HPE GreenLake for File Storage offers flexible, scalable storage solutions, catering to enterprise needs with on-premises services and a cloud-like experience. It aims to simplify data management while providing operational agility.
HPE GreenLake for File Storage empowers organizations with an on-premises cloud service model, offering a consumption-based approach that aligns costs with demand. It supports various workloads through quick deployment and efficient capacity management, making it suitable for enterprises seeking flexible data storage solutions. Businesses benefit from streamlined operations with a focus on optimizing performance and security.
What are the key features of HPE GreenLake for File Storage?In financial services and healthcare sectors, HPE GreenLake for File Storage is implemented to manage large volumes of sensitive data. Its scalability and security features provide valuable support for compliance and data protection, while the consumption-based model ensures cost control and flexibility in data handling.
I worked on the testing team for GreenLake Storage. We checked for compatibility with different operating systems and platforms and focused on tasks such as creating volumes and CSV files, end-to-end encryption, etc. We test the product on an enterprise scale and smaller-scale projects.
We run long-duration IO for monitoring in a space for 48 hours. In that time, we monitored the storage area's behavior in 24 to 48 hours regarding use case capability and all the parameters.
GreenLake is a fast, reliable platform. You can see the benefits immediately after deployment. Alletra and Primera arrays are reliable on data-intensive workloads. We tested two heavy data flows with high data transactions on both arrays and they had great results.
HPE NVMe drives come in a flash array called Alletra, which is quite good and reliable. Downtime is low, and the speeds are fast. The recovery process is smooth
GreenLake for File Storage provides more security, allowing customized security for different file types. Block Storage can't do that. That's the most intriguing feature I have always looked for in a FlashArray or file system.
The architecture is simple and most of the details are available online, so it's a straightforward system. You can have two or four controllers, depending on your system. You have a number of disks divided between tools. From there, it goes to CFD, and you can create a virtual LAN.
The file system arrays have multiple nodes, so one node automatically comes up if another goes down. The system should allow the primary node to remain the master node and the secondary node to function as a non-master node. HP has already deployed AI in GreenLake's cloud features, but they should also integrate them into the flash array.
None of the HP arrays has a single console. They use two or more controllers, making it challenging to manage them all in a single array. If the controller or the console goes back into an embedded state, it's difficult to track or recover the system that failed.
I have nearly two years of experience with GreenLake. I started with the product's first-phase release.
There were instances where the system went down due to heavy IO or intense data flow. If it's done properly, you can recover a system in one to two hours. In severe cases, it can take four to five hours.
It's highly scalable if you're operating in the same environment and architecture. You can connect around 2 million storage servers to the same architecture, so scaling is not a problem. As your business grows, you will want to scale accordingly.
I have used Dell PowerScale storage and NetApp storage solutions. I haven't spent much time with either, but based on my limited experience with those products, I can say HPE is far better than Dell in terms of user experience, performance, and scalability. I don't have enough experience with NetApp to comment.
Deploying GreenLake isn't that difficult. The product owner typically assembles the physical components. You connect the power and Ethernet cable, then configure it. It takes about an hour, and HPE will manage everything if you buy it from them.
I rate HPE Greenlake for File Storage nine out of 10. Regular maintenance on a quarterly or six-month basis is always good to ensure all components are working properly and to preemptively address any component faults.
