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Unleashing Speed and Security: The HPE 1.6TB SAS-12Gbps SSD Powerhouse for ProLiant Gen10 Plus

Unleashing Speed and Security: The HPE 1.6TB SAS-12Gbps SSD Powerhouse for ProLiant Gen10 Plus

 HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware SAS-12Gbps Basic Carrier Mixed Use Solid State Drive for ProLiant Gen10 Plus Servers: A Comprehensive Overview

In the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise computing, storage solutions play a critical role in ensuring performance, reliability, and scalability. The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware SAS-12Gbps Basic Carrier Mixed Use Solid State Drive (SSD) is a high-performance storage option specifically designed for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers. This article provides a detailed exploration of this SSD, covering its technical specifications, features, benefits, compatibility, and use cases, offering IT professionals and decision-makers a clear understanding of its capabilities.

 Introduction to the HPE 1.6TB SSD

Solid State Drives have become the backbone of modern data centers, offering superior speed, durability, and energy efficiency compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF SAS SSD is engineered to meet the demanding needs of mixed-use workloads, striking a balance between high-performance reads and writes. Tailored for HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers, this SSD leverages a SAS-12Gbps interface and digitally signed firmware to deliver secure, reliable, and efficient storage.
 
This SSD is part of HPE’s extensive portfolio of enterprise-grade storage solutions, designed to support a wide range of applications, from virtualization and databases to cloud computing and big data analytics. With its compact 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) design and Basic Carrier configuration, it integrates seamlessly into HPE server environments, making it a versatile choice for businesses seeking to optimize their infrastructure.

 Technical Specifications

Understanding the technical details of the HPE 1.6TB SSD is essential for evaluating its suitability for specific workloads. Below are the key specifications:
 
- Capacity: 1.6 terabytes (TB)
- Form Factor: 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF)
- Interface: SAS-12Gbps (Serial Attached SCSI, 12 gigabits per second)
- Carrier Type: Basic Carrier (BC)
- Workload Type: Mixed Use (MU)
- NAND Flash Type: Triple-Level Cell (TLC) or Multi-Level Cell (MLC), depending on the specific model variant
- Firmware: Digitally Signed Firmware (DS)
- Endurance: Approximately 3 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) over a 3-5 year lifespan (varies by model)
- Performance:
  - Sequential Read: Up to 1,095 MB/s
  - Sequential Write: Up to 1,045 MB/s
  - Random Read: Up to 165,000 IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second)
  - Random Write: Up to 105,000 IOPS
- Power Consumption:
  - Idle: ~5 watts
  - Active (Read/Write): ~6-9 watts
- Compatibility: HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus Servers (and select Gen9/Gen10 models with appropriate controllers)
 
These specifications highlight the SSD’s ability to handle demanding workloads while maintaining efficiency and reliability, making it an ideal choice for enterprise environments.

 Key Features

The HPE 1.6TB SSD incorporates several advanced features that set it apart from consumer-grade SSDs and ensure its suitability for enterprise use. Here’s a closer look at its standout attributes:
 

 1. SAS-12Gbps Interface

The 12Gbps SAS interface provides double the bandwidth of SATA-6Gbps drives, enabling faster data transfers and improved performance in multi-drive configurations. SAS also offers greater reliability and scalability, making it a preferred choice for enterprise servers and storage arrays.

 2. Digitally Signed Firmware

Security is a top priority in modern IT infrastructure. The SSD’s digitally signed firmware ensures that the drive’s software is authentic and sourced directly from HPE, protecting against unauthorized modifications or malicious code. This feature enhances data integrity and mitigates risks in mission-critical applications.

 3. Mixed Use Workload Optimization

Classified as a Mixed Use (MU) drive, this SSD is designed to handle a balanced mix of read and write operations. With an endurance rating of around 3 DWPD, it is well-suited for applications requiring moderate write intensity, such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), online transaction processing (OLTP), and small to medium-sized databases.

 4. Small Form Factor (SFF) Design

The 2.5-inch SFF design allows for higher storage density within server chassis, enabling organizations to maximize capacity without expanding their physical footprint. The Basic Carrier simplifies installation and ensures compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers.

 5. High Performance and Low Latency

With impressive sequential and random I/O performance metrics, this SSD delivers low latency and rapid data access, critical for applications where speed is paramount. Its ability to sustain high IOPS makes it a strong performer in virtualized environments and high-transaction workloads.

 6. HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge

Integrated with HPE’s management tools, the SmartSSD Wear Gauge allows administrators to monitor the SSD’s lifespan and predict potential failures. This proactive feature enhances reliability and reduces the risk of unexpected downtime.

 Benefits for ProLiant Gen10 Plus Servers

The HPE 1.6TB SSD is specifically engineered to complement the capabilities of ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers, HPE’s latest generation of rack and tower servers powered by 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Here are the key benefits it brings to these systems:

- Enhanced Performance:

The SSD’s high-speed SAS interface and optimized firmware align with the Gen10 Plus server’s advanced architecture, ensuring faster data processing and reduced bottlenecks.

- Scalability:

As businesses grow, the SSD’s compatibility with HPE’s modular server design allows for easy expansion, supporting larger datasets and additional workloads.

- Reliability:

With HPE’s rigorous testing (over 3.35 million hours across its SSD lineup) and digitally signed firmware, this drive offers enterprise-grade durability and uptime.

- Energy Efficiency:

Low power consumption reduces operational costs and aligns with the energy-efficient design of Gen10 Plus servers, contributing to a greener data center.

- Seamless Integration:

Designed as an HPE-branded component, the SSD integrates effortlessly with Gen10 Plus servers, ensuring full compatibility with HPE’s iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) management suite and other system tools.

 Compatibility

While optimized for ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers, the HPE 1.6TB SSD is also compatible with a range of other HPE systems, provided they support SAS-12Gbps drives and the appropriate controllers. Compatible platforms include:
 
- HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus Servers: DL360, DL380, ML350, and others
- HPE ProLiant Gen10 Servers: Select models with SAS controllers
- HPE ProLiant Gen9 Servers: With compatible SAS expanders or controllers
- HPE Synergy Compute Modules: Certain configurations with SAS support
 
To ensure compatibility, organizations should verify their server’s storage controller (e.g., HPE Smart Array RAID controllers) and firmware versions. The SSD requires a SAS backplane or expander, as it does not support SATA connectivity natively.

 Use Cases

The HPE 1.6TB SSD’s mixed-use profile makes it a versatile solution for a variety of enterprise applications. Below are some common use cases:

 1. Virtualization

In virtualized environments running VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or other hypervisors, the SSD’s high IOPS and low latency improve VM performance, supporting multiple virtual machines with diverse workloads.

 2. Database Management

For small to medium-sized databases (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL), the SSD provides fast transactional processing and reliable data storage, balancing read and write demands effectively.

 3. Cloud and Edge Computing

In hybrid cloud or edge deployments, the SSD’s compact size and robust performance enable efficient data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and enhancing responsiveness.

 4. Business Intelligence and Analytics

Organizations running analytics workloads benefit from the SSD’s ability to quickly access and process large datasets, supporting real-time insights and decision-making.

 5. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

The SSD’s endurance and performance make it ideal for VDI environments, where rapid boot times and application loading are critical for user satisfaction.

 Installation and Management

Installing the HPE 1.6TB SSD in a ProLiant Gen10 Plus server is straightforward, thanks to its hot-pluggable Basic Carrier design. The drive can be inserted into an available 2.5-inch SFF bay without powering down the system (assuming hot-swap support is enabled). Once installed, administrators can configure the SSD using HPE’s Smart Array controllers and monitor its status via the iLO management interface.
 
The iLO suite provides detailed diagnostics, including wear-level monitoring, temperature readings, and performance statistics, ensuring proactive maintenance and optimal operation.

 Conclusion

The HPE 1.6TB 2.5-inch SFF Digitally Signed Firmware SAS-12Gbps Basic Carrier Mixed Use Solid State Drive is a powerful and reliable storage solution tailored for HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus servers. Its combination of high performance, enterprise-grade security, and mixed-use versatility makes it an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their data center capabilities. Whether powering virtualized workloads, databases, or cloud applications, this SSD delivers the speed, scalability, and dependability that modern businesses demand.
 
As of April 7, 2025, this SSD remains a relevant and cost-effective option for IT environments seeking to balance performance and endurance. For organizations invested in HPE’s ecosystem, it represents a strategic investment in storage infrastructure that aligns with the advanced features of the ProLiant Gen10 Plus platform.
Apr 7th 2025 Mike Anderson

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