HPE 728739-B21 480GB SFF 2.5 SATA VE 6G EV SSD.

Key designation and market positioning

This model—commonly referenced by its HPE part number 728739-B21—sits within the vendor-validated enterprise SSD family. It’s optimized as a value enterprise (VE) class device that combines cost-efficient capacity with enterprise-grade features: power-loss protection, firmware tuned for server ecosystems, and compatibility testing for RAID controllers and HPE system firmware. The drive’s 2.5-inch SFF form factor and SATA 6G (6 Gb/s) interface make it an easy drop-in replacement or upgrade for many existing HPE server configurations.

Physical and interface details

The drive’s compact 2.5" SFF chassis is compatible with standard HPE carrier sleds and hot-swap trays used across ProLiant rack-mount servers. SATA III (6Gb/s) ensures backwards compatibility with older SATA controllers while providing the maximum throughput supported by the interface. The SFF design reduces rack-space thermal impact and enables higher drive density per chassis compared with 3.5" alternatives.

Mounting and form-fit considerations

For installation, the drive fits into HPE 2.5" bays and caddies without modification. When replacing legacy drives, make sure your server chassis uses a 2.5" tray or adapter; many HPE systems include dedicated sleds with carrier retention screws and activity LEDs. Using HPE-branded carriers ensures full compatibility with drive presence detection and LED mapping in server management utilities.

Performance characteristics and what to expect

As a SATA VE SSD, the HPE 728739-B21 emphasizes consistent, deterministic response times and strong read throughput. While not aimed at the absolute highest IOPS tiers (those are typically NVMe or enterprise SAS models), it delivers significant performance gains over mechanical HDDs and earlier-generation SATA SSDs—especially for random read workloads, database query acceleration, boot/OS hosting, and read-cached virtual machines.

Typical performance metrics

• Random IOPS (read): Optimized for high random read IOPS relative to HDDs—suitable for OS volumes and read-mostly datasets.
• Sequential throughput: SATA 6G interface caps theoretical bandwidth; peak sequential throughput is governed by controller and NAND—sufficient for bulk data movement within SATA limits.
• Latency: Much lower and more predictable compared to spinning disks; makes the model ideal for latency-sensitive transaction loads.

Workload suitability

Recommended use cases include:

• Operating system and boot volumes for virtualized hosts.
• Read-intensive application servers such as web servers, content delivery, and reporting services.
• Caching layers in hybrid storage architectures (SSD cache in front of high-capacity HDD tiers).
• Light to moderate database workloads where deterministic latency and fast reads matter more than raw write endurance.

Durability, endurance and data integrity

Enterprise SSDs must balance high write endurance and data protection mechanisms. The HPE 728739-B21 integrates enterprise-class NAND flash with firmware and controller features designed to prolong usable life and protect data integrity.

Endurance and TBW (Terabytes Written)

Endurance is commonly expressed as TBW or drive writes per day (DWPD). While specific TBW figures depend on vendor documentation and firmware versions, VE-class enterprise drives typically offer endurance ratings designed for mixed workloads, giving system architects confidence that drives will last through typical service cycles in data center environments.

Power-loss protection

To protect in-flight data, the drive incorporates capacitive or firmware-managed techniques that flush critical data to NAND in the event of sudden power loss. This capability reduces the risk of metadata corruption and increases the probability of successful system recovery after an unplanned shutdown.

Bad-block management and wear leveling

Internal wear-leveling algorithms, spare area management, and robust bad-block remapping ensure sustained performance and predictable behavior over the product lifecycle. These SSD firmware features are essential for maintaining consistent read/write characteristics as NAND cells wear with usage.

Compatibility and integration with HPE ecosystems

One major selling point of HPE-branded drives is broad compatibility testing with HPE servers, management utilities, and storage controllers. The HPE 728739-B21 is validated for use with many HPE ProLiant family members and is often recommended when you want vendor-supported hardware stacks and firmware interoperability.

Server and RAID controller interoperability

Pairing this SSD with HPE Smart Array controllers or HPE validated SATA controllers reduces the risk of firmware conflicts and ensures proper reporting in HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) and Array Configuration Utilities. For mixed-drive arrays, HPE guidance typically suggests using drives of similar capacity and performance class within a RAID set to avoid performance anomalies.

Management via iLO and system firmware

HPE iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) will recognize the drive’s serial number, firmware revision, and health telemetry when fitted in supported servers—allowing for health alerts, predictive failures, and firmware update orchestration from HPE management platforms.

Serviceability, warranty, and support

HPE provides enterprise-grade support, which often includes limited warranties and optional on-site service packs. Purchasing through HPE or authorized resellers frequently gives access to HPE Care Pack services that extend support duration, accelerate replacement times, and provide firmware/driver validation assistance.

Warranty coverage

Warranty terms may vary by region, vendor channel, and service plan. Typically, HPE SSDs come with a manufacturer warranty covering manufacturing defects and early-life failures. For mission-critical environments, customers should consider extended service contracts or HPE Care Pack options to match their operational SLAs.

Replacement and RMA process

HPE-authorized resellers and support channels streamline RMA and replacement. Drive health reporting via iLO and HPE OneView can speed fault diagnosis and replacement authorization. When replacing drives in RAID arrays, follow best practices to avoid rebuilding stress on remaining drives—validate RAID controller firmware and follow hot-swap procedures.

Comparative analysis: SATA VE SSD vs alternatives

Understanding how this SATA-based VE SSD compares to other classes helps buyers make informed choices.

SATA VE SSD vs. Enterprise SAS SSD

• Performance: SAS enterprise drives often offer higher sustained performance and dual-port redundancy for SANs; SATA VE is cost-effective for SATA-only environments.
• Cost: SATA VE usually provides better $/GB for capacity-focused deployments.
• Use case: SAS is preferred in high-availability SANs and write-heavy workloads; SATA VE suits read-intensive and general-purpose server volumes.

SATA VE SSD vs. NVMe SSD

• Latency & IOPS: NVMe drives will significantly outperform SATA in raw IOPS and latency; choose NVMe for ultra-low-latency databases and real-time analytics.
• Compatibility: NVMe requires PCIe slots or NVMe bays; SATA VE is widely compatible with legacy SATA controllers.
• Cost & power: SATA VE generally has lower cost and lower power draw per GB compared to high-end NVMe drives.

Choosing the right tier

When designing storage tiers, use SATA VE SSDs like the HPE 728739-B21 for OS volumes, read caches, and mid-tier application servers. Reserve NVMe and enterprise SAS for the most latency-sensitive and write-intensive workloads.

Installation and best-practices guide

Proper installation and configuration ensure you extract maximum life and performance from the drive.

Pre-installation checklist

• Verify server compatibility list (HPE QuickSpecs or validated parts list) for the specific ProLiant model.
• Confirm firmware levels for both the server BIOS/UEFI and RAID controller—update if required before adding new drives.
• Obtain proper carrier or sled for 2.5" insertion; use HPE-branded carriers for full LED and presence support.
• Back up critical data before migrating or changing volumes.

Hot-swap and RAID procedures

When performing hot-swaps in RAID arrays, allow RAID controllers to finish background tasks and ensure rebuild policies are set to prioritize data integrity. Replace failed drives with identical capacity and performance-class drives wherever possible to prevent rebuild performance degradation.

Firmware updates and maintenance

Firmware updates may improve drive behavior and resolve compatibility issues. Coordinate firmware updates with maintenance windows and always follow HPE-recommended update procedures to avoid mismatched firmware in large arrays.

Security features and data protection

Modern SSDs include security mechanisms to protect sensitive data at rest and during decommissioning.

Data-at-rest encryption (optional)

Some HPE SSD variants include hardware-based encryption or support for TCG Opal standards. If your deployment requires encryption, check the exact model variant and firmware to confirm support for self-encrypting drive (SED) features or software-based encryption integration with host-based key management.

Secure erase and decommissioning

Use secure erase tools that follow vendor recommendations to sanitize drives prior to disposal or repurposing. HPE’s documentation and utilities provide guidance for secure wipe procedures that ensure sensitive data cannot be recovered.

Use cases, verticals, and practical scenarios

The 480GB capacity combined with enterprise SATA reliability makes this drive suitable across multiple sectors.

Common verticals

• Enterprise IT: OS and hypervisor volumes, management appliances, remote office servers.
• Service providers: Multi-tenant VM boot volumes and caching for content delivery.
• Healthcare & finance: Read-optimized application servers and reporting databases where consistent latency matters.
• Education & SMBs: Cost-effective enterprise-grade SSDs for virtualization consolidation and mixed workloads.

Example scenarios

In a virtualized cluster, the HPE 728739-B21 can serve as a boot and cache tier for hypervisor hosts, reducing VM boot storms and improving OS responsiveness. In web hosting or content-serving architectures, multiple VE-class SSDs provide fast read response while keeping acquisition costs down.

SKU variants and firmware

Confirm the exact SKU and firmware level before purchase. Different shipping lots may include firmware updates or minor hardware revisions. If deploying at scale, ask the vendor to align firmware revisions across all drives to simplify management.

Volume discounts and support contracts

Large deployments benefit from negotiated pricing and extended Care Pack coverage. Match support SLAs to the operational importance of each server to avoid unexpected downtime costs.

Monitoring and lifecycle management

Proactive monitoring extends useful life and prevents surprises. HPE management tools provide a telemetry pipeline to track drive health metrics such as SMART attributes, percentage used, media errors, and temperature.

Recommended monitoring practices

• Use HPE iLO and OneView for consolidated hardware health and alerting.
• Regularly review SMART data and endurance counters to plan replacements before failures occur.
• Set firmware-maintenance windows to apply validated updates across server fleets.

End-of-life planning

As drives approach end-of-life thresholds—either warranty expiry or endurance limits—plan phased replacements to avoid simultaneous rebuilds that stress arrays. Maintain spare drives of identical models for swift replacements.

Environmental and operational guidelines

Operating SSDs within recommended temperature and power envelopes maximizes longevity and reliability.

Thermal management

Provide adequate airflow across drive bays and maintain server ambient temperatures per HPE’s published thermal specifications. Overheating can throttle performance and shorten NAND lifespan.

Power considerations

While SSDs consume less power than HDDs under many workloads, ensure your server power budget and UPS capacity account for peak usage in multi-drive systems and during RAID rebuilds.