Supercharging Enterprise Storage: The HPE 3.2TB SAS SSD Powerhouse for ProLiant Gen9 & Gen10 Servers

Unleashing Enterprise Storage Performance: HPE 3.2TB 2.5-Inch SFF SAS-12Gbps Mixed Use SSD for ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 Servers

Introduction

In today’s data-driven enterprise landscape, storage solutions must deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and security to meet the demands of modern IT infrastructure. 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-capacity, high-performance storage solution designed specifically for HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. With advanced features like digitally signed firmware, hot-pluggable design, and a robust SAS-12Gbps interface, this SSD is engineered to handle mixed-use workloads such as databases, virtualization, and transactional systems. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the SSD’s specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and ideal use cases, offering insights into why it is a strategic choice for enterprise data centers.

Key Specifications

The HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD (part numbers include P09094-B21, P09094-H21, P09094-K21, P09094-X21, P09925-001, 872386-B21, 872386-H21, 872386-K21, 872386-X21) is optimized for enterprise environments. Below are its core technical specifications:

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

Capacity: 3.2TB

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

Interface: SAS-12Gbps (Serial Attached SCSI)

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

Carrier Type: HPE Smart Carrier (SC)

Plug Type: Hot-Pluggable

Workload Type: Mixed Use (MU)

Features: Digitally Signed Firmware

Height: 0.6 inches (15 mm)

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 µs

Random Write Average Latency: 34 µs

Endurance:

Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD): 3

Lifetime Writes: 17,500 TB

Power Consumption:

Idle: 3.2 W

Random Read/Write: 6.11 W

Sequential Read: 5.45 W

Sequential Write: 9.31 W

Maximum: 9.31 W

Compatible Bay: 2.5-inch SFF

Interfaces: 1 x SAS 12 Gb/s

These specifications highlight the SSD’s ability to deliver high performance, low latency, and robust endurance for enterprise applications.

Advanced Features

The HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD is equipped with advanced features that enhance its performance, reliability, and manageability in enterprise environments:

Digitally Signed Firmware (DS):

Ensures firmware authenticity, protecting against unauthorized firmware modifications and cyberattacks. This feature enhances security by verifying that the SSD’s firmware originates from a trusted source, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Smart Carrier (SC) Design:

Features intuitive LED indicators for real-time status and health monitoring, along with a “do not remove” button to prevent accidental drive removal. This design simplifies maintenance and minimizes downtime in busy data centers.

Hot-Pluggable Design:

Allows for seamless drive replacement without powering down the server, ensuring continuous operation and reducing maintenance-related disruptions.

SAS-12Gbps Interface:

Provides superior data transfer speeds and reliability compared to SATA SSDs. The 12Gbps SAS interface delivers high bandwidth and low latency, making it ideal for enterprise-grade applications requiring rapid data access.

Mixed Use (MU) Workload Optimization:

Balances read and write performance, making the SSD suitable for a wide range of workloads, including databases, virtualized environments, and transactional systems. With a DWPD of 3, it offers a cost-effective balance between performance and endurance.

Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash:

Provides high storage density and reliability, enabling the 3.2TB capacity while maintaining performance and endurance for enterprise use.

HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge:

Monitors the SSD’s lifespan and wear levels, allowing IT administrators to proactively manage drive health and plan replacements before failures occur, minimizing downtime.

Benefits for Enterprise Data Centers

The HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for enterprises leveraging HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers:

High Performance:

With up to 210,000 random read IOPS and 1,095 MiB/s sequential read throughput, the SSD delivers rapid data access and processing, reducing application latency and improving system responsiveness for demanding workloads.

Reliability and Durability:

Backed by over 3.35 million hours of HPE testing and qualification, the SSD is designed for exceptional reliability. Its MLC NAND flash and digitally signed firmware ensure data integrity and system stability, reducing the risk of downtime and data loss.

Scalability:

The 2.5-inch SFF design allows for high storage density, enabling enterprises to scale storage capacity within existing server chassis. The 3.2TB capacity is ideal for managing large datasets and growing data demands.

Cost-Effectiveness:

The mixed-use optimization provides a balance between performance and endurance, offering high performance at a lower cost compared to write-intensive SSDs. This makes it suitable for mid-range storage needs.

Ease of Management:

The Smart Carrier design and hot-pluggable functionality simplify drive installation, monitoring, and replacement, reducing administrative overhead and operational complexity.

Energy Efficiency:

With a maximum power consumption of 9.31 W and an idle power draw of 3.2 W, the SSD contributes to lower operational costs and reduced heat output in data centers.

Compatibility

The HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD is compatible with a wide range of HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers, as well as HPE Synergy platforms. Below is a partial list of compatible server models:

HPE ProLiant DL Series:

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

HPE ProLiant ML Series:

ML350 Gen10

HPE ProLiant XL Series:

XL170r Gen9, XL450 Gen10

HPE Synergy:

480 Gen10 Base/Entry/Performance/Premium/Standard Compute Module

660 Gen10 Base/Entry/Performance/Premium Compute Module

680 Gen9 4S-EX Base/Performance Compute Module

For optimal performance, ensure that server firmware and drivers are up to date. Always verify compatibility with specific server models, as configurations may vary. Contact HPE or authorized resellers to confirm compatibility with your current server or storage array.

Ideal Use Cases

The HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD is designed for mixed-use workloads, making it versatile for a variety of enterprise applications, including:

Databases:

Delivers high IOPS and low latency for transactional and analytical databases, ensuring rapid query processing and data retrieval.

Virtualization:

Supports virtualized environments with fast data access and high throughput, enabling efficient virtual machine performance and scalability.

Transactional Systems:

Handles high-frequency read and write operations for applications like e-commerce platforms, financial systems, and ERP solutions.

Big Data Analytics:

Provides the capacity and performance needed to process large datasets, supporting real-time analytics and business intelligence.

Cloud Computing:

Enhances cloud infrastructure with reliable, high-performance storage for multi-tenant environments and hybrid cloud deployments.

Comparison with Other HPE SSDs

To understand the positioning of the HPE 3.2TB SFF SAS SSD, it’s helpful to compare it with other HPE SSD options:

HPE NVMe SSDs:

NVMe SSDs (e.g., HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.3 SSD) offer faster data transfer speeds and lower latency via the PCIe interface, making them ideal for ultra-high-performance workloads like AI and real-time processing. However, they are more expensive and may not be necessary for mixed-use applications.

HPE SATA SSDs:

SATA SSDs (e.g., HPE 1.6TB SFF SATA-6Gbps SSD) are more cost-effective but offer lower performance and reliability compared to SAS SSDs. They are better suited for read-intensive or less demanding workloads.

HPE Write-Intensive (WI) SSDs:

WI SSDs provide higher write endurance for write-heavy workloads but are more expensive. The 3.2TB mixed-use SSD offers a cost-effective alternative for applications with balanced read/write requirements.

HPE Read-Intensive (RI) SSDs:

RI SSDs are optimized for read-heavy workloads and are less expensive but have lower write endurance. The mixed-use SSD is better suited for applications requiring balanced performance.

Conclusion

The HPE 3.2TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware SAS-12Gbps Smart Carrier Mixed Use SSD is a robust, secure, and high-performing storage solution for HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. Its combination of advanced features—such as digitally signed firmware, Smart Carrier design, and hot-pluggable functionality—ensures reliability, security, and ease of management. With optimized performance for mixed-use workloads, broad server compatibility, and a cost-effective balance of endurance and speed, this SSD is an excellent choice for enterprises seeking to enhance their data center capabilities. Whether powering databases, virtualized environments, or transactional systems, the HPE 3.2TB SSD delivers the performance, scalability, and resilience needed to meet the demands of modern IT infrastructure. For businesses leveraging HPE ProLiant servers, this SSD represents a strategic investment in storage that drives efficiency and supports long-term growth.