868822-B21 HPE 960GB SATA 6GBPS SSD SC Read Intensive SFF

HPE 868822-B21 960GB Read Intensive SATA SSD Overview

Enterprise-Grade Storage Solution for HPE Gen9 and Gen10 Servers

The HPE 868822-B21 represents a premium class of read-intensive solid-state storage engineered specifically for HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 server environments. This 960GB 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) drive delivers exceptional performance for read-centric workloads while maintaining the reliability and compatibility standards that enterprises expect from HPE original equipment.

Key Technical Specifications

Capacity and Form Factor Details

With a formatted capacity of 960GB, this SSD provides substantial storage space for operating systems, applications, and frequently accessed data. The 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) design allows for high-density storage configurations in rack-mounted servers, making optimal use of limited chassis space while providing the flexibility needed for scalable storage architectures.

Interface and Protocol Performance

Featuring SATA-6Gbps interface compatibility, this drive delivers maximum sequential read speeds up to 560MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 530MB/s. The SATA interface ensures broad compatibility with existing server infrastructure while providing sufficient bandwidth for read-intensive applications that don't require the premium performance of SAS or NVMe solutions.

Performance Characteristics and Workload Optimization

Read-Intensive Workload Design

Engineered specifically for read-dominant applications, the HPE 868822-B21 excels in environments where data retrieval speed is paramount. The read-intensive designation indicates optimized flash management algorithms that prioritize read performance and endurance, making it ideal for scenarios where write operations typically represent less than 30% of total I/O activity.

Endurance and Write Cycle Management

With a rated endurance of 1.3 full drive writes per day (DWPD) over a 5-year warranty period, this SSD provides sufficient write tolerance for typical read-intensive workloads. The advanced wear-leveling algorithms distribute write operations evenly across all NAND flash blocks, extending the drive's operational lifespan and maintaining consistent performance throughout its service life.

Random and Sequential Performance Metrics

The drive delivers impressive random read performance of up to 97,000 IOPS (4KB blocks) and random write performance of up to 36,000 IOPS. These characteristics make it particularly well-suited for server boot applications, web serving, content delivery networks, and virtual desktop infrastructure where rapid access to stored data is critical to overall system responsiveness.

Hardware Compatibility and Integration

HPE ProLiant Generation Support

The 868822-B21 is fully certified and tested for compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 server families. This includes DL, ML, and BL series servers, ensuring seamless integration across HPE's server portfolio. The drive includes HPE-specific firmware that enables advanced features through HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) and integration with HPE OneView management platforms.

Gen9 Server Integration Features

When deployed in Gen9 servers, the drive leverages HPE Smart Array controllers for enhanced RAID functionality and caching capabilities. The drive's firmware is optimized to work with HPE's predictive analytics and system health monitoring, providing early warning of potential issues through the HPE Integrated Management Log (IML).

Gen10 Server Enhanced Capabilities

In Gen10 environments, the SSD takes full advantage of HPE's iLO 5 management processor for remote administration and health monitoring. The drive supports HPE's Service Alert for proactive maintenance notifications and integrates with HPE InfoSight for cloud-based analytics and predictive support across the infrastructure stack.

Hot-Swap Capability and Maintenance

The hot-swap design enables drive replacement without server downtime, a critical feature for maintaining service availability in 24/7 operational environments. The SFF SC (Smart Carrier) design incorporates a built-in handle and status LED that provides visual indication of drive activity and health status, simplifying administrative tasks and reducing mean time to repair.

Reliability and Data Protection Features

Enterprise-Class Endurance and MTBF

With a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) rating of 2 million hours and an annualized failure rate (AFR) of 0.44%, this SSD delivers the reliability demanded by enterprise storage environments. The extended lifespan is achieved through advanced flash management techniques including read-disturb management, program/erase cycle optimization, and background media scanning.

Data Integrity and Protection Mechanisms

The drive incorporates end-to-end data path protection, power-loss protection, and advanced error correction code (ECC) capabilities. These features ensure data integrity from the host interface through to the NAND flash media, protecting against corruption during transmission and storage. The power-loss protection circuitry safeguards data in the drive's cache during unexpected power interruptions.

HPE Quality and Validation Standards

As a genuine HPE component, the 868822-B21 undergoes extensive compatibility and reliability testing that exceeds industry standards. HPE's validation process includes thermal testing, vibration testing, compatibility verification, and firmware validation to ensure stable operation in diverse environmental conditions and workload scenarios.

Use Cases and Application Scenarios

Server Boot Optimization

This read-intensive SSD is ideally suited for server boot drives, significantly reducing operating system and hypervisor boot times compared to traditional hard disk drives. The fast read performance accelerates service initialization and improves overall server responsiveness during maintenance operations that require reboots.

Hypervisor and Virtualization Support

When used as boot media for virtualization platforms like VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Proxmox VE, the drive provides rapid access to hypervisor files and improves virtual machine deployment times. The consistent read performance benefits virtualized environments where multiple VMs access the host operating system files simultaneously.

Read-Intensive Application Acceleration

The drive excels in accelerating read-heavy applications including web servers, database read replicas, content management systems, and file servers. By placing frequently accessed data on this SSD, organizations can significantly improve application response times and user experience while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to write-optimized SSDs.

Database and Analytics Workloads

For database applications where read operations dominate, such as data warehouses, business intelligence systems, and reporting databases, this SSD provides substantial performance improvements over mechanical storage. The fast random read performance reduces query response times and improves overall system throughput.

Storage Tiering and Caching Applications

In automated storage tiering systems, the 868822-B21 serves as an excellent capacity tier for hot data that requires faster access than hard disk drives can provide. The drive's characteristics make it suitable for read caching applications where frequently accessed data is mirrored to SSD for accelerated retrieval.

Technical Architecture and Internal Components

NAND Flash Technology

This SSD utilizes high-quality 3D TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND flash memory, providing an optimal balance of cost, capacity, and endurance for read-intensive workloads. The 3D NAND architecture stacks memory cells vertically, enabling higher densities and better performance characteristics compared to planar NAND technologies.

Controller and Firmware Architecture

The drive incorporates an enterprise-grade SSD controller optimized for consistent performance under varying workload conditions. The HPE-customized firmware includes features such as background garbage collection, TRIM support, bad block management, and thermal throttling to maintain optimal operation throughout the drive's lifecycle.

Thermal and Power Characteristics

With typical power consumption of 3.5W during active operation and 1.5W during idle states, the drive maintains energy efficiency without compromising performance. The thermal design includes optimized airflow characteristics for server environments and temperature monitoring to prevent thermal throttling under heavy sustained workloads.

Management and Monitoring Capabilities

HPE Ecosystem Integration

The drive seamlessly integrates with HPE's comprehensive management ecosystem, including HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA), HPE OneView, and HPE Systems Insight Manager (SIM). This integration provides centralized management, health monitoring, and predictive analytics across the storage infrastructure.

S.M.A.R.T. Attributes and Health Monitoring

Comprehensive S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) attributes provide detailed insight into drive health, wear indicators, and performance metrics. HPE-enhanced S.M.A.R.T. attributes offer additional enterprise-focused monitoring capabilities beyond the standard attribute set.

Firmware Updates and Maintenance

HPE provides regular firmware updates through the HPE Support Center, addressing performance optimizations, security enhancements, and compatibility improvements. Firmware updates can be deployed through HPE Smart Update Manager or integrated into HPE Service Pack for ProLiant updates for simplified maintenance.

Comparison with Alternative Storage Options

Versus Write-Intensive and Mixed-Use SSDs

Compared to write-intensive and mixed-use SSDs, the 868822-B21 offers a more cost-effective solution for read-dominant workloads while maintaining enterprise reliability. The read-optimized design provides better value for applications where high write endurance isn't required, making it an economical choice for specific use cases.

Performance and Endurance Trade-offs

While write-intensive SSDs typically offer higher write performance and endurance (3-10 DWPD), they come at a significant cost premium. The read-intensive classification of the 868822-B21 represents the optimal balance for workloads where read operations constitute the majority of I/O activity, providing substantial performance improvements over HDDs without the expense of write-optimized SSDs.

Versus SAS and NVMe Alternatives

The SATA interface provides compatibility with existing server infrastructure while offering performance sufficient for many read-intensive applications. Organizations requiring higher performance may consider SAS or NVMe alternatives, but these typically come with higher costs and may require specific hardware support not available in all server configurations.

Environmental Specifications

Operating Conditions and Limits

The drive is designed to operate within standard server environmental parameters, including temperatures from 0°C to 70°C and relative humidity from 5% to 95% non-condensing. The specifications include operational shock resistance up to 1000 G/0.5ms and vibration resistance during operation to ensure reliability in data center environments.

Regulatory Compliance and Certifications

The product complies with relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements including CE Marking, FCC Class B, and other international certifications. The drive meets RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directives and incorporates environmentally conscious manufacturing processes.