HPE MSA 2070 SFF 2x16Gb FC 4-port Controller 12x1.92TB SSD 4x16Gb SFP FC XCVR 23TB Storage Array

The HPE MSA 2070 SFF is an entry-level shared storage array designed to provide simple, high-performance and cost-effective storage for small and medium businesses. This 2U rack system accepts 2.5" drives and supports both SSD and HDD media, offering flexible capacity and performance options. The configured unit includes dual 16Gb Fibre Channel controllers, twelve 1.92TB SSDs and four 16Gb SFP FC transceivers, delivering approximately 23 TB of raw flash capacity in a compact footprint.

Advantages

The MSA 2070 SFF delivers accelerated application performance with all-flash storage while maintaining an affordable entry point for shared storage. It supports modern host connectivity including 16/32 Gb Fibre Channel and 10/25 GbE iSCSI, and offers scalable media options that enable higher raw capacities. Firmware update features and accessible health-check tools simplify routine maintenance and reduce administrative effort.

Suitable for (tasks / use cases)

• Virtualized environments on HPE ProLiant servers
• Database acceleration and transactional workloads
• File shares and general-purpose block storage for SMBs
• Workloads requiring low-latency all-flash performance in a compact 2U chassis

When it may not be suitable

This array is aimed at entry-level and midrange deployments; very large enterprise environments with extremely high performance or advanced enterprise features may require larger or more feature-rich storage platforms. Organizations that need the absolute maximum raw capacity per array without flash density considerations may prefer high-capacity HDD-focused arrays instead.

Key specifications

• Form factor: 2U rack-mount chassis supporting 2.5" (SFF) drives
• Included drives: 12 × 1.92 TB SSD (all-flash configuration) — ~23 TB raw
• Drive support: up to 24 drives; supports SSD and HDD
• Controllers: dual 16 Gb Fibre Channel controllers (4 ports total)
• Host connectivity: 16/32 Gb Fibre Channel and 10/25 GbE iSCSI options supported
• Drive interface to enclosure: 12 Gb/s SAS
• Scalability: supports increased raw capacity with high-capacity media options (up to multiple petabytes per array depending on media)

How to use

Install the 2U chassis in a standard rack and connect power and network fabrics according to your environment. Attach hosts using supported Fibre Channel or iSCSI ports; configure RAID and virtual volumes through the MSA management interface. Monitor system health with the integrated MSA Health Check tool and apply online firmware and media updates as recommended to maintain performance and reliability.

What to consider before purchase

• Required host connectivity (Fibre Channel vs iSCSI) and switch compatibility
• Desired balance of performance vs capacity — all-flash vs mixed HDD/SSD configurations
• Rack space (2U) and power/cooling capacity in your data center
• Scalability needs if future raw capacity above the configured ~23 TB is expected

Recommendations

For best results, pair the HPE MSA 2070 SFF with HPE ProLiant servers and use the recommended Fibre Channel or 10/25 GbE iSCSI connectivity. Choose all-flash configurations for latency-sensitive workloads and consider mixed media only when higher raw capacity at lower cost is required. Regularly run the MSA Health Check and apply firmware updates to ensure stability and performance.