Unleashing Enterprise Speed: The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.3 SSD for ProLiant Gen10 Plus

HPE 1.6TB 2.5inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware NVMe U.3 PCIe High Performance BC Mixed Use Solid State Drive for ProLiant Generation10 Plus Servers

Introduction

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware NVMe U.3 PCIe High Performance Basic Carrier (BC) Mixed Use Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for HPE ProLiant Generation10 Plus servers. This SSD, identified by part numbers such as P40493-B21, P40493-H21, P40493-K21, and P40493-X21, delivers exceptional speed, reliability, and endurance for enterprise applications requiring a balance of read and write performance. With its NVMe U.3 interface, digitally signed firmware, and robust design, this drive is optimized for mixed-use workloads such as big data analytics, high-performance computing (HPC), virtualization, and transactional databases.

This article provides a detailed overview of the HPE 1.6TB NVMe SSD, covering its key features, technical specifications, performance metrics, compatibility, and benefits for enterprise environments. It also explores its role in enhancing HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus server performance and its alignment with modern data center requirements.

Key Features

1. High-Performance NVMe U.3 Interface

The HPE 1.6TB SSD utilizes the NVMe U.3 interface, which communicates directly with applications via the PCIe bus to deliver ultra-low latency and high I/O bandwidth. Unlike traditional SAS or SATA SSDs, the NVMe protocol leverages PCIe Gen3 x4, providing significantly faster data transfers and reduced latency, making it ideal for data-intensive workloads.

2. Digitally Signed Firmware

Security is a critical concern in enterprise storage. The HPE 1.6TB SSD features Digitally Signed Firmware (DS), which ensures that the drive’s firmware originates from a trusted source. This prevents unauthorized access and protects against malicious firmware attacks, safeguarding sensitive data in the data center.

3. Mixed Use Workload Optimization

Designed for mixed-use (MU) applications, this SSD offers a balanced performance profile for workloads requiring both high random read and write IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). It supports a Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) rating of 3, ensuring durability for applications with moderate write demands.

4. Basic Carrier (BC) Design

The SSD comes bundled with an HPE Basic Carrier (BC), which facilitates hot-pluggable installation in compatible HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers. The 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) design ensures compatibility with a wide range of server chassis, optimizing space in dense data center environments.

5. Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND Flash

The drive employs Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash memory, balancing performance, capacity, and cost. TLC NAND provides high storage density, enabling the 1.6TB capacity while maintaining reliability and endurance for enterprise use.

6. HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge

To enhance manageability, the SSD supports the HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge, a tool that monitors the drive’s lifespan and wear levels. This allows IT administrators to proactively manage drive health and plan replacements before failures occur, minimizing downtime.

7. Dual-Port Connectivity

The SSD supports dual-port connectivity, enabling redundant paths for data access. This feature enhances fault tolerance and ensures continuous operation in mission-critical environments.

Technical Specifications

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe SSD is engineered for high performance and reliability. Below are its detailed technical specifications:

• Device Type: Solid State Drive (SSD) - Hot-Swap
• Capacity: 1.6TB
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF)
• Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe U.3)
• Plug Type: Hot-Pluggable
• Carrier Type: Basic Carrier (BC)
• Workload Type: Mixed Use (MU)
• NAND Flash Memory Type: Triple-Level Cell (TLC)
• Connectivity: Dual Port
• Features: Digitally Signed Firmware (DS)
• Platform Supported: HPE ProLiant Rack Servers (Gen10 Plus)
• Height: 15.00 mm (0.60 inches)
• Endurance:
  • Lifetime Writes: 8760TB
  • Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD): 3
• Performance Metrics:
  • Max Sequential Read Throughput: 6500 MiB/s
  • Max Sequential Write Throughput: 2700 MiB/s
  • Random Read Average Latency (4KiB, Q1): 93 µs
  • Random Write Average Latency (4KiB, Q1): 25 µs
  • Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 180,000
  • Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 220,000
  • Max Random Read IOPS (4KiB): 950,000 @ Q256
  • Max Random Write IOPS (4KiB): 220,000 @ Q256
• Compatible Bay: 2.5-inch SFF

These specifications highlight the drive’s ability to handle demanding workloads with high throughput, low latency, and robust endurance.

Performance Benefits

1. Superior Speed and Low Latency

The NVMe U.3 interface and PCIe Gen3 x4 connectivity enable the HPE 1.6TB SSD to achieve sequential read speeds of up to 6500 MiB/s and write speeds of up to 2700 MiB/s. With random read and write IOPS reaching 950,000 and 220,000 respectively, the drive excels in applications requiring rapid data access, such as real-time analytics and virtualized environments.

2. Enhanced Workload Efficiency

The mixed-use design ensures optimal performance for applications with balanced read and write demands. This makes the SSD suitable for transactional databases, virtualization platforms, and HPC workloads, where both speed and endurance are critical.

3. Reduced Data Center Footprint

By delivering high performance, the HPE 1.6TB SSD allows organizations to achieve more with fewer servers. This reduces power consumption, cooling requirements, and physical space, lowering overall operational costs.

4. Reliability and Durability

Backed by over 3.35 million hours of testing and qualification, HPE SSDs are built for reliability. The drive’s endurance rating of 3 DWPD and lifetime writes of 8760TB ensure it can withstand intensive workloads over its operational life.

Compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus Servers

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe SSD is specifically designed for HPE ProLiant Generation10 Plus servers, including models such as the DL360 Gen10 Plus, DL380 Gen10 Plus, and DL385 Gen10 Plus. These servers support advanced storage configurations, including up to 24 NVMe SFF drive bays in certain models, allowing for high-density storage solutions.

The SSD is compatible with HPE’s Basic Carrier (BC) bays, ensuring seamless integration into supported server chassis. Its hot-swappable design enables easy installation and maintenance without powering down the server, minimizing downtime in enterprise environments.

For specific compatibility with your server model, it is recommended to consult HPE’s documentation or contact their support team to verify configuration requirements.

Use Cases

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe SSD is ideal for a variety of enterprise applications, including:

• Big Data Analytics: High sequential throughput and low latency enable rapid processing of large datasets.
• Virtualization: Balanced read/write performance supports virtual machine (VM) workloads with high IOPS requirements.
• Transactional Databases: Fast random IOPS and low latency ensure quick query responses in database applications.
• High-Performance Computing (HPC): The drive’s speed and endurance make it suitable for compute-intensive scientific and engineering workloads.
• Cloud Computing: Reliable performance and scalability support cloud-based services with varying workload demands.

Security and Management Features

1. Digitally Signed Firmware

The DS firmware enhances security by verifying the authenticity of the drive’s firmware, protecting against unauthorized modifications that could compromise data integrity.

2. HPE Smart Carrier

While this model uses a Basic Carrier, HPE’s Smart Carrier technology (available in other models) includes status icons and a “do not remove” button to prevent accidental data loss. The BC design still supports hot-plug functionality for ease of use.

3. HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge

This management tool provides insights into the SSD’s health, allowing administrators to monitor wear and plan maintenance proactively.

Comparison with Other HPE SSDs

HPE offers a range of SSDs for different workload types, including Read Intensive (RI) and Write Intensive (WI) drives. Compared to RI SSDs, the 1.6TB Mixed Use SSD provides higher write endurance and better performance for write-heavy workloads. Compared to WI SSDs, it offers a more cost-effective solution for applications that don’t require extreme write endurance.

Additionally, HPE Value SAS SSDs provide an alternative for organizations prioritizing cost over performance. However, the NVMe U.3 SSD’s superior speed and latency make it the preferred choice for performance-critical applications.

Conclusion

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware NVMe U.3 PCIe High Performance BC Mixed Use SSD is a powerful and reliable storage solution for HPE ProLiant Generation10 Plus servers. Its high-speed NVMe U.3 interface, robust endurance, and advanced security features make it an excellent choice for enterprises seeking to optimize performance for mixed-use workloads. With low latency, high IOPS, and support for dual-port connectivity, this SSD delivers the performance and reliability needed for modern data center applications.

Whether you’re running big data analytics, virtualized environments, or transactional databases, the HPE 1.6TB NVMe SSD provides the speed, scalability, and security to meet your organization’s storage needs. By integrating seamlessly with HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers, it empowers businesses to achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation in their IT infrastructure.