HPE Nimble Storage
HPE Nimble Storage HF and AF Series — Tested and Certified
Enterasource stocks refurbished HPE Nimble Storage arrays across the HF hybrid flash, AF all-flash, and CS cache-optimized series. Nimble arrays are built on a single controller architecture with unified management through HPE InfoSight — the predictive analytics platform that monitors storage health and predicts issues before they impact workloads. All systems ship with controllers verified operational, drives health-checked, and InfoSight connectivity confirmed.
HPE Nimble is one of the most operationally reliable storage platforms available in the refurbished market. Nimble’s guaranteed 99.9999% availability (six nines) reflects its CASL (Cache Accelerated Sequential Layout) architecture, which separates random write performance from sequential read performance through a tiered write path. The result is consistent low-latency performance across mixed workloads without the cost of a fully all-flash deployment.
Expansion shelves (ES1, ES2, AFS2) are in stock separately. All arrays include a 2-year warranty. Free shipping to the lower 48 states. Browse by series or return to enterprise storage to compare platforms.
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HPE Nimble Storage AF3000 All Flash Array 57TB SSD | AF3000-2P-57T-2Availability: Available by QuoteManufacturer: HPE Condition: R660 1 Year WarrantyRequest PricingOut of stock - HPE Nimble Storage AF40 All Flash Array 57TB SSD, 2x 16Gb FC | AF40-2F-57T-2Availability: Available by QuoteManufacturer: HPE Nimble Storage Condition: R660 1 Year WarrantyRequest PricingOut of stock
HPE Nimble Storage Series Guide
Nimble’s product line covers three primary configurations. The choice between them depends on latency requirements, budget, and the mix of sequential vs random I/O in your workload.
| Series | Media Type | Flash Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF (All-Flash) | SSD only | Varies by model (AF20, AF40, AF60, AF80) | Sub-millisecond latency, VDI, high-IOPS databases |
| HF (Hybrid Flash) | SSD + HDD | SSD read/write cache + SAS HDD capacity | Mixed workloads, VMware, NAS replacement, general enterprise |
| CS (Cache-Optimized) | SSD cache + HDD | SSD cache only; HDD for primary storage | High-capacity, cost-sensitive workloads |
HPE Nimble HF Series — Hybrid Flash Arrays
Nimble HF-series arrays (HF20, HF40, HF60) use a combination of SSD and SAS HDD media with Nimble’s CASL architecture to deliver all-flash-like read performance for most workloads at hybrid prices. The SSD layer handles random writes and frequently accessed data; the HDD layer provides bulk capacity for cold or sequential data. HF arrays are the most commonly deployed Nimble configuration in production environments and represent the best price-to-performance ratio for organizations running mixed workloads.
HF arrays support inline data reduction (compression and deduplication), synchronous and asynchronous replication via Nimble’s Peer Copy and Replication Manager, and full integration with VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and HPE’s CloudBank cloud tiering. HPE InfoSight is included with all Nimble hardware and provides AI-driven predictive analytics across your storage fleet.
HPE Nimble AF Series — All-Flash Arrays
Nimble AF-series arrays (AF20, AF40, AF60, AF80) use SSDs exclusively and are built for workloads that require consistent sub-millisecond latency: VDI desktops, OLTP databases, SQL Server, Oracle, and high-frequency trading platforms. The AF-series shares the same controller platform and management interface as the HF-series, so organizations running a mixed Nimble fleet manage both from a single InfoSight dashboard. Inline data reduction on AF arrays typically delivers 3-4x effective capacity improvement for structured data workloads.
Expansion Shelves: ES1, ES2, and AFS2
Nimble storage arrays scale capacity by adding expansion shelves. The ES1 shelf adds up to 21 x 2TB SAS HDDs to HF and CS systems. The ES2 shelf provides higher-density expansion for larger HF deployments. The AFS2 all-flash expansion shelf scales AF-series arrays with additional SSD capacity. Enterasource stocks expansion shelves separately — contact us with your existing array model to confirm shelf compatibility before ordering.
Migrating to HPE Nimble from a Legacy Array
Organizations migrating from legacy SAN platforms (Dell EqualLogic, older EMC arrays, or 3PAR) to Nimble can use HPE’s storage migration tools or third-party data migration services. Nimble’s iSCSI and Fibre Channel connectivity makes it compatible with most existing SAN switch fabric infrastructure. Enterasource can advise on compatibility between your existing network infrastructure and available Nimble configurations.
- What is HPE Nimble Storage best used for?
- HPE Nimble is best suited for mixed enterprise workloads: VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, SQL Server, Oracle, and VDI. The HF-series handles these workloads at hybrid prices; the AF-series delivers sub-millisecond latency for the most I/O-intensive applications. Nimble’s InfoSight predictive analytics makes it a particularly strong choice for organizations that need proactive storage management rather than reactive troubleshooting.
- Does HPE Nimble Storage support VMware?
- Yes. All Nimble arrays include a VMware VAAI-certified NAS plugin and vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI) support for block storage. Nimble integrates with VMware vCenter for automated snapshot and clone operations. VASA provider support enables VMware Virtual Volumes (vVols) on Nimble arrays.
- Are expansion shelves available for HPE Nimble arrays?
- Yes — Enterasource stocks ES1, ES2, and AFS2 expansion shelves. Contact us with your array model and current capacity to confirm compatible shelf options and drive configurations.
- What is the warranty on refurbished HPE Nimble arrays?
- All HPE Nimble arrays sold by Enterasource include a 2-year warranty covering controller and hardware failures. Extended options up to 5 years are available. Contact us for multi-year warranty pricing on specific configurations.
Need components for an existing Nimble deployment? Browse all enterprise storage or contact us with your specific model and expansion requirements.
