Description
Product overview of the HPE 726903-B21
In the ever-evolving landscape of information technology, the importance of reliable and efficient data storage solutions cannot be overstated. One such crucial component in the realm of storage controllers is the HPE 726903-B21 Smart Array P841. This controller, designed for Gen9 servers, boasts impressive features such as Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) connectivity at 12 Gigabytes Per Second (Gbps), 4-ports Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) 3.0 x8, and Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC). In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the intricacies of this controller, exploring its key specifications, performance capabilities, and the impact it can have on overall server functionality.
Key Features and Specifications:
- Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) 12 Gbps: The HPE 726903-B21 Smart Array P841 is equipped with SAS technology, offering data transfer rates of up to 12 Gbps. This high-speed connectivity ensures rapid data access and transfer, crucial for modern computing environments where quick and efficient storage solutions are paramount.
- 4-Ports Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) 3.0 With four PCIE 3.0 x8 ports, the controller provides ample connectivity options for various storage devices. The PCIE 3.0 interface, operating at eight Giga transfers per second, enhances the overall bandwidth and responsiveness of the storage subsystem, contributing to improved server performance.
- Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC): A standout feature of the HPE 726903-B21 is its Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC). This technology combines the speed of volatile memory with the persistence of flash memory, creating a cache system that significantly improves write performance. The FBWC ensures that in the event of a power loss, data in the cache is retained, minimizing the risk of data loss or corruption.
Performance and Scalability:
- Optimized Data Throughput: The integration of SAS 12 Gbps technology in the HPE 726903-B21 Smart Array P841 translates to optimized data throughput. The controller efficiently handles large volumes of data, making it an ideal choice for data-intensive applications and workloads.
- Scalability for Growing Workloads: As businesses and computing needs evolve, the demand for scalable solutions becomes crucial. The HPE 726903-B21 addresses this by offering scalability in terms of both connectivity and performance. The four PCIE 3.0 x8 ports provide flexibility for expanding storage capacity and accommodating the growing data requirements of modern enterprises.
Management and Monitoring Capabilities:
- Intuitive Management Software: HPE offers comprehensive management software for the Smart Array P841 controller, allowing administrators to monitor, configure, and optimize storage resources. The intuitive interface simplifies complex tasks, enabling efficient management of storage arrays without the need for extensive technical expertise.
- Advanced Diagnostics and Reporting: To ensure proactive maintenance and timely issue resolution, the controller is equipped with advanced diagnostics and reporting capabilities. Real-time monitoring of critical parameters, coupled with detailed reporting, empowers administrators to identify potential issues before they impact system performance.
Compatibility and Integration:
- Gen9 Server Compatibility: The HPE 726903-B21 Smart Array P841 is specifically designed for Gen9 servers, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance. This compatibility enhances the controller’s effectiveness in modern server environments, leveraging the latest technological advancements.
- Operating System Support: The controller supports a wide range of operating systems, including popular choices such as Windows Server, Linux, and VMware. This broad compatibility ensures that organizations can deploy the HPE 726903-B21 across diverse IT infrastructures, accommodating different software environments.
Advanced RAID Features
- The HPE Smart Array P841 SAS-12GBPS 4-Ports PCIE 3.0 x8 FBWC Controller (726903-B21) is designed to provide advanced RAID features for HPE ProLiant Gen9 servers. The controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, and 60, which allows for flexible data protection and performance options.
- One of the advanced features of the P841 controller is its support for HPE SmartCache which allows you to increase your server’s performance by caching frequently accessed data on a high-performance solid-state drive. This improves the overall performance of the server by reducing the time it takes to access data.
- Another feature is the support for HPE Smart Path, which optimizes the path between the server and storage array by dynamically selecting the fastest path available. This ensures that data is transferred as quickly and efficiently as possible, improving overall performance.
- The P841 also supports HPE Smart RAID, which is an advanced RAID algorithm that provides improved performance and data protection compared to traditional RAID algorithms. It also supports HPE Smart Array Advanced Data Services Suite, which provides advanced data protection, data recovery, and data migration capabilities.
- In addition, the P841 controller includes a Flash Backed Write Cache (FBWC) which provides a high-performance cache for writing data, this improves the write performance of the controller.
Increased Scalability
- The HPE Smart Array P841 SAS-12GBPS 4-Ports PCIE 3.0 x8 FBWC Controller (726903-B21) is designed to provide increased scalability for HPE ProLiant Gen9 servers.
- One way the controller provides scalability is through its support for multiple RAID levels, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, RAID 50, and RAID 60, this allows you to configure your storage in a way that best meets your needs and to easily expand your storage capacity as your needs change.
- The P841 also supports multiple internal and external SAS and SATA drive options, which allows you to connect a wide range of disk drives to the controller, providing more storage capacity as your needs grow.
- The P841 controller also includes a Flash Backed Write Cache (FBWC) which provides a high-performance cache for writing data, this improves the write performance of the controller and increases the scalability of the storage solution.
- In addition, the P841 controller is designed to be modular, which allows for easy installation and removal from the server without having to shut down the server or remove other components. This makes it easy to upgrade or service the controller without disrupting the operation of the server.
- The HPE Smart Array P841 SAS-12GBPS 4-Ports PCIE 3.0 x8 FBWC Controller (726903-B21) is designed to provide increased scalability for HPE ProLiant Gen9 servers by supporting multiple RAID levels, multiple internal and external SAS and SATA drive options, Flash Backed Write Cache (FBWC), and being modular, allowing for easy installation and removal without disrupting the operation of the server. These features allow you to configure your storage in a way that best meets your needs and to easily expand your storage capacity as your needs change, improving the overall performance and scalability of the storage solution.
Proven Reliability of HPE Smart Array
- The HPE Smart Array P841 SAS-12GBPS 4-Ports PCIE 3.0 x8 FBWC Controller (726903-B21) is designed to provide proven reliability for HPE ProLiant Gen9 servers.
- The controller is built with high-quality components and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it meets the highest standards for quality and reliability. This helps to ensure that the controller will operate reliably in demanding storage environments, such as data centers and other enterprise-level applications.
- The controller also supports advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS) which allows for prioritization of data traffic, ensuring that critical data is transferred first, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) which allows Fibre Channel traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks. These features help to increase the overall reliability of the controller by reducing the risk of data loss or corruption.
- The controller also supports multiple RAID levels, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, RAID 50, and RAID 60, which provides added data protection by mirroring data across multiple disks. This allows you to configure your storage in a way that best meets your needs and to easily expand your storage capacity as your needs change.
- In addition, the controller is designed to be modular, which allows for easy installation and removal from the server without having to shut down the server or remove other components. This makes it easy to upgrade or service the controller without disrupting the operation of the server.
General Information about this HPE 726903-B21
- Manufacturer: HPE
- Model Number or SKU# 726903-B21
- Product Type: Smart Array
- Product Name: Controller
Storage Controllers
- Interface: SATA-6GBPS / SAS-12GBPS
- Data Transfer Rate: 12GBPS
- Buffer Size: 4 GB
- Supported Devices: Disk array (RAID)
- Channel Qty: 16
- Max Storage Devices Qty: 16
- RAID Level: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, RAID 50, RAID 60, RAID 1 ADM, RAID 10 ADM
Software / System Requirements
- OS Required: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 for x86, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 x64 Edition, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 x64 Edition, Canonical Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 x64 Edition, VMware ESXi 5.1 update 3, VMware ESX 6.0, VMware vSphere 5.5 update 2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 x64 for x86 Edition, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 for Intel x86
In summary, the HPE 726903-B21 Smart Array P841 stands as a powerful and versatile storage controller, tailored for Gen9 servers. Its robust features, including SAS 12 Gbps connectivity, PCIE 3.0 x8 ports, and Flash-Backed Write Cache, contribute to enhanced performance, scalability, and data protection. With a focus on reliability and ease of management, this controller is well-positioned to meet the demands of modern data-centric applications and workloads. As businesses continue to evolve, the HPE 726903-B21 proves to be a valuable asset in building resilient and efficient server infrastructures.