Tech tip: So many SSDs—how do you decide?

[marksimpkins]

Understand why using unsupported drives puts your business at risk, learn what sets HPE SSDs apart and use our tool to help choose the best match for your workload.   

Let’s address something up front: why should you use HPE SSDs? Simply put, we care about your data. Don’t put your business data at risk with unsupported drives which have not been vetted by the engineers who designed your server.

• HPE SSDs are backed by over 3 million hours of the industry's most rigorous testing
• HPE Smart SSD WearGauge monitors and reports on the lifespan of your SSD
• Full path error detection checks for data correctness between host interface to SSD and back

Why so many SSDs?

SSDs are designed with different characteristics to match the workloads they are going to support. HPE SSDs fall under four categories which achieve different purposes: Very Read Optimized, Read Intensive, Mixed Use, and Write Intensive. Each of these categories supports specific workloads according to their needs.

SSDs with high Very Read Optimized performance

These are best for workloads such as real-time analytics, content delivery, and large block database and BI which are considered VERY READ performance driven. For good VERY READ performance, select Very Read Optimize (VRO) SSDs. Use cases may include AI, machine learning, deep learning Data Lakes, content delivery, large block database & Business Intelligence, object stores, real-time analytics, and software-defined storage capacity tier.

Lower-priced SSDs, with a focus on READ performance

These are best for workloads such as web servers, social media, and boot which are considered READ performance driven. For good READ performance, select Read Intensive (RI) SSDs. Use cases may include active archiving, analytics, batch, boot/swap, cloud computing and storage, database (low end), email, read caching, scientific and engineering (low), security, social media, and web servers.

Balance of price and READ/WRITE performance

Workloads with balanced READ and WRITE needs are considered mixed use. For a good balance of performance and price, select Mixed Use (MU) SSDs. Use cases may include business processing, cloud computing and storage, collaboration (SharePoint/messaging), database (midrange), general business applications, IT infrastructure (file/print), monolithic applications, scientific and engineering (medium), and virtualization (medium density).

SSDs with high WRITE performance

Workloads such as big data analytics, virtualization or business intelligence are considered WRITE performance driven. For the best performance, select Write Intensive (WI) SSDs. Use cases may include big data analytics, storage and database, business intelligence, cloud computing, collaboration infrastructure, data warehousing, enterprise business processes, ERP, financial computing, mission critical applications, networking, OLTP, scientific and engineering (high), and virtualization (high density).

Okay, that’s a lot to think about, but HPE has a tool to help you

We know that’s a lot to consider, so let’s see how HPE can help you since our teams have put so much thought, testing, qualification, and work into this subject.

The HPE Solid-State Drive Selector v2.2 is a web-based tool to help you decide which SSDs to choose. You can explore two paths: “I know what I need” or “Help me choose.” Let’s focus on the latter—I know I would need this one. These are screenshots of the tool to walk you through the process.

Step 1: HPE Solid-State Drive Selector 

Step 2: Workload selection

Step 3: Select the server 

Step 4: Select the interface 

Step 5: Select form factor(s)

Step 6: Select availability 

Step 7: Tweak the many sliders—or don't

Step 8: Get your SKU results!

This was a bit picture heavy but seemed to be the best way to walk you through the tool. Now that you know about this, please bookmark the tool for reference and leave any questions or comments below.

Mark Simpkins
Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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