HPE MSA 2062 vs HPE MSA 1060: Which Entry SAN Is Right for Your Site?

The HPE MSA 2062 and MSA 1060 are both part of the MSA Gen6 entry storage family, sharing the same 2U chassis, MSA OS management, and RAID/ADAPT data protection. The difference comes down to performance and bundled value: the MSA 2062 ships as a hybrid-flash array with embedded SSDs and more host throughput, while the MSA 1060 is the lowest entry price point in the lineup for first-SAN buyers and remote sites.

Get a quote See the specs

The short answer

Choose the HPE MSA 2062 when you need predictable hybrid-flash performance for small databases, virtualization, or mixed workloads and want bundled SSD capacity plus advanced data services out of the box. Choose the HPE MSA 1060 when budget is the deciding factor and the workload is light file serving, backup staging, or a first SAN at a remote or branch site. For most SMBs running VMs or transactional apps, the 2062 is the better long-term fit; the 1060 wins purely on lowest acquisition cost.

HPE MSA 2062 vs HPE MSA 1060, head to head

HPE MSA 2062

HPE MSA 1060

Positioning

Performance hybrid-flash entry array

Lowest-cost entry block storage

Bundled flash

Ships with embedded SSD capacity (hybrid flash) for read/write accelerationadvantage

No bundled SSD; drives configured to budget

Host connectivity

Four host ports per controller for higher aggregate bandwidthadvantage

Two host ports per controller (four per array)

Raw performance

Higher IOPS ceiling with auto-tiering across SSD and HDDadvantage

Solid entry throughput sized for lighter workloads

Entry price

Higher list price due to bundled SSDs and richer feature set

One of the lowest entry price points in HPE storageadvantage

Scalability

Scales with expansion enclosures to large mixed-media capacityadvantage

Scales with expansion enclosures; ample for small/branch sites

Data services

Advanced data services included (tiering, snapshots, thin provisioning)advantage

Core MSA data services included

Management

MSA OS, GUI, REST API, ProLiant compatibility

Identical MSA OS, GUI, REST API, ProLiant compatibility

Specifications side by side

Family: HPE MSA Gen6 (hybrid-flash performance); HPE MSA Gen6 (entry)
Controllers: Dual active/active, hot-swappable; Dual active/active, hot-swappable
Cache per controller: 12 GB; 12 GB
Host ports: 4 per controller; 2 per controller (4 per array)
Host protocols: 8/16 Gb FC, 10GbE/10GBASE-T iSCSI, 12 Gb SAS; 8/16 Gb FC, 1/10 Gb iSCSI, 12 Gb SAS
Bundled capacity: Embedded SSD (hybrid flash) at purchase; Smart Choice models from ~14.4 TB raw
Drive form factors: SFF (2U24) and LFF (2U12) enclosures; SFF (2U24) and LFF (2U12) enclosures
Media support: SSD, Enterprise SAS HDD, Midline SAS HDD; SSD, Enterprise SAS HDD, Midline SAS HDD
Peak IOPS (array): Up to ~395,000 IOPS; Lower; sized for entry workloads
RAID levels: RAID 1, 5, 6, 10 and HPE ADAPT; RAID 1, 5, 6, 10 and HPE ADAPT
Management: MSA OS, web GUI, CLI, REST API; MSA OS, web GUI, CLI, REST API
Form factor: 2U rack enclosure; 2U rack enclosure

Where HPE MSA 2062 wins

Ships as a hybrid-flash array with embedded SSDs for immediate performance acceleration
Four host ports per controller deliver more aggregate bandwidth for busy hosts
Higher IOPS ceiling with automated tiering across SSD and HDD media
Advanced data services bundled, including tiering, snapshots, and thin provisioning
Best balance of price and performance for SMB virtualization and small databases

Where HPE MSA 1060 wins

One of the lowest entry price points in the entire HPE storage portfolio
Same MSA OS, GUI, REST API, and ProLiant compatibility as the rest of the family
Simple, budget-friendly path to a first SAN for remote and branch sites
Scales with expansion enclosures as a small site grows
Supports FC, iSCSI, and SAS so it drops into nearly any existing fabric

Which one should you buy?

SMB running VMware or Hyper-V with a handful of production VMs

Pick HPE MSA 2062. The bundled SSDs and higher host bandwidth keep VM I/O responsive without manual tiering work.

First SAN for a small business replacing direct-attached storage

Pick HPE MSA 1060. Lowest entry cost and familiar MSA management make it an easy, low-risk first shared-storage step.

Small SQL or transactional database needing consistent low latency

Pick HPE MSA 2062. Hybrid-flash tiering and four host ports per controller deliver the IOPS and bandwidth transactional apps need.

Remote or branch office file serving and backup staging

Pick HPE MSA 1060. Light, predictable workloads do not justify bundled flash, so the 1060 maximizes budget per terabyte.

Growing site that wants headroom to add SSD performance later

Pick HPE MSA 2062. Starting hybrid-flash with expansion support avoids a forklift upgrade as the workload intensifies.

Frequently asked

What is the main difference between the HPE MSA 2062 and MSA 1060?

The MSA 2062 is the hybrid-flash performance member of the MSA Gen6 family, shipping with embedded SSDs and four host ports per controller. The MSA 1060 is the lowest-cost entry array with two host ports per controller and no bundled SSD. Both share the same chassis, MSA OS, and RAID/ADAPT data protection.

Does the MSA 2062 come with SSDs included?

Yes. The MSA 2062 ships as a hybrid-flash array with embedded SSD capacity at purchase, which accelerates reads and writes and enables automated tiering across SSD and HDD media. The MSA 1060 does not bundle SSDs; you configure drives to your budget and workload.

Can the MSA 1060 be upgraded to match the MSA 2062?

You can add SSDs and expansion enclosures to the MSA 1060 to improve performance and capacity, but it retains two host ports per controller and the entry feature set. If you expect sustained mixed workloads, buying the 2062 up front is usually more cost-effective than retrofitting a 1060.

Which host protocols do the MSA 2062 and MSA 1060 support?

Both support Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and 12 Gb SAS, so they fit FC, Ethernet, or direct-attach SAS environments. The 2062 offers four host ports per controller for more aggregate bandwidth; the 1060 offers two per controller.

Is the MSA 2062 worth the extra cost over the MSA 1060?

For virtualization, small databases, and mixed I/O, yes. The bundled SSDs, higher IOPS ceiling, and extra host ports of the 2062 deliver materially better performance. For light file serving or a budget-driven first SAN, the 1060 is the smarter spend.

Do both arrays use the same management software?

Yes. Both run HPE MSA OS with the same web GUI, CLI, and REST API, and both carry field-proven HPE ProLiant compatibility. Skills and automation transfer directly between the two arrays.

Can Uniqcli source the MSA 2062 and MSA 1060 on TAA-compliant GPC, SAP, or FAR-based orders?

Yes. As an authorized HPE reseller, we can source both the MSA 2062 and MSA 1060 with TAA-compliant configurations and quote through GPC, SAP, FAR, and other public-sector vehicles. Contact us for contract pricing and lead times.

How much can each array scale?

Both scale beyond the base 2U enclosure by adding expansion shelves with SSD, Enterprise SAS, or Midline SAS drives. The 2062 is positioned for larger mixed-media growth and higher sustained throughput, while the 1060 provides ample headroom for small and branch sites.

Which array is better for a small VMware cluster?

The MSA 2062. Its hybrid-flash design and additional host bandwidth keep VM latency low across multiple hosts, whereas the 1060 is better suited to lighter or single-purpose workloads.

Related comparisons

Model vs model

Build your HPE bill of materials.

Send us the requirement, the project, or an existing quote to beat. We come back with a validated, TAA-compliant HPE configuration and a real price, often below list.

Get a quote Request an RFP / BOM review

connect [at] getuniqcli.com · Chicago, IL