HPE MSA Reviews

We use HPE MSA as storage for the VMware servers, and we will try to use Proxmox server later on, but currently, we use VMware.

It allows vmotion, a better use of disk space, speed and responsiveness, good protection of data.

The most useful feature of HPE MSA is VAAI, which are the functions embedded in the system, allowing operations on the server or storage without using server CPU, making it easier. It is really transparent; it's a feature so you use it and forget it.

I am using the HPE MSA automatic tiering feature, and it works very well. Hot data is always available in a fast way.

We put NVMe drives in HPE MSA to have flash storage for cache and then we use several disks with different grades, enterprise and different speeds. We had pools that we put together, and the data goes directly to the right pool, making the hot data always directly available. It is really transparent; you just activate the tiering, and it is automatic.

The user web interface is a bit slow, but it is really easy to use, although you still have to wait a bit when you send an operation.

We have had some drive failures, but with the redundancy, we had no data loss. We just had to replace the disk, and it goes automatically well. The main difficulty is the firmware upgrade of disks, as it means stopping all the servers to make the upgrade. It would be beneficial to have it done in the background, stopping a disk and upgrading it while keeping the system running.

Regarding responsiveness of the web interface, the same issue exists with iLO on the servers, where the interface is also a bit slow. However, with the new servers, it is always faster. The small CPU dedicated to that task does not have a lot of power since it is not the main task of the machine, making it less of a real problem and just a question of responsiveness.

I have been working with HPE MSA for about 10 years.

HPE MSA is sufficient for our use, as we only have about 100 terabytes of data. It is not that much regarding what can be done, but for us, it is enough, and the system is well-dimensioned, so we have no problems with this, and it is fast enough for what we do. Never had a performance problem with storage. Every VM has the responsiveness better than local storage. The performance with the new hardware will be certainly better, as I saw it in the specs, so it would be nice to have the new hardware.

It is easy to adapt HPE MSA in relation to our organization's storage needs, as you may add storage and dedicate it to any volume you want, and it is really easy to use.

I have contacted HP support for issues, and with the contract, we have support directly from HP. When there is a problem, they are very responsive and come directly the next business day with the spare part, and it is replaced without a problem. It is really well done, and we have no problem with this; we are really confident with HP regarding that matter.

Positive

I worked before with IBM; it was good products also, but I changed to HP due to the contract, and it is also very good hardware.

The setup for HPE MSA is really easy because we use recognized programs VMware, and they have a good partnership with them, so it is not really difficult to put all together. If I want to use another program Proxmox due to the changes in VMware pricing, we are really looking for that solution. It is not currently recognized officially as a solution, so it will probably be not as easy to implement, and it would be beneficial if HP worked on it to make their system available for others.

We do it all in-house.

It certainly shows a return on investment with HPE MSA, but we have framework contracts with special prices for the HP hardware, so I am not sure that our return on investment calculation corresponds to what other people should have. We certainly have a better return.

I did not compare the cost of HPE MSA with others because we buy with a framework contract, and HP is the only brand available on that contract, so we have no comparison.

HP should make the system available for other virtualization software apart from VMware. I see a lot of information about people moving from VMware or looking for other solutions because it becomes too expensive for SMB usage. You may choose Proxmox for instance as an enterprise solution with support. It is always difficult for them to be aware of all the hardware available outside, so it would be beneficial if HP worked with Proxmox to establish good drivers and documentation to improve the setup, making it easier and well-documented.

For those who are planning to use HPE MSA, it is small business oriented, but it is a really good project because once you buy it, it could probably be a bit expensive for others, but once you put it in place, you just forget it, only reminded when you are at the end of the storage and need to add storage, which is easy to manage, and you may build on it, and that is important for companies.

It is fast and efficient with your storage. You use all your disk storage and grow easily when more space is needed.

I would rate HPE MSA a ten out of ten; we are really happy with the solution, as it corresponds to our needs and is very professional for what it is. The integration with Veeamware, with VAM for backup, is improved with the new version.

They are using HPE MSA for file storage and running VMs.

The solution is quite solid. The solution provides low downtime which is important to mention.

HPE MSA is a very flexible array because we can add more enclosures and extend the capacity dynamically.

In terms of disaster recovery, we can define global spares in HPE MSA. When one disk fails, a global spare is automatically allocated to that particular disk, which saves the data.

It has a very user-friendly interface that enables configuration, administration, and troubleshooting to be done easily.

It is the most cost-effective storage array and requires minimal maintenance with low downtime, making it suitable for SMB users.

If it could be a hybrid with SSDs and hard disks, then it would be more economical and efficient.

I have been using it for the last three years.

It is a very stable product.

The solution is scalable.

The durability and usability are excellent. Anyone who purchases HPE MSA can use it for at least 10 years, even after the device reaches end of life. It is more profitable to use HPE MSA because if you run out of space, you can expand the capacity of the array using expansion enclosures, making it more flexible and profitable.

They are responsive and provide very good service.

Positive

I have only worked with XtremeIO, which is an all-flash storage solution.

P2000 is an alternative solution.

P2000 has become legacy and we can't find spare parts for it anymore. The life cycle is very low.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this solution an 8 when compared with all-flash storage and newer products, as it is an older product.

Neutral

We use HPE MSA for our virtualization environment.

The solution is scalable and easy to manage.

We faced a lot of challenges with our custom configuration during installation. At the time of deployment, there was some communication gap between my partner and HPE.

I have been using HPE MSA for five years.

We didn’t face any stability issues with the solution.

HPE MSA is a highly scalable solution. Around 300 users use the solution in our organization.

We previously used the HPE P2000 entry-level storage. We decided to switch to HPE MSA because of a tech revamp and because we required a scalable solution. We chose HPE MSA because we decided to go with virtualization.

We didn't face any issues with the technical functionality. However, we faced a lot of challenges with our custom configuration. The HPE support person who did the installation was very technical. He answered all the queries, and we resolved the entire setup. We set up the storage as per our requirements.

We previously used a physical server instead of virtualization. With the help of an HPE engineer and partners, we prepared a strategy for migrating the entire physical servers to our virtualization infrastructure. It took two days to deploy the solution. Six people were involved in the solution's deployment, including two from HPE and four from our IT team.

We have seen a return on investment with HPE MSA.

The solution’s pricing is reasonable.

Before choosing HPE MSA, we evaluated Dell Storage. Although both solutions are the same on the technical side, Dell Storage's pricing is higher than that of HPE MSA.

We previously did not use storage for our HA environment. Installing and using storage has benefited our HA environment. HPE MSA is easy to set up, and we also use it as a backup solution. We are not facing any issues with the solution's integration. We did not face any issues with the solution's maintenance. I would recommend the solution to other users.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

I have been using HPE MSA for storage area network purposes.

Generally, HPE MSA has improved my storage management. It has notably provided scalability benefits.

It needs more details on how to integrate with the cloud for backup scenarios. It should show more options for cloud backup support.

The scalability benefits I have seen from using HPE MSA are noteworthy.

I would rate their support as eight out of ten. They should work on their response time and overall competence.

Positive

HP MSA has provided a return on investment for storage needs, saving me money approximately.

I am not satisfied with the licensing model and pricing.

I would recommend HPE MSA for the midrange, not for big businesses. 

My overall rating for HPE MSA is seven out of ten.

MSA performs exceptionally well, particularly in regions with frequent power outages. It reliably restarts without issues after shutdowns caused by power interruptions, such as when a UPS depletes its battery or a generator fails to start.

The platform’s monitoring capabilities could be enhanced, particularly in terms of integration with other tools. While it works seamlessly with PRTG, integrating with Zabbix requires a custom OID.

The platform remains very stable, even under challenging conditions like power outages.

I rate the platform scalability a ten out of ten.

We experienced a significant issue with an old unit's failed disk, which took 22 days to recover. Nevertheless, HPE's customer service was excellent in resolving the problem.

Positive

The setup process was quite straightforward. I would rate it an eight in terms of ease. The longest deployment took five days due to power outages; otherwise, it would have taken around three days.

We implemented the product through an in-house team, which included a project leader, a storage specialist, and a tier-one technician. Their expertise ensured a smooth deployment process.

We evaluated NetApp and Pure Storage. Although HPE is more expensive, we prioritize offering reliable and cost-effective solutions to our clients.

We are well-acquainted with HPE products, which we frequently recommend. However, brands like NetApp focus solely on storage and have faster improvement cycles. HPE's broader product range results in a slower improvement process.

MSA has facilitated our growth effectively. For instance, we expanded our storage capacity smoothly by adding more MSA 2040 units to accommodate additional drives.

While HPE products are more expensive, they have enabled us to implement clusters and migrate clients to new technologies efficiently.

I would recommend the MSA for its reliability. However, it is priced higher, and its improvement rate is slower compared to brands focused exclusively on storage.

Overall, I rate it an eight out of ten.

We use the solution for data storage.

HPE offers the flexibility of the ports in terms of connection using iSAPI, private channels, or anything else.

It would be beneficial to have direct cloud connectivity for backups, micro applications, and other data needs. However, these features are only available in enterprise-level solutions, not SMB ones. The products are available, but the pricing makes them unaffordable for many small and medium businesses. If the technology could trickle down to this level, it would allow many more organizations to benefit from these solutions.

I have been using HPE StorageWorks MSA as a customer for more than 10 years. We are using the latest version of the solution.

The product is stable.

I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.

More than 300 users are using this solution every day.

I rate the solution’s scalability a five out of ten.

The old solution was getting older. We upgraded to a newer solution. It's tech refresh.

The deployment depends on the configuration but requires two people and a week.

I rate the initial setup a seven out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

A system integrator does the deployment. We did not do it ourselves, so we outsourced.

There's a certain cost of doing business. We have a central storage system where we spin up multiple servers and then work on it.

If we don't do it, we would rather spend more than what it would save us. From that perspective, there is a return on investment. It is an optimized solution.

The product has a license, and its cost depends on the features.

I rate the product’s pricing a four to five out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

The solution’s maintenance is almost negligible.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

We use HPE StorageWorks MSA for fiber-based storage. It is used for production servers like file servers and SQL databases as email exchange, email before on-premise. The solution is also used as an active directory for virtual machines.

HPE StorageWorks MSA is an entry-level, cost-effective solution for SMB customers. Compared to other solutions like Nimble, EVA, and 3PAR, there are not many features in HPE StorageWorks MSA. HPE StorageWorks MSA is a straightforward storage.

HPE StorageWorks MSA should add features like adaptive features and storage replication. The solution's license should be integrated and not separate.

I have been working with HPE StorageWorks MSA for 15 years.

HPE StorageWorks MSA is the most stable solution.

There are models that are scalable. So you just have to choose which model you are going to recommend to customers based on the sizing. More than 20 of our customers are using HPE StorageWorks MSA.

HPE StorageWorks MSA's technical support is quite responsive in Saudi. So we don't have any issues with our customers regarding technical support.

The solution's initial setup is straightforward. Once you get the IP address, you can easily create these groups and add a host.

It takes around 30 to 50 minutes to deploy the solution. As long as you assign the management IP, the deployment process will be straightforward.

HPE StorageWorks MSA's licensing is perpetual and not integrated.

One engineer is enough for the deployment and maintenance of HPE StorageWorks MSA.

HPE StorageWorks MSA is the best and most cost-effective solution for SMB customers. However, it is not recommended for enterprise customers.

Overall, I rate HPE StorageWorks MSA ten out of ten.

Mostly, customers in Pakistan use MSA for small to medium business solutions. It's easy to use and doesn't require significant technical expertise to configure or use.

The most valuable feature for customers is the autonomic tiering, which enhances their storage scalability as easily as possible. 

Additionally, the MSA DBplus is a very good option for customers to scale their storage. MSA is cheap and scalable compared to other solutions, making it a solid and cost-effective choice.

HPE should reintroduce customizable ports as they were in Gen 5, allowing customers to use both iSCSI or SC on a single controller. 

Currently, in Gen 6, if a user wants iSCSI, they need a separate controller and storage.

I have been working with HPE and data storage solutions for the past three years.

There have been no stability issues faced to date. Customers and partners have been satisfied with the stability of the solution.

In MSA DBplus, scalability is suitable for every type of customer, allowing them to expand storage with just a single drive. I would rate the scalability as eight out of ten.

HPE provides good customer support, and whenever any issues arise, support personnel are quick to assist. However, incorporating more tools for exploring MSA and integrating it with HP InfoSight would enhance support.

The initial setup of HPE MSA is easy. Anyone with basic SAN and server knowledge can configure it. I would rate the ease of setup as nine out of ten.

Customers have experienced cost savings with MSA since it's an entry-level storage option that is more affordable compared to others.

No extensive expertise is required to use HPE MSA. Anyone with basic knowledge of SAN can use it effectively. 

I rate HPE MSA nine out of ten overall.

I use HPE StorageWorks MSA for my data center needs. I combine the storage with server services and software to create a centralized environment. By connecting everything in the network and setting up a virtual environment for servers, I manage data storage and server resources for improved performance and centralization.

The most valuable feature of HPE StorageWorks MSA is its flexibility. I appreciate the range of options for power supplies, CPUs, and fast 10-gigabit network connections, including both optical and Ethernet. This flexibility allows me to configure the system according to specific needs, with various options for internet ports.

While HPE StorageWorks MSA meets my needs well, some clients have suggested room for improvement in expanding storage capacity beyond the base traces. There has been occasional feedback about minor glitches and the desire for even greater scalability, possibly accommodating more than the current limit of 138 hard drives for advanced storage configurations.

I have been working with HPE StorageWorks MSA for over ten years.

I would rate the stability of the product as a ten out of ten. 

I find HPE StorageWorks MSA's scalability somewhat limited. While it is expensive, the main drawback is that the configuration, especially for connections, is fixed. Once set, you can't change or expand certain aspects like network ports, CPU, and memory. While you can expand storage capacity, it lacks flexibility in modifying the initial setup, making it less adaptable to changing needs. I would recommend HPE StorageWorks MSA for small to medium-sized enterprises. It might be less suitable for larger companies with more extensive storage needs, where more advanced solutions could be necessary.

The technical support is excellent. A ten out of ten.

Positive

I prefer HPE StorageWorks MSA over EMC (now Dell) for my data center setup. It is easier and more compatible when using products from the same vendor, ensuring a unified and well-integrated system.

Setting up HPE StorageWorks MSA, including the NTA, is straightforward, thanks to HP's user-friendly configuration process. The step-by-step wizard simplifies the process, and even without it, configuration is manageable. Good support from HP adds to the ease of setup, making it accessible for those familiar with the process.

HPE StorageWorks MSA is a bit expensive, starting at over 10,000 euros. This might be a hurdle for small businesses. Lowering the price could make it more accessible, especially when considering alternative, more budget-friendly storage options.

Overall, I would rate HPE StorageWorks MSA as a ten out of ten.