Powering Enterprise Performance for ProLiant Gen8/Gen9 Servers with HPE 800GB SAS-12Gbps SSD

HPE 800GB 2.5-Inch SFF Mainstream Endurance SAS-12Gbps Smart Carrier Enterprise Mainstream Solid State Drive for ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 Servers

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving world of enterprise storage, solid-state drives (SSDs) have become essential for organizations prioritizing high performance, reliability, and energy efficiency. The HPE 800GB 2.5-Inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Mainstream Endurance SAS-12Gbps Smart Carrier Enterprise Mainstream Solid State Drive (Part Number: 741144-B21, Model: MO0800JDVEV) is a high-performance storage solution tailored for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. This article provides a detailed overview of the drive’s specifications, features, benefits, and use cases, offering insights for IT professionals and businesses considering this SSD for their data center needs.

Overview of the HPE 800GB SSD

The HPE 800GB SSD is designed to deliver exceptional performance for enterprise workloads requiring a balance of speed, capacity, and endurance. With a 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) and a SAS-12Gbps interface, this drive is optimized for compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers, ensuring seamless integration into existing infrastructure. The Smart Carrier design enhances ease of use, providing hot-plug functionality and intuitive status indicators for simplified maintenance.

Key Specifications

Capacity: 800GB

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

Interface: SAS-12Gbps

Endurance: Mainstream Endurance (Mixed Use)

NAND Type: Multi-Level Cell (MLC)

Part Number: 741144-B21

Model: MO0800JDVEV

Compatibility: HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers

Carrier Type: Smart Carrier

Workload Type: Enterprise Mainstream (Mixed Use)

Performance Metrics

Sequential Read Speed: Up to 1,000 MB/s

Sequential Write Speed: Up to 600 MB/s

Random Read IOPS: Up to 66,000 (4KB block size)

Random Write IOPS: Up to 26,000 (4KB block size)

Latency: Low latency for read and write operations

Endurance: Up to 1.4 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) for 5 years

Features and Technologies

The HPE 800GB SSD incorporates advanced technologies to meet the demands of enterprise environments, ensuring reliability, performance, and data integrity.

SAS-12Gbps Interface

The 12Gbps Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface provides double the bandwidth of its 6Gbps predecessor, enabling faster data transfer rates and improved performance for data-intensive applications. This high-speed interface is ideal for environments requiring rapid access to large datasets, such as databases and virtualization platforms.

Mainstream Endurance (Mixed Use)

Designed for mixed-use workloads, the HPE 800GB SSD strikes a balance between read-intensive and write-intensive applications. With an endurance rating of up to 1.4 DWPD for five years, it is suitable for workloads like online transaction processing (OLTP), virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and business analytics.

Smart Carrier Design

The Smart Carrier enhances manageability with features like hot-plug support, allowing drives to be replaced without powering down the server. The carrier includes LED indicators for drive status, activity, and health, simplifying monitoring and maintenance in data center environments.

Power Loss Protection

The SSD includes power loss protection to safeguard data integrity during unexpected power interruptions. This feature ensures that data in transit is not lost, making it critical for mission-critical applications where data loss is unacceptable.

HPE Digitally Signed Firmware

The drive features HPE’s digitally signed firmware, which protects against unauthorized access and ensures firmware authenticity. This enhances security, reducing the risk of malicious firmware updates that could compromise data or system performance.

Benefits for Enterprises

Enhanced Performance

The HPE 800GB SSD delivers superior read and write speeds compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), significantly reducing application load times and improving server responsiveness. Its high IOPS performance makes it ideal for latency-sensitive applications.

Improved Reliability

With no moving parts, SSDs are inherently more reliable than HDDs, offering greater resistance to physical shock and vibration. The HPE 800GB SSD is engineered for enterprise environments, with robust error correction and wear-leveling algorithms to extend drive lifespan.

Energy Efficiency

SSDs consume less power than HDDs, contributing to lower operational costs and a reduced carbon footprint. The HPE 800GB SSD is optimized for energy efficiency, making it an environmentally friendly choice for data centers.

Scalability and Compatibility

The drive’s compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers ensures seamless integration into existing infrastructure. Its 800GB capacity provides ample storage for critical applications, while the SAS interface supports scalability in high-performance computing environments.

Use Cases

The HPE 800GB SSD is versatile, catering to a wide range of enterprise applications. Below are key use cases where this SSD excels:

Database Management

The high IOPS and low latency of the HPE 800GB SSD make it ideal for database applications, such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle, where rapid data retrieval and transaction processing are critical.

Virtualization

In virtualized environments, such as VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V, the SSD’s performance ensures smooth operation of multiple virtual machines, reducing latency and improving user experience.

Big Data and Analytics

For big data workloads, including Hadoop or SAP HANA, the SSD’s high sequential throughput and capacity support efficient data processing and analysis, enabling faster insights.

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

The drive’s fast read speeds make it suitable for CDNs, where quick access to cached content is essential for delivering low-latency user experiences.

Installation and Compatibility

Compatibility with HPE ProLiant Servers

The HPE 800GB SSD is designed for use with HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers, including models like the DL360, DL380, and ML350. It is critical to verify compatibility with specific server models and firmware versions to ensure optimal performance.

Installation Process

Power Down the Server (if not using hot-plug): Ensure the server is powered off and disconnected from power sources.

Access the Drive Bay: Open the server chassis and locate the 2.5-inch SFF drive bay.

Insert the SSD: Align the Smart Carrier SSD with the drive bay and securely insert it until it clicks into place.

Secure the Drive: Ensure the drive is firmly seated and the Smart Carrier latch is engaged.

Power On and Configure: Power on the server and use the HPE Smart Storage Administrator or BIOS to configure the drive for RAID or standalone use.

Firmware and Software Updates

To maximize performance and reliability, ensure the SSD’s firmware is up to date. HPE provides tools like the HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) to simplify firmware and driver updates.

Maintenance and Monitoring

Smart Carrier Indicators

The Smart Carrier’s LED indicators provide real-time status updates:

Green (Activity): Indicates data read/write activity.

Amber (Warning): Signals a potential issue requiring attention.

Red (Fault): Indicates a drive failure or critical error.

HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO)

HPE’s iLO management tool allows administrators to monitor SSD health, performance, and wear levels remotely, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

Drive Replacement

In the event of a failure, the hot-plug capability allows for drive replacement without shutting down the server. Follow HPE’s guidelines for safe removal and replacement to avoid data loss.

Comparison with Other HPE SSDs

The HPE 800GB Mainstream Endurance SSD is part of HPE’s broader SSD portfolio, which includes Read Intensive and Write Intensive options. Compared to Read Intensive SSDs, the Mainstream Endurance model offers better write performance and endurance, making it suitable for mixed-use workloads. However, for write-heavy applications, HPE’s Write Intensive SSDs may be a better fit, albeit at a higher cost.

Conclusion

The HPE 800GB 2.5-Inch SFF Mainstream Endurance SAS-12Gbps Smart Carrier SSD is a powerful and reliable storage solution for enterprises leveraging HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. Its combination of high performance, robust endurance, and advanced features like power loss protection and digitally signed firmware makes it an excellent choice for demanding workloads such as databases, virtualization, and big data analytics. With its Smart Carrier design and seamless integration, this SSD offers IT administrators a hassle-free way to enhance server performance while maintaining data integrity and energy efficiency. For organizations seeking a balance of capacity, speed, and durability, the HPE 800GB SSD is a compelling option to drive their data center operations forward.