Unleashing Enterprise Performance: Exploring the HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 PCIe SCN Mixed Use SSD for ProLiant Gen10 Servers

HPE 1.6TB 2.5-Inch Small Form Factor NVMe U.2 PCIe SCN Mixed Use Solid State Drive for ProLiant Gen10 Servers: A Comprehensive Overview

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) Digitally Signed Firmware NVMe U.2 PCIe SCN Mixed Use Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage solution designed specifically for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers. This SSD combines enterprise-grade reliability, advanced performance, and compatibility with modern server workloads, making it an excellent choice for businesses requiring robust storage for mixed-use applications. In this article, we’ll explore the specifications, features, performance metrics, compatibility, and benefits of this SSD, providing a detailed understanding of its role in enterprise environments.

Introduction

Solid State Drives have transformed enterprise storage by offering superior speed, reliability, and efficiency compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 PCIe SSD is tailored for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers, delivering high input/output operations per second (IOPS), low latency, and enhanced endurance for mixed-use workloads. With its digitally signed firmware and Smart Carrier NVMe (SCN) design, this drive ensures security, compatibility, and ease of management in data center environments.

This article dives into the technical specifications, performance characteristics, and practical applications of the HPE 1.6TB SSD, highlighting why it’s a valuable asset for IT administrators and businesses running ProLiant Gen10 servers.

Technical Specifications

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD is engineered to meet the demands of enterprise applications. Below are its key specifications:

- Capacity: 1.6TB

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

- Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe)

- Workload Type: Mixed Use (MU)

- NAND Flash Memory Type: Triple-Level Cell (TLC)

- Carrier Type: Smart Carrier NVMe (SCN)

- Connectivity: Dual Port

- Plug Type: Hot-Pluggable

- Height: 15.00 mm (0.60 inches)

- Features: Digitally Signed Firmware (DS)

- Platform Supported: HPE ProLiant Rack/Tower/BladeSystem Servers, HPE Synergy

Performance Metrics

The drive’s performance is optimized for mixed-use applications, balancing read and write operations. Key performance metrics include:

- Endurance (Drive Writes Per Day, DWPD): 3–5 (varies by model)

- 30 Days Writes: 8,561–14,600TB (depending on model)

- Maximum Sequential Read Throughput: 3,400–7,000 MiB/s

- Maximum Sequential Write Throughput: 1,900–2,700 MiB/s

- Random Read IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 160,000–190,000

- Random Write IOPS (4KiB, Q=16): 135,000–235,000

- Maximum Random Read IOPS (4KiB): 720,000–950,000 @ Q256

- Maximum Random Write IOPS (4KiB): 145,000–240,000 @ Q256

- Random Read Average Latency (4KiB, Q1): 85–93 µs

- Random Write Average Latency (4KiB, Q1): 24–30 µs

These metrics demonstrate the drive’s capability to handle high-performance tasks with low latency, making it suitable for data-intensive applications.

Key Features

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD is packed with features that enhance its performance, security, and usability in enterprise environments:

1. NVMe U.2 Interface

The drive uses the NVMe U.2 interface, which leverages PCIe 3.0 x4 for direct communication with the server’s CPU. This results in significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency compared to SATA or SAS SSDs, enabling faster data transfers and improved application performance.

2. Mixed Use Workload Optimization

Designed for mixed-use workloads, the SSD balances read and write operations, making it ideal for applications like databases, virtualization, big data analytics, and high-performance computing (HPC). Its endurance rating of 3–5 DWPD ensures reliability under demanding conditions.

3. Digitally Signed Firmware

HPE’s digitally signed firmware protects against unauthorized access and malicious attacks by ensuring the drive’s firmware comes from a trusted source. This enhances data security, a critical requirement for enterprise environments.

4. Smart Carrier NVMe (SCN)

The Smart Carrier design provides an intuitive interface for drive management. It includes:

- Status LEDs: Indicate drive health and activity.

- Do-Not-Remove Indicator: Prevents accidental removal during operation, reducing the risk of data loss.

- Remote Activation: A blue LED can be remotely triggered to locate the drive in a server rack.

5. Hot-Pluggable Design

The hot-pluggable feature allows administrators to replace or install drives without powering down the server, minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency.

6. Dual Port Connectivity

Dual port support enhances redundancy and fault tolerance, ensuring continuous data access even if one path fails. This is particularly valuable in mission-critical applications.

7. Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND

The use of TLC NAND flash memory provides a balance of performance, capacity, and cost, making the drive a cost-effective solution for enterprises.

Compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen10 Servers

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD is designed for compatibility with a wide range of HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers and HPE Synergy compute modules. Some supported platforms include:

- HPE ProLiant DL Series: DL325 Gen10, DL360 Gen10, DL380 Gen10, DL560 Gen10, DL580 Gen10

- HPE ProLiant ML Series: ML350 Gen10

- HPE Synergy: 480 Gen10, 660 Gen10 Compute Modules

The drive is also backward compatible with NVMe U.2 SSD backplanes on HPE Gen10 servers, ensuring seamless integration into existing infrastructure. Administrators should verify compatibility with specific server models and configurations, as some chassis may have varying storage bay options (e.g., 8-bay SFF, 24-bay SFF, or 12-bay LFF).

Performance and Use Cases

The HPE 1.6TB SSD excels in environments requiring high IOPS, low latency, and endurance for mixed-use workloads. Its performance characteristics make it suitable for a variety of enterprise applications:

1. Databases

The drive’s high random read/write IOPS and low latency support transactional databases like SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL, enabling faster query processing and improved user experiences.

2. Virtualization

In virtualized environments (e.g., VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V), the SSD handles multiple virtual machines with ease, delivering consistent performance for diverse workloads.

3. Big Data Analytics

For analytics platforms like Hadoop or Spark, the drive’s sequential throughput and random IOPS accelerate data processing, reducing time-to-insight.

4. High-Performance Computing (HPC)

HPC workloads, such as scientific simulations or financial modeling, benefit from the drive’s high bandwidth and low latency, enabling faster computation.

5. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

The SSD’s read-intensive performance supports CDNs by delivering cached content quickly, improving end-user experiences.

Benefits for Enterprises

The HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD offers several advantages for businesses running HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers:

1. Enhanced Performance

With sequential read speeds up to 7,000 MiB/s and random read IOPS up to 950,000, the drive significantly boosts server performance, reducing application load times and improving responsiveness.

2. Increased Reliability

Backed by over 3.35 million hours of HPE testing and qualification, the SSD ensures reliable operation in demanding environments. Its endurance rating supports long-term use without degradation.

3. Improved Security

Digitally signed firmware prevents unauthorized firmware modifications, safeguarding data integrity and protecting against cyber threats.

4. Cost-Effective Scalability

The 1.6TB capacity strikes a balance between storage needs and cost, allowing businesses to scale storage without overspending on larger drives.

5. Simplified Management

The Smart Carrier NVMe design and hot-pluggable functionality streamline drive installation, monitoring, and replacement, reducing administrative overhead.

Comparison with Other SSD Types

To understand the value of the HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD, it’s helpful to compare it with other SSD types supported by HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers:

- SATA SSDs:

While cost-effective, SATA SSDs are limited to 6GB/s speeds, making them slower than NVMe drives for high-performance workloads.

- SAS SSDs:

SAS SSDs offer reliability and dual-port connectivity but typically have lower IOPS and higher latency compared to NVMe SSDs.

- NVMe M.2 SSDs:

M.2 SSDs are compact but may lack the hot-pluggable design and Smart Carrier features of U.2 drives, making them less suitable for enterprise server environments.

The NVMe U.2 SSD’s combination of high performance, enterprise features, and compatibility makes it a superior choice for mixed-use applications in ProLiant Gen10 servers.

Installation and Configuration

Installing the HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD in a ProLiant Gen10 server is straightforward:

1. Verify Compatibility:

Confirm the server model and backplane support NVMe U.2 drives.

2. Power Down (if required):

For non-hot-pluggable bays, power down the server. For hot-pluggable bays, proceed without downtime.

3. Insert the Drive:

Align the drive with the bay and slide it into place until it locks.

4. Configure in BIOS/UEFI:

Access the server’s BIOS/UEFI to ensure the drive is recognized and configured (e.g., RAID setup if applicable).

5. Initialize the Drive:

Use the operating system or HPE Smart Storage Administrator to format and partition the drive.

HPE provides detailed documentation and support for drive installation, ensuring a smooth setup process.

Conclusion

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor NVMe U.2 PCIe SCN Mixed Use Solid State Drive is a powerful and reliable storage solution for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers. Its high performance, enterprise-grade features, and compatibility with mixed-use workloads make it an ideal choice for databases, virtualization, analytics, and other demanding applications. With digitally signed firmware, Smart Carrier NVMe design, and robust endurance, this SSD delivers the security, manageability, and scalability that modern data centers require.

For businesses looking to enhance their ProLiant Gen10 server performance, the HPE 1.6TB NVMe U.2 SSD offers an excellent balance of speed, reliability, and value, making it a worthy investment for enterprise storage needs.

Apr 14th 2025 Mike Anderson