Powering Enterprise Storage: Unveiling the HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD for MSA 1040/2040

HPE 1.6TB 2.5-Inch Small Form Factor Mainstream Endurance Dual Port SAS-6Gbps Hot-Swap Enterprise Mainstream Solid State Drive for MSA 1040/2040

Introduction

In today’s data-driven enterprise environments, storage solutions must deliver high performance, reliability, and scalability to meet escalating demands. The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Mainstream Endurance Dual Port SAS-6Gbps Hot-Swap Enterprise Mainstream Solid State Drive (SSD) is engineered for Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Modular Smart Array (MSA) 1040 and 2040 Storage Area Network (SAN) systems. This SSD, identified by part numbers such as J9F39A, 787338-001, 797091-003, and MO1600JEFPC, is designed to support enterprise workloads requiring robust performance and continuous availability. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the drive’s specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and applications, offering valuable insights for IT professionals and decision-makers.

Specifications

The HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD is a high-capacity, enterprise-grade storage solution with the following technical specifications:

• Device Type: Solid State Drive – Hot-Swap
• Capacity: 1.6 Terabytes (TB)
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF)
• Interface: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gbps
• Carrier Type: HPE Standard Carrier
• Workload Type: Enterprise Mainstream
• Features: Mainstream Endurance, Dual Port
• Warranty: 3 Years (Brand New), 30 Days (Refurbished, Grade A)
• Part Numbers:
  • Option Part: J9F39A
  • Spare Part: 787338-001
  • Model Number: MO1600JEFPC
  • Assembly Number: 797091-003

These specifications ensure compatibility with HPE MSA 1040 and 2040 SAN storage arrays, which are designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprise environments requiring cost-effective, high-performance storage.

Key Features

The HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD is equipped with features that enhance its performance, reliability, and usability in enterprise settings:

1. Mainstream Endurance

The SSD is optimized for mainstream endurance, making it suitable for workloads with moderate write demands. It is designed to handle applications requiring consistent performance, such as virtualization, databases, and file services, while maintaining durability over extended periods.

2. Dual Port SAS Interface

The dual-port SAS-6Gbps interface provides redundant data paths, ensuring continuous data access even in the event of a path failure. This feature is critical for mission-critical applications where uptime is paramount, enhancing fault tolerance and system reliability.

3. Hot-Swap Capability

The hot-swap design allows the SSD to be replaced or upgraded without powering down the storage array. Paired with the HPE Standard Carrier, this feature minimizes downtime and simplifies maintenance, making it ideal for 24/7 enterprise operations.

4. High Capacity and Compact Form Factor

With a 1.6TB capacity in a 2.5-inch SFF, the SSD offers a balance between storage density and space efficiency. The compact form factor enables higher drive counts in MSA arrays, optimizing rack space usage in data centers with spatial constraints.

5. Enterprise-Grade Reliability

Built with enterprise-grade NAND flash memory, the SSD includes features like power-loss protection and advanced error correction. These ensure data integrity during unexpected events, supporting the rigorous demands of SAN deployments.

6. Compatibility with MSA 1040/2040

The SSD is purpose-built for HPE MSA 1040 and 2040 SAN storage arrays, which support a range of connectivity options, including Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, and SAS. This compatibility ensures seamless integration into existing HPE storage infrastructures.

Benefits

The HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD offers several benefits that make it a compelling choice for enterprise storage:

1. Enhanced Performance

The SAS-6Gbps interface delivers high Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and low-latency access, significantly improving the performance of MSA 1040/2040 arrays. This is particularly beneficial for applications requiring rapid data retrieval, such as virtualized environments and transactional databases.

2. Cost-Effective Scalability

The 1.6TB capacity strikes a balance between cost and storage density, allowing businesses to scale their SAN infrastructure without over-investing in higher-capacity drives. The ability to mix SSDs with HDDs in MSA arrays further optimizes cost efficiency.

3. High Availability

The combination of dual-port SAS, hot-swap capability, and enterprise-grade components ensures minimal disruption and maximum uptime. This reliability is critical for businesses that depend on continuous data availability.

4. Simplified Management

The SSD can be managed through the MSA Storage Management Utility, a web-based interface that simplifies configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. This ease of use reduces administrative overhead for IT teams.

5. Energy Efficiency

As part of HPE’s MSA storage solutions, the SSD contributes to energy-efficient operations, aligning with ENERGY STAR-certified standards for MSA 2040 arrays. This can lead to cost savings and regulatory compliance for enterprises.

Compatibility

The HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD is specifically designed for the following HPE MSA storage systems:

HPE MSA 1040 SAN Storage:

An entry-level storage array designed for SMBs, offering cost-effective shared storage with support for SAS, FC, and iSCSI connectivity.

HPE MSA 2040 SAN Storage:

A mid-range storage solution for enterprises, providing high performance and scalability with advanced data services like snapshot, volume copy, and remote replication.

The SSD is compatible with various MSA configurations, including:

• MSA 1040 Dual Controller SFF Bundle
• MSA 2040 10Gb iSCSI Dual Controller SFF Bundle
• MSA 2040 FC Dual Controller SFF Bundle
• MSA 2040 SAN Dual Controller SFF Bundle
• MSA 2040 SAS Dual Controller SFF Bundle
• MSA 2040 SFF Chassis and DC-Power Chassis

To ensure compatibility with specific server or storage configurations, IT administrators are advised to contact HPE support or authorized resellers for verification.

Applications

The HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD is well-suited for a variety of enterprise applications, including:

Virtualization:

Accelerates virtual machine performance by reducing storage bottlenecks in VMware, Hyper-V, or other hypervisor environments.

Transactional Databases:

Supports databases like SQL Server and Oracle with fast read/write operations, improving query response times.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI):

Enhances the responsiveness of virtual desktop deployments for remote or distributed workforces.

Business Intelligence:

Provides quick access to datasets for small-scale analytics or reporting tasks.

Data Replication:

Serves as a high-speed tier in replication setups, leveraging the MSA 2040’s remote replication features for data protection.

Installation and Management

Installing the HPE 1.6TB SSD into an MSA 1040 or 2040 array is straightforward, thanks to its hot-swap design and HPE Standard Carrier. The process involves:

Preparation:

Verify compatibility with the MSA array and ensure the system is running supported firmware (e.g., GL225P002-02 or later, with multi-step upgrades for older versions).

Insertion:

Insert the SSD into an available drive bay, ensuring proper alignment with the HPE Standard Carrier.

Configuration:

Use the MSA Storage Management Utility to configure the drive, create disk groups, and assign volumes.

Monitoring:

Monitor drive health and performance through the management interface, leveraging built-in diagnostics for proactive maintenance.

For firmware upgrades, HPE recommends engaging support if upgrading from versions more than two major releases back, as a multi-step process may be required.

Comparison with Other Drives

To provide context, the HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD can be compared with other drives in the MSA ecosystem:

HPE 1.6TB SAS-12Gbps Mixed Use SSD (e.g., N9X91A):

Offers higher performance with a 12Gbps interface and mixed-use optimization, but at a higher cost. It is better suited for write-intensive workloads.

HPE 400GB SAS-12Gbps Mainstream Endurance SSD (e.g., J9F37A):

Provides lower capacity but supports faster SAS-12Gbps connectivity, ideal for smaller, high-performance deployments.

HPE 2.4TB 10K RPM SAS-12Gbps HDD (e.g., Q2R41A):

Offers higher capacity but slower performance compared to SSDs, suitable for archival or less I/O-intensive applications.

The 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD is a cost-effective choice for mainstream workloads, balancing performance and capacity without the premium cost of mixed-use or higher-speed drives.

Conclusion

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Mainstream Endurance Dual Port SAS-6Gbps Hot-Swap Enterprise Mainstream SSD is a versatile and reliable storage solution for HPE MSA 1040 and 2040 SAN storage arrays. Its combination of high capacity, mainstream endurance, dual-port redundancy, and hot-swap capability makes it an ideal choice for SMBs and enterprises seeking to optimize their storage infrastructure. With applications ranging from virtualization to transactional databases, this SSD delivers the performance, scalability, and availability required for modern data centers. Backed by HPE’s rigorous testing and warranty, it is a trusted component for businesses aiming to enhance their storage performance while maintaining cost efficiency.

For IT professionals considering this SSD, verifying compatibility and leveraging HPE’s management tools will ensure a seamless deployment. As enterprise storage demands continue to evolve, the HPE 1.6TB SAS-6Gbps SSD remains a robust foundation for building high-performance, reliable SAN environments.