QuantumVault: HPE 3.2TB SAS SSD - Unleashing Cosmic Speed and Fortified Resilience for ProLiant Realms

HPE 3.2TB 2.5-Inch SFF SAS-12Gbps Mixed Use SSD for ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 Servers

Introduction

The HPE 3.2TB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Digitally Signed Firmware SAS-12Gbps Smart Carrier Mixed Use Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. Engineered to meet the demands of enterprise environments, this SSD offers a robust combination of capacity, speed, and reliability, making it ideal for workloads requiring balanced read and write performance. This article provides a detailed overview of the drive’s specifications, features, compatibility, and benefits, helping IT professionals and data center administrators make informed decisions about their storage infrastructure.

Key Specifications

The HPE 3.2TB SSD is built to deliver exceptional performance and endurance for mixed-use applications. Below are its primary technical specifications:

Device Type: Solid State Drive (SSD) - Hot-Swap

Capacity: 3.2 Terabytes (TB)

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

Interface: SAS-12Gbps (Serial Attached SCSI, 12 Gigabits per second)

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

Carrier Type: HPE Smart Carrier (SC)

Workload Type: Mixed Use (MU)

Features: Digitally Signed Firmware

Height: 0.6 inches (15 mm)

Endurance DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day): 3

Lifetime Writes: 17,500 Terabytes Written (TBW)

Performance Metrics:

Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 140,000

Max Random Read IOPS (4KiB): 210,000 @ Q32

Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 123,000

Max Random Write IOPS (4KiB): 124,000 @ Q16

Max Sequential Read Throughput: 1,095 MiB/s

Max Sequential Write Throughput: 1,045 MiB/s

Random Read Average Latency: 100 microseconds (µs)

Random Write Average Latency: 34 microseconds (µs)

Power Consumption:

Idle: 3.2 Watts

Random Read/Write: 6.11 Watts

Sequential Read: 5.45 Watts

Sequential Write: 9.31 Watts

Maximum: 9.31 Watts

Interfaces: 1 x SAS 12 Gb/s

Compatible Bay: 2.5-inch SFF

These specifications highlight the drive’s ability to handle high-throughput, low-latency operations, making it suitable for a variety of enterprise applications.

Features and Technologies

The HPE 3.2TB SSD incorporates several advanced features that enhance its performance, reliability, and compatibility with HPE ProLiant servers:

1. Digitally Signed Firmware

The SSD features digitally signed firmware, ensuring that the drive’s firmware is authentic and has not been tampered with. This security measure protects against unauthorized modifications, reducing the risk of malware or firmware-based attacks that could compromise data integrity or system performance.

2. SAS-12Gbps Interface

The SAS-12Gbps interface provides a high-speed connection, doubling the data transfer rate of its 6Gbps predecessor. This enables faster data access and transfer, critical for data-intensive applications such as databases, virtualization, and big data analytics.

3. Smart Carrier Design

The HPE Smart Carrier (SC) is a proprietary drive tray that simplifies installation and maintenance. It includes status LEDs for real-time monitoring of drive health and activity, as well as a “Do Not Remove” button to prevent accidental removal during operation, minimizing downtime and data loss risks.

4. Mixed Use (MU) Workload Optimization

Designed for mixed-use workloads, the SSD strikes a balance between read-intensive and write-intensive operations. With an endurance rating of 3 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) and 17,500 TBW, it is well-suited for applications requiring frequent data writes, such as cloud computing, active archiving, and data warehousing.

5. Hot-Swap Capability

The hot-swap functionality allows the drive to be replaced or upgraded without powering down the server, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing disruptions in mission-critical environments.

6. HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge

The SSD supports HPE’s SmartSSD Wear Gauge, a management tool that monitors the drive’s lifespan and wear levels. This feature helps administrators plan maintenance and replacements proactively, preventing unexpected failures.

Compatibility

The HPE 3.2TB SSD is compatible with a wide range of HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers, as well as select HPE Synergy and Apollo systems. Below is a non-exhaustive list of compatible platforms:

HPE ProLiant DL Series

DL160 Gen9, DL180 Gen10, DL325 Gen10, DL360 Gen10, DL385 Gen10, DL560 Gen10, DL580 Gen9, DL580 Gen10

Variants include Base, Entry, Performance, High Performance, and Solution models

HPE ProLiant ML Series

ML110 Gen10, ML30 Gen10, ML350 Gen10

Variants include Entry, Performance, and Solution models

HPE Synergy

480 Gen10 (Base, Entry, Performance, Premium, Standard Backplane, w/o Drives)

660 Gen10 (Base, Entry, Performance, Premium)

680 Gen9 4S-EX (Base, Performance)

HPE Apollo Series

4200 Gen9, 4200 Gen9 for Google

HPE Nimble Storage

dHCI Medium Solution with HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus

To ensure compatibility with specific server configurations, it is recommended to verify the drive’s part number (e.g., P09094-B21, P09925-001, 872386-B21) and consult HPE’s compatibility documentation or support team.

Benefits for Enterprise Environments

The HPE 3.2TB SSD offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for enterprise storage needs:

1. High Performance

With random read/write IOPS of up to 210,000 and 124,000, respectively, and sequential throughput exceeding 1,000 MiB/s, the SSD delivers the speed required for demanding applications like virtualization, online transaction processing (OLTP), and real-time analytics.

2. Reliability and Durability

The MLC NAND flash memory, combined with a 3 DWPD endurance rating, ensures long-term reliability for mixed-use workloads. The digitally signed firmware and SmartSSD Wear Gauge further enhance data integrity and drive longevity.

3. Energy Efficiency

With a maximum power consumption of 9.31 Watts and an idle power draw of just 3.2 Watts, the SSD contributes to lower energy costs in data centers, aligning with sustainability goals.

4. Scalability

The 3.2TB capacity provides ample storage for growing data sets, while the 2.5-inch SFF form factor allows for high-density storage configurations in HPE servers, maximizing rack space efficiency.

5. Simplified Management

The Smart Carrier and compatibility with HPE’s management tools, such as HPE iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) and SmartSSD Wear Gauge, streamline drive monitoring and maintenance, reducing administrative overhead.

Use Cases

The HPE 3.2TB SSD is versatile and well-suited for a variety of enterprise applications, including:

Big Data Analytics

 High IOPS and low latency support rapid data processing and analysis.

Cloud Computing

Balanced read/write performance ensures efficient handling of virtualized workloads.

Database Applications

Fast access times and high endurance meet the demands of transactional and relational databases.

Data Warehousing

Large capacity and sequential throughput enable efficient storage and retrieval of massive data sets.

Active Archiving:

Mixed-use optimization supports frequent data access and updates in archival systems.

Conclusion

The HPE 3.2TB 2.5-inch SFF SAS-12Gbps Mixed Use SSD is a powerful and reliable storage solution for HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. Its combination of high capacity, exceptional performance, and enterprise-grade features makes it an excellent choice for data centers tackling mixed-use workloads. With digitally signed firmware, hot-swap capability, and compatibility with HPE’s management tools, this SSD delivers the security, flexibility, and efficiency required in modern IT environments. Whether supporting big data analytics, cloud computing, or database applications, the HPE 3.2TB SSD empowers organizations to optimize their storage infrastructure and drive business success.