Unleashing Enterprise Power: The HPE 800GB Write Intensive SSD for ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 Servers

HPE 800GB 2.5-Inch SFF SATA-6Gbps Write Intensive SSD: A Comprehensive Guide

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Power Loss Protection SATA-6Gbps Smart Carrier Write Intensive-2 (WI) Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage solution designed for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. Engineered to handle write-intensive workloads, this SSD offers exceptional speed, durability, and reliability, making it ideal for enterprise applications such as databases, virtualization, and high-performance computing. This article provides a detailed overview of its specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and use cases, offering IT professionals a comprehensive guide to its capabilities.

Overview

The HPE 800GB SSD (part numbers include 805389-001, 804671-B21, 804638-003, MK0800GEYKE-SC) is tailored for write-intensive environments, leveraging enterprise Multi-Level Cell (eMLC) NAND flash technology. With a 2.5-inch SFF form factor, it optimizes space in server chassis while delivering high storage density. The SATA-6Gbps interface ensures robust data transfer rates, and features like Power Loss Protection (PLP) and HPE’s Smart Carrier enhance data integrity and manageability. This SSD is rigorously tested for over 3.35 million hours, ensuring enterprise-grade reliability.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Specifications

Device Type: Solid State Drive - Hot-Swap

Capacity: 800 GB

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

Interface: SATA 6Gbps

NAND Flash Memory Type: Enterprise Multi-Level Cell (eMLC)

Plug Type: Hot-Pluggable

Carrier Type: Smart Carrier (SC)

Workload Type: Write Intensive-2 (WI)

Height: 15 mm (0.6 inch)

Bytes per Sector: 512

Performance Metrics

Drive Transfer Rate: 6 Gb/sec (external)

Sequential Read Throughput: Up to 535 MB/s

Sequential Write Throughput: Up to 380 MB/s

Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 64,000

Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 24,000

Max Random Read IOPS (4KiB): 71,000 @ Q32

Max Random Write IOPS (4KiB): 24,000 @ Q4

Random 70% Read / 30% Write (4KiB, Q=32): 45,000 IOPS

Random 50% Read / 50% Write (4KiB, Q=32): 35,000 IOPS

Average Latency (Random Read): 110 µs

Average Latency (Random Write): 50 µs

Endurance (Drive Writes Per Day, DWPD): 3.0

Total Bytes Written (TBW): Approximately 4380 TB over 5 years

Power and Environmental Specifications

Power Consumption (Idle): 1.16 W

Power Consumption (Random Read/Write): 2.25 W

Power Consumption (Sequential Read): 3.24 W

Power Consumption (Sequential Write): 6.06 W

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

Shock Tolerance (Operating/Non-Operating): 1000 g @ 0.5 ms

Key Features

Power Loss Protection (PLP)

The SSD includes Power Loss Protection, which uses onboard capacitors to preserve data in flight during sudden power failures, ensuring data integrity in critical enterprise environments.

Smart Carrier Technology

HPE’s Smart Carrier features LED indicators for real-time status and health monitoring, integrating with HPE’s Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management tools. A “do not remove” button prevents accidental data loss, enhancing operational reliability.

High Endurance and Reliability

With a DWPD of 3.0 and a TBW of approximately 4380 TB, the SSD is built for write-intensive workloads, offering exceptional durability for applications with frequent data writes. HPE’s rigorous testing ensures long-term reliability.

Digitally Signed Firmware

The SSD features digitally signed firmware to protect against unauthorized modifications, ensuring secure operation and compliance with enterprise security standards.

Hot-Swap Capability

The hot-pluggable design allows drive replacement without server downtime, ensuring continuous operation in mission-critical environments.

Compatibility

Supported Servers

The HPE 800GB SSD is compatible with a wide range of HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers, including but not limited to:

DL Series: DL120 Gen9, DL160 Gen9, DL180 Gen9, DL20 Gen9, DL320e Gen8, DL320e Gen8 v2, DL360 Gen9, DL360e Gen8, DL360p Gen8, DL380 Gen9, DL380p Gen8, DL385p Gen8, DL388 Gen9, DL580 Gen9, DL60 Gen9, DL80 Gen9

ML Series: ML110 Gen9, ML150 Gen9, ML310e Gen8, ML310e Gen8 v2

XL Series: XL230a Gen9 Compute Tray, XL250a Gen9 Accelerator Tray

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

Storage Arrays: D3700, D2220sb, StoreEasy 1830, 1840

Deployment Considerations

Administrators should verify compatibility with specific server models and RAID controllers using HPE’s official documentation. Firmware updates may be required for optimal performance, particularly in Gen8 servers.

Benefits

High Performance

The SSD delivers high IOPS and low latency, accelerating data access for write-intensive applications, reducing processing times, and improving server responsiveness.

Energy Efficiency

Compared to traditional HDDs, the SSD consumes less power, contributing to lower operational costs and reduced data center cooling requirements.

Enhanced Manageability

Integration with HPE’s iLO tools and SmartSSD Wear Gauge allows proactive monitoring of drive health, minimizing downtime and preventing data loss.

Space Optimization

The 2.5-inch SFF form factor maximizes storage density, enabling more drives in compact server chassis, ideal for space-constrained data centers.

Use Cases

Transactional Databases

The SSD’s high random IOPS and low latency make it ideal for transactional databases used in e-commerce, financial services, or ERP systems, ensuring fast query execution and reliable data access.

Virtualization

For virtualization platforms like VMware or Hyper-V, the SSD supports multiple virtual machines, delivering consistent performance for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and server consolidation.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

The SSD’s write-intensive capabilities and high endurance make it suitable for HPC applications, such as scientific simulations and data analytics, where frequent data writes are common.

Big Data and Analytics

With its high throughput and reliability, the SSD is well-suited for big data analytics and data warehousing, enabling rapid data processing and retrieval.

Deployment Recommendations

Verify Compatibility

Ensure compatibility with your ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 server using HPE’s compatibility matrix or vendor support to avoid integration issues.

Firmware Updates

Regularly update the SSD’s firmware via HPE’s iLO tools to leverage performance improvements and security enhancements.

Workload Optimization

Deploy the SSD in write-intensive environments to maximize its DWPD and performance benefits. For read-intensive or mixed-use workloads, consider alternative HPE SSD models.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Use HPE Smart Carrier and iLO tools to monitor drive health and performance, enabling proactive maintenance to prevent unexpected failures.

Conclusion

The HPE 800GB 2.5-inch SFF SATA-6Gbps Smart Carrier Write Intensive-2 SSD is a robust, high-performance storage solution tailored for HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers. Its advanced features, including Power Loss Protection, Smart Carrier technology, and high endurance, make it an excellent choice for write-intensive enterprise workloads. With broad compatibility, energy efficiency, and seamless integration with HPE’s management tools, this SSD enhances data center performance and reliability. For organizations seeking to optimize their server infrastructure for demanding applications, the HPE 800GB SSD is a strategic investment that delivers measurable improvements in speed, durability, and operational efficiency.