846788-B21 HPE 1.6TB SATA 6GBPS Mixed Use 3.5Inch LFF LPC SSD.

Key Features of the HPE 846788-B21 SSD

The HPE 846788-B21 is a purpose-built enterprise-class solid state drive designed for mixed-use workloads where capacity, consistent performance, and data center reliability matter. This 1.6TB SATA III (6Gb/s) drive ships in a low-profile carrier for 3.5-inch LFF bays and is targeted to HPE ProLiant and Apollo server platforms. Engineers used a mixed-use flash allocation profile to strike a balance between random read/write IOPS and long-term endurance, making the drive appropriate for consolidated file services, virtualization boot/storage tiers, caching layers, and general purpose server storage. Key mechanical and interface attributes — 3.5" low-profile form factor, single SATA port at 6Gb/s, and hot-plug capability — make it straightforward to integrate into rack servers and storage enclosures. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Technical specifications and performance characteristics

Core hardware specifications

The most important hardware facts to know up front are capacity, interface, and form factor:

• Capacity: 1.6TB usable NAND flash.
• Interface: SATA 6.0 Gbps (SATA III), single-port.
• Form factor: 3.5-inch Low-Profile Carrier (LFF LPC) suitable for HPE LFF drive bays.
• Hot swappable: Yes — supports hot-plug insertion and removal in supported servers.
• Target workload: Mixed-Use (MU) — engineered for a blend of read and write intensity to support varied server workloads.

Vendors and HPE documentation list this model as a 1.6TB SATA MU LFF SSD and indicate it as part of HPE's G10/G11 generation drive family. That positioning clarifies compatibility with contemporary ProLiant and Apollo servers where LFF 3.5" bays are present. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Performance profile and real-world behaviour

Mixed-use SSDs like the 846788-B21 are provisioned to deliver strong random read IOPS while still maintaining significant write endurance compared with read-intensive drives. Typical characteristics to expect:

• Random read IOPS: Designed for high random read responsiveness (many listings reference 4KB random read IOPS measured in the tens of thousands for comparable models).
• Random write IOPS: Lower than read IOPS but optimized for steady-state mixed operations and background garbage collection.
• Sustained throughput: SATA 6Gb/s limits peak sequential throughput compared with NVMe, but provides predictable throughput for many server applications.
• Latency: SSD latencies are markedly lower than HDDs. In mixed use environments, latency remains more consistent because of internal overprovisioning and controller firmware optimizations.

When planning storage tiers, position the 846788-B21 for workloads that require both capacity and responsiveness but do not demand the ultra-low tail latencies of NVMe drives. This makes it a sensible choice for hypervisor datastores, mid-tier databases, and frequently accessed object datasets.

Compatibility and server integration

HPE server families and validated platforms

HPE lists this drive for use in multiple platforms including HPE ProLiant and Apollo families — particularly servers and systems that accept 3.5" LFF low-profile carriers (for example Apollo 4200/4500 and ProLiant models documented in the drive and platform quickspecs). Before ordering, validate the server model, backplane type, and any firmware compatibility notes on HPE’s support pages or platform QuickSpecs. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Controller and backplane considerations

SATA drives require a compatible SATA backplane or HBA (Host Bus Adapter). For some HPE configurations, selecting an HPE Smart Array controller or an HBA that supports SATA hot-plug and 6Gb/s signaling is required. If you plan to mix SAS and SATA in a single enclosure, confirm compatibility and the controller's handling of mixed device types. For high availability environments, pair the drives with controllers and firmware versions that are listed as supported in HPE's interoperability matrices.

Firmware and lifecycle updates

HPE periodically publishes firmware updates and platform advisories. Keep drive firmware current where possible (follow HPE's maintenance windows and change control). Updated firmware can improve performance, endurance handling, and interoperability with new controllers or OS drivers.

Endurance, reliability, and warranty information

Endurance characteristics

Mixed-use drives are typically rated with higher endurance than read-intensive drives but lower than enterprise write-intensive types. Endurance is expressed as drive writes per day (DWPD) or total terabytes written (TBW) over the warranty period. For deployment planning, translate expected daily write volumes into projected lifespan and include margin for write amplification, snapshots, and rebuild activity. While vendor pages and reseller listings advertise the MU (mixed-use) class and suggest enterprise-grade endurance, confirm the exact endurance rating for procurement and warranty expectations. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

RAID rebuild and endurance planning

RAID rebuilds increase write activity on remaining drives, so factor rebuild storms into the endurance calculation. Mixed-use SSDs handle rebuild workloads better than read-optimized drives, but for large arrays consider:

• Using staggered or throttled rebuilds to reduce write pressure.
• Maintaining hot spares sized for capacity and endurance matching array drives.
• Tracking SMART/drive telemetry to proactively replace drives approaching endurance limits.

Recommended workloads and use cases

Best fit applications

The mixed-use profile makes the 846788-B21 especially well suited for:

• Virtualization datastores: Consolidated VMs with mixed read/write patterns benefit from the balance of IOPS and endurance.
• Database tiers: Mid-sized database instances (transactional and mixed analytical) that require reduced latency and consistent I/O performance.
• Web/application servers: High-concurrency web layers where many small reads and writes occur.
• Caching and tiered storage: As a cache tier in front of high-capacity HDD pools, or as a mid-tier store in tiered architectures.
• High-density storage servers: HPE Apollo and similar platforms where LFF bays are used to pack a mix of capacity and performance.

Deployment best practices

Physical installation tips

• Install the drive in a compatible HPE LFF tray; ensure the tray is clean and properly seated in the backplane.
• Follow ESD procedures when handling drives and carriers; touch a grounded point before contact.
• Label drives by date and bay location for easier maintenance and tracking.

BIOS, controller firmware and OS drivers

Align server BIOS, HBA/RAID firmware, and operating system driver versions to the compatibility matrix for your server generation. HPE platform QuickSpecs and support pages list validated firmware stacks. Applying vendor-recommended firmware and drivers reduces the risk of compatibility issues and improves performance predictability. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Monitoring and telemetry

Use HPE management tools (iLO, HPE Smart Storage Administrator, or the OS-level storage management utilities) to monitor SMART attributes, temperature, and wear metrics. Set up alerts for parameters like media and data integrity errors, high temperature, or premature wear indicators to allow proactive maintenance.

Comparisons: SATA MU LFF SSDs vs other drive types

SATA MU LFF SSDs vs SAS SSDs

SATA MU LFF drives like the 846788-B21 are cost-effective and straightforward to deploy in consumer and enterprise server backplanes. SAS SSDs can provide dual-port connectivity for multipath redundancy and generally higher robustness for mission-critical multi-controller SANs. Choose SAS when you need multipath redundancy and higher enterprise RAS features; choose SATA when cost per GB and wide platform compatibility are priorities.

SATA MU LFF SSDs vs NVMe

NVMe delivers far greater IOPS and lower latency by leveraging PCIe lanes and a modern protocol; however, NVMe usually costs more per GB for equivalent endurance. SATA MU drives still make sense where a server’s backplane or budget restricts NVMe adoption, or when existing RAID controllers rely on SATA/SAS connectivity. For mixed cap/perf tiers, fleets often include both SATA MU drives and NVMe drives to optimize cost and performance across tiers.

Storage architecture and capacity planning

Designing with 1.6TB LFF SSDs

When designing arrays with 1.6TB mixed-use SSDs, consider the following:

• Determine usable capacity after RAID overhead; RAID-6 and RAID-10 will reduce usable space significantly compared with raw capacity.
• Plan for spare capacity: reserve headroom for garbage collection and wear leveling to sustain performance.
• Model write amplification and peak write scenarios (backups, dedupe, rebuilds) to accurately estimate lifespan.
• Evaluate density: LFF bays allow higher per-drive capacity per bay but fewer drives per chassis compared with SFF; choose based on the balance of capacity density vs. IOPS density required.

Example capacity scenarios

A 24-bay LFF chassis populated with 1.6TB mixed-use SSDs provides 38.4TB raw capacity. After RAID and provisioning, usable capacity will depend on the chosen RAID level and reserved overprovisioning; for example, RAID-6 with two parity disks will reduce raw capacity by the equivalent of two drives, leaving roughly 35.2TB raw minus controller/reserve overhead for usable storage.

Handling failures and RMAs

In the event of degraded drives or SMART errors, follow HPE’s RMA and support processes. If the drive is under warranty, register the product and use HPE support to initiate an RMA. Keep snapshots or backup copies as part of your recovery plan — SSD failures are rare but possible, and rapid recovery strategies mitigate downtime risk.

Drive-level encryption and secure erase

Many enterprise drives provide hardware or controller-level options for encryption and secure erase to meet data protection policies. Verify whether a particular SKU includes self-encrypting drive (SED) capabilities or if encryption is provided at the array/controller level. When decommissioning drives, follow certified secure-erase procedures to avoid data leakage.

Power loss protection and data integrity

Enterprise SSD controllers often include capacitors or firmware features to minimize in-flight data loss during power events. While SATA SSDs usually include basic power loss protection mechanisms, verify the product brief if you plan to use the drives in write-critical applications where immediate persistence guarantees are mandatory.