HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV=: How Does Cisco’s High-Capacity SSD Drive Transform HyperFlex HCI Scalability?



​Decoding the HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= Storage Component​

The ​​HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV=​​ is a 7.6TB enterprise-grade SATA SSD engineered for Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series hyperconverged infrastructure systems. Designed for high-density workloads, this drive prioritizes storage efficiency over raw speed, making it ideal for archival, backup, and large-scale virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployments. Unlike NVMe-based HyperFlex drives, it operates on SATA III interfaces, balancing cost and capacity for data-heavy environments.


​Technical Specifications and Target Workloads​

​Capacity and Endurance​

  • ​7.68TB​​ usable storage (8TB raw) with 3D TLC NAND technology
  • ​1 DWPD​​ (Drive Writes Per Day) endurance over 5 years

​Performance Profile​

  • ​Sequential Read/Write​​: 550MB/s (read), 520MB/s (write)
  • ​Random 4K IOPS​​: 95K (read), 24K (write)

​Optimal Use Cases​

  • Secondary storage for HyperFlex clusters (e.g., VMware vSAN datastores)
  • Long-term retention of logs, compliance data, or medical imaging archives
  • Disaster recovery repositories with infrequent access

​Compatibility and HyperFlex Node Support​

The HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= is validated for specific Cisco HyperFlex configurations:

  • ​Supported Nodes​​: HX220c M5, HX240c M5, and HXAF4C-M5 All-Flash systems
  • ​Unsupported Scenarios​​:
    • HyperFlex Edge clusters (M.2-only bays)
    • First-generation HX220c M4 nodes (SAS controller limitations)
  • ​Maximum Drives per Chassis​​: 12 drives in 2U HX240c nodes

​Why Choose SATA SSDs over NVMe in HyperFlex?​

​Cost per Terabyte Advantage​
At ~$0.30/GB, the HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= is ​​60% cheaper​​ than Cisco’s NVMe alternatives (e.g., HCI-NVMEG4-M1536=), making it economical for bulk storage.

​Power Efficiency​
SATA SSDs consume 25% less power per drive compared to NVMe counterparts—critical for multi-petabyte deployments.


​Deployment Strategies for Maximum ROI​

​Tiered Storage Policies​
Pair NVMe drives (for active workloads) with HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= drives (cold data) using HyperFlex’s adaptive tiering.

​RAID Recommendations​

  • ​RAID 6​​: For archival data requiring dual parity protection
  • Avoid mixing SATA and NVMe drives in the same storage pool

​Purchasing and Warranty Considerations​

Cisco sells the HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= as a standalone upgrade, but ensure:

  • HyperFlex software is updated to ​​HXDP 4.0+​​ for SATA III optimization
  • Sufficient drive bays are available (requires 2.5-inch hot-swap trays)

For guaranteed compatibility and Cisco-certified units, refer to the [“HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).


​Performance vs. Capacity: Trade-Off Analysis​

Metric HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= (SATA) HCI-NVMEG4-M1536= (NVMe)
Cost per TB $2,300 $4,100
Random Read IOPS 95K 1.2M
Sequential Throughput 550MB/s 7,000MB/s
Use Case Fit Cold Data Real-Time Analytics

The SATA drive’s 7.68TB capacity allows 30% fewer drives per petabyte compared to 1.5TB NVMe modules, reducing rack space and management overhead.


​Addressing Key User Concerns​

​Q: Can this drive handle SQL Server databases?​
Only for read-heavy secondary databases (e.g., reporting). Avoid write-intensive OLTP workloads.

​Q: Is hardware encryption supported?​
Yes—it features ​​FIPS 140-2 Level 1​​ encryption via Cisco’s SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) capability.

​Q: What’s the mean time between failures (MTBF)?​
2.5M hours, with SMART alerts for predictive replacement.


​Final Assessment​

While NVMe dominates performance discussions, the HCI-SD76TKA1X-EV= fills a strategic niche for enterprises needing affordable, high-density storage without sacrificing HyperFlex’s scalability. Its value shines in hybrid architectures where 80% of data is rarely accessed. However, verify workload patterns before deployment—underestimating I/O demands can lead to bottlenecks that negate cost savings.

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