HPE 728767-001 480GB SATA 6G SFF MLC SSD.

HPE 728767-001 — ProLiant Solid State Drive (480GB, SATA 6Gb/s)

The HPE 728767-001 is a purpose-built SATA SSD engineered for read-intensive enterprise workloads. Designed to integrate seamlessly with ProLiant servers, this internal 480GB drive combines dependable flash media with industry-grade interfaces and hot-swap capability — making it an excellent option for caching layers, boot volumes, and read-heavy databases.

Generel Information:

• Category: ProLiant HardDrive — Solid State Drive
• Generation: SATA SSD (Serial ATA-600)
• Part number: 728767-001
• Capacity: 480GB
• Interface speed: 6Gb/s SATA
• 4KB Random Read / Write: 64,000 IOPS / 10,000 IOPS
• Hot-swap: Yes
• Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Key technical highlights

• Form factor: Internal 2.5" SFF (fits standard ProLiant bays)
• Capacity: 480GB usable flash storage
• Interface: Serial ATA-600 (6Gb/s SATA)
• Performance (4KB random): Up to 64,000 IOPS read, 10,000 IOPS write
• Workload class: Read-intensive / mixed-read environments
• Hot-swap: Supported — enables maintenance without server downtime
• Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
• Part number / product ID: 728767-001 / 504112

Advantages at a glance

• Consistent read performance: High 4KB random read IOPS for demanding lookup-heavy workloads.
• Reduced latency: Flash media provides faster response times compared with HDDs, improving application responsiveness.
• Hot-swap support: Service or replace drives without interrupting running systems.
• Easy retrofit: Uses familiar SATA connectors and form factors — simple replacement or upgrade path for existing ProLiant systems.

Performance considerations & tuning

To extract the best results from the 728767-001, pair the drive with an appropriate HPE controller and enable AHCI/NCQ where applicable. For read-heavy deployments, consider:

• Using RAID levels or caching policies that favour reads (for example, RAID 1/10 in read-optimized stripes).
• Offloading write-amplification–sensitive workloads from this drive if your environment is extremely write-intensive.
• Keeping firmware updated via HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) to maintain compatibility and performance.

Compatibility & deployment tips

• Designed primarily for HPE ProLiant platforms — confirm compatibility with your server model using the HPE parts matrix.
• Mount in a supported SFF bay using the HPE tray/carrier for secure installation and correct airflow.
• Verify BIOS and controller firmware versions before large-scale rollouts to avoid interoperability issues.

Use cases best suited to this drive

• Operating system & boot volumes: Faster boot times and quicker system restarts for many VMs.
• Read-cached databases: Accelerates frequent lookup operations in analytics and reporting.
• Content delivery & web servers: Improves page load speeds by reducing read latency for static assets.
• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI): Helps smooth read spikes during login storms when combined with appropriate caching.

Reliability, endurance and expectations

Although classified as read-intensive, this SATA SSD still benefits from enterprise-grade error management and wear-leveling. For environments with heavy sustained writes, evaluate endurance metrics relative to workload patterns and consider write-optimized SSDs. Always implement monitoring so you can track SMART metrics and plan replacements before failures occur.

Installation & maintenance quick checklist

• Power down only if your chassis does not support hot-swap; otherwise use the hot-swap process.
• Slot the SFF drive into the correct bay using the HPE drive carrier.
• Confirm the system recognizes the drive in BIOS/UEFI and in your OS tools.
• Register the part number and monitor SMART data through HPE iLO or your preferred monitoring stack.

Use this specification-focused SSD to raise read throughput, reduce latency in read-centric workloads, and simplify upgrades inside HPE ProLiant environments. When matched with suitable controllers and RAID policies, the HPE 728767-001 provides a balanced, cost-effective flash tier for enterprise applications.

Performance characteristics

Although raw read/write numbers vary by firmware and testing environment, SATA 6G MLC SSDs in this class commonly achieve:

• Consistent low read latency (sub-millisecond average read access times for many random read workloads).
• Strong sequential throughput suitable for data migration and backups over SATA 6 Gbps links.
• Improved random I/O performance compared to spinning media, beneficial for database query workloads and virtualization.

Endurance and reliability details

Enterprise MLC SSDs are specified with drive writes per day (DWPD) or terabytes written (TBW) endurance figures. The 480GB HPE 728767-001 targets mixed-use server roles and therefore offers endurance suitable for operating system volumes, virtual machine images, and read-mostly application data. Because it is an enterprise-class product, it includes power-loss protection features at the firmware level, error-correcting code (ECC), and wear-leveling algorithms designed to maximize useful life in continuous operation environments.

Technical specifications 

Form factor and physical attributes

• 2.5-inch SFF (Small Form Factor) drive height options may vary — confirm whether the server bay expects a 7mm, 9.5mm, or 15mm drive. HPE mounting caddies and sleds are recommended for full compatibility.
• Standard SATA connector (power + data) compatible with legacy and modern server backplanes supporting SATA 6.0 Gbps.

Interface and protocol

• SATA III (SATA 6Gb/s) physical layer and protocol.
• AHCI command set support; check firmware compatibility if migrating from NVMe environments as SATA AHCI differs from NVMe drivers.

NAND, controller, and firmware

MLC NAND is paired with an enterprise-grade controller and firmware optimized for consistent performance. The controller handles garbage collection, wear-leveling, ECC, and bad-block management. Keep firmware updated to ensure the best performance, compatibility, and security; HPE periodically publishes firmware updates for validated server models.

Deployment scenarios and ideal use cases

1. Boot and system volumes

Use the 480GB HPE 728767-001 as a boot/OS drive for single-purpose servers or as OS volumes inside hypervisor hosts. The fast random read performance reduces boot times and accelerates system-level I/O operations.

2. Virtualization hosts (VM images)

For environments running small to moderate numbers of virtual machines, these SATA MLC SSDs provide acceptable IOPS and latency for VM images, especially when combined with caching layers or when the host workload is read-dominant. For heavy write-intensive VM workloads, consider higher-endurance SSD classes.

3. Database acceleration and caching

Use as a caching tier for read-heavy databases or as primary storage for smaller database instances where the workload profile matches the endurance and random I/O profile of the SSD.

4. Mid-tier storage arrays and storage server nodes

Deploy these SSDs in HPE storage arrays or software-defined storage nodes as a performance tier. When used in arrays, pay attention to RAID parity implications — RAID write amplification can affect endurance.

Compatibility and validation

HPE-part-numbered drives such as 728767-001 are typically validated for specific HPE ProLiant server models and storage enclosures. Validation ensures drive firmware, hot-swap behavior, LED indicators, and backplane interactions work as expected. When purchasing, match the drive to the supported server list or consult HPE support matrices for exact compatibility notes.

Server and controller considerations

• Confirm SAS/SATA controller mode — many HPE controllers support both SAS and SATA but may present drives differently (HBA vs RAID controller).
• Check whether the controller requires a specific firmware or driver for optimal SSD performance (some RAID controllers need firmware updates to support SSD TRIM/NCQ).
• In mixed-drive enclosures, avoid mixing vastly different performance classes in the same RAID for best predictability.

Installation and configuration tips

Physical installation

Install the drive into HPE-approved caddies and insert into the server bay following ESD precautions. Ensure the drive is seated fully and that drive bay interlocks and status LEDs behave normally after insertion.

BIOS/UEFI and controller setup

• Enable AHCI mode in BIOS/UEFI when using individual drives (not in a RAID), unless using a certified RAID configuration.
• When configuring RAID, select the appropriate RAID level based on performance vs redundancy (RAID 1 or RAID 10 for mirrored redundancy with SSDs).
• Align partitions to 1MB boundaries for best SSD performance with modern OS installers.

Operating system considerations

Modern OS kernels and hypervisors support SSDs natively. Enable TRIM/discard where supported by the controller and filesystem for sustained performance, but confirm controller compatibility because some hardware RAID implementations do not pass TRIM commands through.

Performance optimization and maintenance

Monitor SMART attributes

Regularly monitor SMART metrics for wear-leveling status, available spare blocks, and uncorrectable CRC counts. Proactive replacement before SMART thresholds are crossed can prevent downtime.

Firmware updates

Apply HPE-validated firmware updates through HPE management tools (iLO, Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP)) or HPE update bundles. Firmware improvements can yield stability fixes, performance enhancements, and compatibility corrections for specific server models.

Thermal and power management

SSD temperature affects both longevity and consistent performance. Ensure adequate airflow in 1U/2U rack environments, and avoid placing SSDs in high-heat zones. Measure drive temperature using sensor outputs exposed by management utilities.

Data protection and RAID best practices

When deploying HPE 728767-001 drives in RAID arrays, choose the RAID level that matches your risk tolerance and performance needs:

• RAID 1 / RAID 10 — Strong redundancy, good read performance and predictable write penalty.
• RAID 5 / RAID 6 — Higher usable capacity with parity overhead; consider the write amplification and rebuild times when using SSDs — RAID 6 gives better failure protection at higher complexity.
• Use battery-backed or capacitive-backed RAID controllers where possible to reduce the likelihood of corrupted writes during power loss.

Comparisons and alternatives

MLC vs TLC vs SLC

MLC drives occupy the middle of the endurance and cost spectrum. Compared to SLC, MLC offers higher density and lower cost per GB but reduced program/erase cycle endurance. Compared to TLC (triple-level), MLC generally provides better write endurance and may be preferable for enterprise read/mixed workloads.

SATA vs SAS vs NVMe

SATA 6G is widespread and cost-effective but limited by the SATA bus ceiling (6 Gbps). SAS drives offer additional enterprise features and typically higher robustness; NVMe (PCIe) SSDs deliver substantially higher IOPS and lower latency for the most demanding workloads. Choose SATA MLC SSDs like the HPE 728767-001 where budget, compatibility, and moderate performance needs align.

Environmental and regulatory considerations

HPE enterprise SSDs comply with common regulatory requirements for electronics in server deployments. Check product datasheets for RoHS compliance, part-level environmental operating ranges, and disposal/recycling instructions for end-of-life drives.

Security features and data sanitization

Encryption and secure erase

Some HPE drives include hardware-based encryption capabilities or support secure erase commands. If hardware encryption is not present, use OS-based or array-level encryption for data protection. When decommissioning drives, follow NIST SP 800-88 guidelines for media sanitization — use secure erase utilities or physical destruction if required by policy.

Troubleshooting: common issues and fixes

Drive not detected

• Confirm drive seating in the caddy and that the server backplane recognizes the drive.
• Check controller mode (HBA vs RAID) and update controller firmware if necessary.

Unexpected errors or degraded RAID

• Review SMART attributes and system logs to identify failing drives.
• Use HPE system diagnostics and iLO integrated log files to correlate events.

Performance degradation over time

• Verify that the drive has available spare area and that garbage collection is functioning (check firmware notes).
• Ensure thermal conditions are within specified range — thermal throttling reduces performance.

Checklist before purchasing

• Confirm server model compatibility and controller support for SATA SSDs.
• Decide on firmware support — buy HPE-branded parts for integrated firmware management.
• Assess workload profile (read-heavy vs write-heavy) and select endurance class accordingly.
• Plan for RAID and hot-spare strategies that balance capacity, performance, and redundancy.
• Verify warranty and RMA procedures with the supplier.

Next steps for procurement and deployment

Before ordering, check the target server QuickSpecs and HPE compatibility lists to ensure the HPE 728767-001 part number is recommended for your ProLiant model or storage array. Coordinate firmware and controller updates with your maintenance windows. For storage architects, run a pilot in a non-production environment to observe performance patterns and to validate RAID rebuild times and thermal behavior under realistic workloads.