P40479-B21 HPE 6.4TB SAS 24g Mixed Use SFF BC TLC SSD

HPE P40479-B21 6.4TB SAS 24G Mixed Use SSD Overview

The HPE P40479-B21 is a 6.4TB SAS 24G Mixed Use Solid State Drive (SSD) designed specifically for Gen10 Plus Servers. This small form factor (SFF) drive utilizes advanced Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND technology and is engineered for balanced performance and endurance in enterprise data centers. With its 24G SAS interface, it delivers significant speed and bandwidth improvements over previous generations, ensuring high throughput and minimal latency for business-critical applications.

Manufacturing and Model Attributes

• Brand: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
• Part Number: P40479-B21
• Device Classification: Solid State Drive (SSD)

Purpose-Built for HPE Gen10 Plus Server Environments

The P40479-B21 SSD is optimized for seamless integration into HPE Gen10 Plus servers. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has engineered this drive to be part of its comprehensive server storage ecosystem, ensuring full compatibility and system-level validation. The SSD supports Smart Carrier technology, Power Loss Protection (PLP), and firmware designed for enterprise workloads, making it the preferred choice for IT professionals deploying HPE ProLiant servers.

Compatibility and Integration

Designed for use with Gen10 Plus server systems, including the HPE ProLiant DL and ML series, the P40479-B21 ensures native compatibility without the need for additional adapters or controllers. It leverages the latest 24G SAS interface, which is backward-compatible with 12G SAS, allowing it to function in hybrid server infrastructures while maximizing performance when paired with matching 24G-capable controllers.

Key Features of the HPE P40479-B21 SSD

High Capacity and Density

With a substantial 6.4TB of raw storage capacity in a 2.5-inch SFF (Small Form Factor) design, this drive offers dense, scalable storage ideal for modern data center environments. Whether deployed in blade enclosures or rackmount servers, the compact design enables efficient space utilization without compromising on performance or reliability.

24G SAS Interface for Enhanced Performance

The introduction of 24G SAS offers double the theoretical throughput of 12G SAS, enabling faster data access and transfer rates. This is particularly beneficial for workloads that demand high IOPS and low latency, such as virtualized environments, transactional databases, and high-frequency trading applications. The HPE P40479-B21 supports this next-generation interface, future-proofing your storage infrastructure.

Enterprise-Class Mixed Use Workload Support

The “Mixed Use” designation means that this SSD is engineered to handle a combination of read-intensive and write-intensive workloads. It is ideal for applications such as OLTP (Online Transaction Processing), virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), web servers, and email services where balanced performance and endurance are essential.

Endurance and Write Performance

Using TLC NAND flash and advanced overprovisioning algorithms, the P40479-B21 offers optimal endurance ratings for mixed-use environments. The drive supports a defined number of Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD), ensuring long operational life even under sustained workloads.

Advanced Technologies in the HPE P40479-B21

Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND Architecture

Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND is a form of flash memory that stores three bits per cell, enabling higher density storage at a lower cost per GB. HPE’s implementation of TLC in this SSD includes firmware and wear-leveling technologies that extend drive lifespan while maintaining consistent performance levels.

HPE Smart Carrier Design

The integrated Smart Carrier provides visual and diagnostic feedback through LED indicators. These carriers simplify drive maintenance and enhance hot-swap capabilities, making them essential in mission-critical server environments. The Smart Carrier is part of HPE’s ongoing efforts to improve usability and reduce downtime in data centers.

Power Loss Protection (PLP)

Power Loss Protection (PLP) ensures that in the event of an unexpected power failure, any data in transit is securely written to non-volatile memory. This feature is vital for protecting mission-critical data and maintaining database integrity during outages.

Error Correction and Data Integrity

The SSD includes advanced ECC (Error Correction Code) and end-to-end data protection, helping to identify and correct errors on-the-fly. This guarantees data consistency and reliability, which are essential in enterprise and cloud computing infrastructures.

Use Cases and Workload Optimization

Virtualized Server Environments

HPE’s mixed-use SSDs like the P40479-B21 are ideal for virtualized environments running VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, or other hypervisors. These environments demand consistent IOPS performance and minimal latency — both of which are key strengths of this SSD.

Database and OLTP Applications

Online Transaction Processing systems benefit from high-speed read/write cycles and rapid random access. The 6.4TB capacity allows for larger transactional databases to reside entirely on solid-state storage, reducing query times and increasing throughput.

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Caching

With high sequential read capabilities and fast IOPS, the drive supports content delivery workloads effectively. It’s suitable for cache layers in web applications, enhancing the user experience through quicker load times and reduced server response times.

Enterprise Backup and Archiving

Although traditionally the domain of HDDs, high-capacity SSDs like the P40479-B21 are now being used for fast-access backup and snapshot capabilities. When speed is a priority, such as in tiered storage environments, this SSD offers advantages over traditional spinning disks.

Reliability, Lifecycle, and Management

Firmware Management and HPE Tools

The drive includes HPE-validated firmware that integrates seamlessly with iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) and HPE Smart Array controllers. Through these platforms, IT administrators can manage firmware updates, monitor drive health, and forecast failures using predictive analytics.

Thermal Monitoring and Power Efficiency

Built-in thermal sensors allow real-time monitoring of the drive's temperature, helping prevent overheating and ensuring optimal performance. Coupled with energy-efficient components, the drive maintains low power consumption — ideal for data centers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Long Operational Life and MTBF

The P40479-B21 features high Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) metrics, often exceeding 2 million hours. This reliability reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) and supports long-term operational deployments without frequent replacements.

Comparing HPE P40479-B21 with Other Enterprise SSDs

Versus HPE Read-Intensive SSDs

While read-intensive SSDs are optimized for workloads with high reads and low writes, the P40479-B21 stands out for its mixed-use flexibility. This makes it a better fit for environments with unpredictable or varying workload patterns.

Versus Write-Intensive Models

Compared to write-intensive drives with higher DWPD ratings, the P40479-B21 may not suit ultra-heavy write workloads like high-frequency trading logs, but it strikes a superior balance of performance, cost, and endurance for general enterprise usage.

Advantages Over SATA SSDs

The 24G SAS interface on the P40479-B21 offers significantly better performance, reliability, and scalability than SATA-based SSDs. Enterprises that require robust data integrity and hot-swapping capabilities typically choose SAS over SATA, especially in mission-critical infrastructures.

Deployment Scenarios for HPE P40479-B21

Data Center and Cloud Environments

In cloud-based platforms or large data centers, storage solutions must be fast, reliable, and scalable. The P40479-B21 is well-suited for these environments, offering consistency across clusters, ease of maintenance with Smart Carrier design, and robust error handling for data integrity.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

High-performance computing clusters benefit from the SSD's low latency and high throughput. The drive minimizes bottlenecks in data processing pipelines, improving overall system performance and reducing time-to-insight in research and data analytics environments.

Edge Computing and Remote Deployments

Edge deployments require rugged and reliable components. The P40479-B21 SSD's enterprise-grade durability and compact form factor make it an excellent fit for remote server installations where maintenance opportunities are limited.

Buying Considerations and Storage Planning

Capacity Planning

With 6.4TB of capacity, careful planning is advised to ensure proper utilization. Storage architects should account for workload type, RAID configurations, and data growth projections to make full use of the drive's capabilities.

RAID Configurations and Performance Tuning

The P40479-B21 supports various RAID levels when used with HPE Smart Array controllers. RAID 10 offers high performance and redundancy, while RAID 5 or 6 can deliver a good balance of capacity and protection. Administrators can leverage HPE tools to fine-tune performance parameters according to workload.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

While the upfront cost of enterprise SSDs like the P40479-B21 is higher than traditional drives, the long-term savings in power, cooling, maintenance, and performance gains provide a strong ROI. The drive’s reliability reduces downtime costs and extends replacement cycles.

The HPE P40479-B21 6.4TB SSD

Authorized HPE Resellers

To ensure product authenticity and warranty support, it's recommended to purchase the HPE P40479-B21 from authorized HPE resellers. These partners often provide technical consultation, extended service plans, and volume discounts.

Data Center Solution Providers

For customers implementing large-scale infrastructure upgrades, working with a certified data center integrator or managed service provider can streamline deployment. These providers often include HPE SSDs like the P40479-B21 as part of a larger storage or compute stack.

Online IT Hardware Marketplaces

Many online enterprise IT hardware vendors list the P40479-B21 in their catalogs. Be cautious when purchasing through third-party platforms — always verify the seller’s credentials and request documentation proving the drive’s new, unused condition with full HPE warranty.