United States
Q
What is HPE MSA Storage?
A
HPE MSA Storage is an entry-level SAN storage array that delivers high availability, simple management, and cost-effective performance for small to medium businesses, supporting block storage workloads in hybrid IT environments.
Q
What are the key features of HPE MSA Storage?
A
HPE MSA offers dual-domain architecture, NVMe SSD acceleration, 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity, snapshots, replication, and HPE StoreEasy file services, providing robust data protection and simplified administration.
Q
How much raw capacity can HPE MSA support?
A
HPE MSA supports up to 960 TB of raw capacity per array using 12 Gb/s SAS drives and scalable expansion enclosures, allowing flexible growth as your data requirements increase.
Q
What performance levels does HPE MSA deliver?
A
HPE MSA delivers up to 600,000 IOPS with NVMe SSDs and multi-controller load balancing, ensuring low latency and consistent throughput for mixed transactional and sequential workloads.
Q
Which RAID levels does HPE MSA support?
A
HPE MSA supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, offering customizable data protection and performance trade-offs to suit diverse workload requirements.
Q
How do I manage HPE MSA Storage?
A
HPE MSA Storage is managed via the intuitive HPE MSA Command-Line Interface (CLI) and HTML5-based Storage Management Utility (SMU), enabling rapid provisioning and monitoring from any web browser.
Q
Is HPE MSA compatible with virtualization platforms?
A
Yes. HPE MSA is certified for VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM, offering VVOLs, VAAI integration, and optimized storage for virtualized workloads.
Q
What data protection features are included?
A
HPE MSA provides space-efficient snapshots, asynchronous remote replication, and optional HPE StoreOnce integration, ensuring rapid recovery and business continuity.
Q
How many snapshots can HPE MSA take?
A
HPE MSA supports up to 256 snapshots per volume, enabling frequent point-in-time copies for rapid data recovery and simplified backup workflows.
Q
Can HPE MSA scale as my business grows?
A
Yes. You can scale HPE MSA by adding up to eight expansion enclosures per controller pair, allowing seamless capacity and performance scaling without downtime.
Q
What is the upgrade path for HPE MSA?
A
HPE MSA supports controller firmware and license upgrades in the field. You can add NVMe SSDs, increase SAS shelf count, or enable advanced software features without replacing hardware.
Q
Which host interfaces are supported?
A
HPE MSA offers 12 Gb/s SAS, 16 Gb Fibre Channel, and 10/25 Gb iSCSI host interfaces, delivering flexible connectivity options for diverse network environments.
Q
How does HPE MSA handle firmware updates?
A
Firmware updates on HPE MSA are non-disruptive when using redundant controllers. The SMU guides you through staged updates to maintain availability.
Q
What workloads are ideal for HPE MSA?
A
HPE MSA excels with file/print, virtualization, remote office/branch office, VDI, email, and database workloads, balancing cost, performance, and resilience.
Q
What support options are available for HPE MSA?
A
HPE offers global hardware warranty, HPE Foundation Care services, and Proactive Care with 24x7 support, rapid parts replacement, and monitoring for maximum uptime.
Q
How is HPE MSA licensed?
A
HPE MSA uses an all-inclusive model: base functionality is bundled, and optional features (e.g., replication, snapshots) are enabled via perpetual software licenses.
