How to configure Z8 G4 to store large amount of data on fast SAS HDD's?

[joselso]

Since year 2012 I enjoy the use of HP Z820.

I store a large amount of data on 2 RAID-1 pairs of fast SAS hard disks:
A pair of 600 GB HDD's model VM647AA (15000 rpm) (Configured To Order by HP as models QJ705AV and QJ717AV);
and a pair of 1.2 TB SAS SFF HDD's, HP model E2P04AA (10000 rpm).
All 4 SAS HDD's are controlled by LSI MegaRAID 9260-8i SAS 6Gb/s RAID Card - HP model QG206AV (also available as HP model WE465AA).

The next natural model of HP workstation to upgrade to, when the Z820 will practically reach 'end of life', should be HP Z8 G4 workstation.

However, the latest QuickSpecs for Z8 G4, url: http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c05527763
 offer only a small-capacity 300 GB 15k SAS HDD - HP model L5B74AA, to be controlled by MicroSemi SmartHBA2100-4i4e SAS Controller - HP model 1FV90AA.

Furthermore, when I try to customize the HP® Z8 G4 Workstation in its Customizable website, url: https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-z8-g4-workstation-customizable-z3z16av-1
and I include two 300 GB 15k rpm SAS SFF HDD's with the corresponding MicroSemi SAS Controller, the website does not allow me to add more of the same kind of SAS HDD's.
This limitation occurs whether I choose to place the Internal Operating System Load onto M.2 512 GB SSD, or I choose to place it onto SATA 512 GB 2.5" SSD.
(note that I did not include any preconfigured RAID feature in these trial customizations; this I will have to configure myself using the SAS controller if it is, hopefully, capable.)

Now, my questions are:
1. Will I be able to use 1.2 TB SAS SFF HDD's HP model E2P04AA (10000 rpm) instead of the small 300 GB HDD's in a Z8 G4 workstation, with the MicroSemi SAS controller?

2. Does HP intend to add larger-capacity SAS HDD's to the list of options for customizing the Z8 G4 workstation?

3. Will the Z8 G4 'be willing' to accommodate an LSI MegaRAID 9260-8i SAS 6Gb/s RAID Card - HP model QG206AV/WE465AA, which has proven to operate favourably with the larger-capacity SAS HDD's? (or the later version of SAS controller, LSI 9270-8i ?)

Naturally I would prefer to rely on fully HP-customized Z8 G4 workstation that will fulfil my needs, rather than take the risk of unsuitable configurations done by myself.

Please advise.

[DGroves · Accepted solution]

due to the shear number of parts a system can be built from, HP has to decide which parts they wish to offer and test as a factory approved part

other SAS drive models of various sizes will work in a  Z8 series but they are not offered or supported by HP using the HP approved SAS controller card.

as such there does exist the possibility of a drive issue between the SAS drive and SAS controller card, however this is extremly unlikely and your current SAS drives (and others) should work fine on the z8's HP SAS card

sas drives are no longer the perfered storage interface for nearline drives, they have been superceeded by enterprise class SATA interface drives which are just as fast and offer almost the same feature set 

[joselso]

Thanks for your response.

I do hope that HP will soon modify the 'Customize' website so as to enable more than two SAS HDD's, and of larger capacity.

After all, the MicroSemi SmartHBA2100-4i4e SAS Controller offered by HP can control 4 'internal' HDD's, and the Z8 G4 workstation tower enclosure can handle several HDD's in internal bays.

Note that the same 'Customize' website does allow four 7200 rpm HDD's plus two SATA SSD's to be installed in up to six bays, and there are a few more combinations that are allowed.

Why, then, does it prevent adding a third and a fourth SAS HDD in the internal bays?