HPE MSA 1040
The HPE MSA 1040 is an entry-level 2U dual-controller shared storage array designed for budget-conscious small and medium businesses. Offering dedicated Fibre Channel, 1GbE iSCSI, or 12G SAS connectivity options, the MSA 1040 provides reliable shared block storage for VMware, Hyper-V, and bare-metal Windows and Linux clusters, allowing organizations to deploy shared storage without enterprise SAN complexity.
Specifications
| Brand | HPE |
|---|---|
| Family | MSA |
| Form factor | 2U rack entry SAN |
| Released | Mar 2014 |
| End of sale | Sep 2017 |
| End of support | Sep 2022 |
| Form factor | 2U 12-drive LFF or 24-drive SFF chassis |
| Controllers | Dual hot-swappable active-active RAID controllers |
| Host interfaces | 2-port 8Gb FC, 2-port 1GbE iSCSI, or 2-port 12G SAS per controller |
| Cache | 4GB total system cache (2GB per controller) |
| Max drives | Up to 99 drives with expansion enclosures |
| Raid levels | RAID 1, 5, 6, 10, and 50 |
Generations
- Next generation: HPE MSA 1050
Works together
How the HPE MSA 1040 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
Fibre Channel SAN
Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).
Servers
HPE ProLiant DL120 Gen9 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL160 Gen9 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL180 Gen9 2U rack
HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen9 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 2U rack
HPE ProLiant DL60 Gen9 1U rack
Adapters for the server
P9D94A HPE StoreFabric SN1200E 16Gb 2-port Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
P9M76A HPE StoreFabric SN1600Q 32Gb 2-port Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
Q0L13A HPE StoreFabric SN1600E 32Gb 1-port Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
Q0L14A HPE StoreFabric SN1600E 32Gb 2-port Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
Switches
HPE StoreFabric SN3600B 1U rack
HPE StoreFabric SN6600B 1U rack
HPE StoreFabric SN6700B 1U rack
Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148S 1U
Optics
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16Gb Shortwave SFP+ Optical Transceiver
57-1000333-01 Brocade 32Gb Longwave 10km SFP28 Optical Transceiver
57-1000487-01 Brocade 32Gb Shortwave SFP28 Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- SAN transport and NVMe over FC for backup mrplanb.com
- What an hour of downtime costs outagecost.org
- HPE SPOCK (HPE storage compatibility) hpe.com
Check compatibility with HPE
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that HPE has tested with the HPE MSA 1040.
- Compatibility HPE SPOCK (storage, SAN and host compatibility)
- Part lookup HPE PartSurfer (spare and option part numbers)
- Support HPE Support Center
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
Can the MSA 1040 controllers be upgraded to MSA 2040?
Yes, MSA 1040 chassis support data-in-place controller upgrades to MSA 2040 controllers for higher throughput and SSD tiering.
Does the MSA 1040 support solid-state drives?
While SATA and SAS HDDs are primary, firmware updates added read cache SSD support, though active sub-LUN tiering requires the MSA 2040.
Buying or selling MSA 1040?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- HPE MSA 1040 QuickSpecs (MSA 1040 Storage System QuickSpecs), checked 2026-10-27
- HPE MSA 1040 Overview and Technical Specifications, checked 2026-10-27