Hewlett Packard Enterprise has introduced a fresh set of Modular Smart Array (MSA) storage solutions for SMBs.
The new Gen 6 family of hybrid storage systems offers automatic data tiering to improve performance, an enhanced health check tool for diagnosing technical problems, and integration with the HPE Cloud Volumes Backup platform for archiving and redundant storage of protected data.
“HPE has continually built on and refined the MSA product family for six generations, focusing on the balance between performance and affordability, as well as looking at the simplicity and customer experience,” said Chris Powers, vice president and general manager for big data and collaborative platform development at HPE, in prepared remarks. “HPE MSA is helping SMBs by delivering the performance and automation they need to keep their businesses running. We take pride in providing our customers with a reliable and fast solution at an affordable price so that their businesses can serve their clients efficiently.”
The new tiering functionality automatically moves data between fast but more expensive solid-state drives and affordable but slower hard disk drives to ensure that the most heavily accessed information resides on the speediest media. According to HPE, the technology improves performance by 2x to 4x over solutions equipped only with HDDs.
A new feature called MSA Data Protection Plus, or MSA DP+, rebuilds failed drives 25x faster, according to HPE, while also improving system efficiency by eliminating the need for backup HDD space.
The enhanced cloud-based health check technology is designed to collect and search sensor data for known issues and use of best practices. According to HPE, utilizing the tool proactively eliminates 76% of MSA-related support calls.
In addition, integration with HPE Cloud Volumes Backup and HPE Recover Manager Central enables users to employ those tools an affordable means of storing protected data online. HPE Cloud Volumes Backup capacity is sold through HPE’s GreenLake consumption-priced managed infrastructure offering as well.
MSA Gen 6 systems are available immediately at prices starting from $7,000. Their launch comes six months after HPE added a compact micro server for small office and edge locations to its lineup of SMB infrastructure offerings. That product too is available for as-a-service purchasing.
HPE announced plans last year to offer its entire catalog of products as a service by 2022.
