeking to balance cost and performance, this SSD stands out as a cornerstone of enterprise storage strategy.