656102-001 HP MSA2 3-TB 6G 7.2K 3.5 DP MDL SAS

Description:
HP MSA/MSA2 3TB 3.5-inch LFF SAS 6Gb/s 7.2K RPM
Dual Port (DP) Midline (MDL) Hot-Plug Hard Drive
In HP MSA/MSA2 Hard Drive tray w/interposer connector (as pictured)
For HP MSA1040 MSA2040 MSA2000/i and P2000 SAN Storage Arrays
Genuine HP serial number and MSA/MSA2 firmware
Genuine HP manufactured Hard Drive

Part Number(s)
Option Part# QK703A
Spare Part# 656102-001
Assembly Part# 658430-001
Model# ST33000650SS

Overview:
HP MSA2 / MSA2000 controller enclosures and large form factor expansion enclosures accept unique HP SAS disk drive modules with different firmware and different trays than other HP storage arrays and Proliant servers. The disk drives have SAS interposers attached to the back which convert the native dual port SAS interface to an SCA-40 connector. While this SCA-40 connector has the same shape as a Fibre Channel (FC) connector, the drives are NOT utilizing the FC protocol. If you look closely at the interposer, the circuitry is rather simplistic and no bridge / translator chip is attached. The interposer is, more or less, acting as a signal filter and port relocator to connect to the MSA2’s proprietary backplane.