817108-001 HPE 480GB SATA 6GBPS Mixed Use 3.5 Inch SSD.

Classification & Purpose in Enterprise Storage Systems

The 817108‑001 HPE 480GB SATA 6Gbps Mixed‑Use 3.5‑Inch SSD falls under high‑performance mixed‑workload solid‑state drives designed for data centers, servers, and demanding business environments. This category of drives bridges the gap between pure read‑intensive and write‑intensive SSDs, offering a versatile solution that supports substantial input/output operations per second (IOPS), consistent throughput, and endurance for mixed read/write workloads. Enterprises that require reliable storage for virtualization, database operations, caching, and tiered storage benefit most from this class of SSDs.

Storage Capacity and Form Factor

• Nominal capacity of **480 Gigabytes**, offering a solid balance between space and performance.
• 3.5‑inch physical form factor, compatible with standard enterprise drive bays and enclosures.
• Designed to coexist with both traditional 3.5‑inch HDDs and 2.5‑inch SSDs with adapter trays in mixed racks.

Performance Metrics: Transfer Speed & Throughput

• SATA interface rated at **6 Gigabits per second**, conforming to SATA III standards to maximize data transfer capabilities.
• Peak data throughput that enables rapid read/write cycles, especially for mixed usage scenarios.
• Optimized latency and reduced queue depths, delivering stable performance under load and during burst activity.

Endurance & Mixed‑Use Workload Suitability

The mixed‑use classification means this SSD is built to handle a combination of heavy reads and moderate writes. Key endurance factors include:

• High write tolerance, suitable for daily operational tasks, log writes, and application data changes.
• Read amplification controls and wear leveling technologies, which extend lifespan across many write cycles.
• Firmware and controller design tailored to balance performance degradation, ensuring longevity.

Compatibility & Integration Details

Interface & Connectivity

• Uses the standard **Serial ATA (SATA)** interface, widely supported in server and workstation motherboards.
• Compliance with SATA III / 6 Gbps standards ensures backward compatibility with lower SATA versions, though with reduced bandwidth.
• Plug‑and‑play support in most HPE ProLiant servers and compatible systems with hot‑swap bays.

Power Consumption

Though specific wattage depends on operation, drives in this category typically employ efficient power draw under idle and active states, together with thermal designs (heat‑sink compatibility, airflow optimization) to maintain performance stability over extended periods.

Standards, Compliance & Environmental Features

Regulatory Compliance

• Conforms to **RoHS** (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), eliminating or reducing harmful materials.
• Compliant with **CE** safety, health, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area.
• Adheres to **WEEE** requirements for responsible electronic waste disposal and recycling.

Eco‑Friendly Considerations

This category of SSDs is designed with environmental responsibility in mind. Eco‑friendly coatings, recyclable packaging, and low‑power standby/idle modes contribute to reduced environmental impact and lower operating costs for large server deployments.

Virtualization & Cloud Infrastructure

Mixed‑use SSDs like the 817108‑001 are particularly valuable in virtualized environments, supporting multiple virtual machines with read/write demands. They help reduce latency for VM boot storms, snapshots, and migrations.

Database Systems & Transactional Workloads

For small‑to‑medium transactional databases, they provide reliable write performance and consistent reads, helping safeguard data integrity during high concurrent transactions. They accommodate log files, indices, and hot data caching without frequent failures.

Cache Tier & Tiered Storage Architectures

• Serve as mid‑tier cache between expensive NVMe or all‑flash layers and slower spinning disks.
• Improve read/write cache hit ratios in hybrid storage arrays.
• Enable smoother access to frequently used data while slowing wear on higher‑cost flash tiers.

Backup, Cold Storage & Archival Roles

Though not always the primary choice for cold or archival storage, mixed‑use SSDs can handle semi‑active backup sets or frequently accessed archive data, striking a balance between performance and cost without the latency of spinning disks or the expense of ultra‑high endurance SSDs.

Assessing Endurance Ratings & Write Cycles

Look beyond just capacity and throughput—strong endurance metrics (such as DWPD or TBW) are critical in mixed loads. Evaluate write amplification, wear leveling, and firmware support when choosing a drive from this category.

Controller Quality & Firmware Features

• Error correction and bad block management to maintain data integrity under stress.
• Over‑provisioning capabilities to extend life under sustained write loads.
• Consistent firmware updates and vendor support for reliability.

Read‑Intensive SSDs vs Mixed‑Use SSDs

Read‑intensive models favor high sequential read performance, ideal for streaming or content delivery. Mixed‑use drives, conversely, are engineered to balance reads and writes, making them more versatile, though with slightly lower peak read performance.

Write‑Intensive or High‑Endurance SSDs vs Mixed‑Use SSDs

High endurance drives endure far more write cycles and are built for write‑heavy workloads (e.g. logging, continuous data ingestion). Mixed‑use models offer a middle ground: better endurance than read‑optimized SSDs, lower cost than write‑intensive ones.

SATA vs NVMe / SAS Alternatives

• SATA 6 Gbps SSDs, including this category, are often more affordable and widely compatible than NVMe or SAS drives.
• NVMe offers lower latency and higher throughput in many scenarios, but at higher cost and sometimes greater power draw.
• SATA SSDs are well suited for upgrade paths in existing infrastructure with SATA controllers, offering cost‑effective improvements over spinning disks.

Firmware Updates

Ensure that firmware is kept up‑to‑date for security patches, performance optimizations, and bug fixes. Vendor support for repair or replacement and firmware distribution is pivotal in enterprise environments.

Data Protection & Redundancy Strategies

Deploy Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configurations, implement snapshot and backup solutions, and consider dual‑port or mirrored setups to protect against failures. Mixed‑use SSDs should be part of a strategy that anticipates wear and usage patterns.