HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers and Smart host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9, new and refurbished. Blade storage is a two-bay affair, so the whole decision comes down to cache: the Smart Array P244br carries 1GB of flash backed write cache and the H244br Smart HBA carries none, and both drive the same pair of bays.
BL460c Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Smart Array P244br/1GB FBWC: 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA on an x8 PCIe 3.0 server interface, 1GB flash backed write cache as standard, RAID 0, 1 and 10, up to 64 logical drives
- Smart HBA H244br: the same 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA interface on x8 PCIe 3.0, no cache, RAID 0 and RAID 1, up to 64 logical drives
- Embedded B140i: HPE Dynamic Smart Array on an embedded x4 PCIe 2.0 link, two internal 6Gb/s SATA ports, no cache, RAID 0 and RAID 1, up to 10 logical volumes across the two drives
- Cache protection: the blade carries an HPE BLc 12W Smart Storage Battery connector, which backs the P244br's flash backed write cache
- RAID on the B140i: HPE calls for the FIO B140i RAID Enable Kit BIOS setting (784308-B21) where RAID is required on the embedded controller
- Storage and expansion blades: HPE specifies the Smart Array P246br where a PCI expansion blade or a D2220sb storage blade is used with this server
The choice here is cache, not capability. The Smart Array P244br and the H244br Smart HBA both run the same two bays over 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA on x8 PCIe 3.0; the P244br adds 1GB of flash backed write cache and RAID 10, the H244br has no cache at all. Neither brings RAID 5 to this platform, and neither adds a third bay.
P244br or H244br?
| Controller | Cache | RAID levels | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Array P244br | 1GB flash backed write cache | 0, 1, 10 | A mirrored pair carrying real write traffic |
| Smart HBA H244br | None | 0, 1 | Boot drives, or storage the OS or hypervisor manages itself |
| Dynamic Smart Array B140i | None | 0, 1 | SATA only, already on the board, no card to buy |
None of the three adds a bay, and none brings RAID 5 to this platform — the documented RAID levels stop at 0, 1 and 10. What the P244br buys is the 1GB flash backed write cache that stops a mirrored pair stalling under write bursts. If the blade boots locally and does its real work over the network or the SAN, the H244br does the same job with no cache to protect.
Choosing the Right BL460c Gen9 Storage Controller
- Decide whether write cache earns its keep. On a blade that boots locally and runs everything else from shared storage it usually does not; on one whose two drives carry logs or a database volume it usually does.
- Flash backed cache depends on its battery. An aged or absent 12W Smart Storage Battery turns a cached P244br into an uncached one.
- Check what the blade already has. HPE shipped these with a P244br, an H244br or nothing but the embedded B140i, and the B140i needs its BIOS setting enabled before it presents RAID at all.
- NVMe does not run behind these cards. The Gen9 NVMe factory setting is documented as incompatible with the P244br, P246br and H244br.
- A storage or expansion blade changes the answer. HPE specifies the P246br for those, not the P244br.
Complete Your BL460c Gen9 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see BL460c Gen9 drives for what the pair will hold. Also available: BL460c Gen9 memory, processors and networking adapters, or the full BL460c Gen9 parts listing, which also carries the 16Gb Fibre Channel mezzanine host bus adapters for SAN storage. The adjacent generation is the BL460c Gen10 storage controllers page. Background reading: what HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers are and the HPE parts by server model index.
BL460c Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the BL460c Gen9 use?
One of three. The Smart Array P244br with 1GB flash backed write cache, the H244br Smart host bus adapter with no cache, or the embedded B140i chipset SATA controller. All three cover the two drive bays.
Does the BL460c Gen9 support RAID 5?
No. HPE documents RAID 0, 1 and 10 for the P244br and RAID 0 and 1 for the H244br and B140i. Two drive bays leaves nothing for a RAID 5 set to stripe parity across.
What is the difference between the P244br and the H244br?
Cache. Both are 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA controllers on x8 PCIe 3.0 supporting up to 64 logical drives, but the P244br carries a 1GB flash backed write cache and adds RAID 10, where the H244br has no cache and does RAID 0 and 1.
Do I need the Smart Storage Battery?
If the blade runs a P244br, yes. Its flash backed write cache is protected by the HPE BLc 12W Smart Storage Battery that connects on the blade.
Can I use the embedded B140i instead of buying a controller?
Yes, for SATA drives. The B140i is chipset SATA on an embedded x4 PCIe 2.0 link with no cache, doing RAID 0 and 1 across up to 10 logical volumes. HPE requires the FIO B140i RAID Enable Kit BIOS setting before RAID is available on it.
What controller does a D2220sb storage blade need?
HPE specifies the Smart Array P246br where a PCI expansion blade or a D2220sb storage blade is used with the BL460c Gen9, rather than the P244br.
✅ Looking for a specific BL460c Gen9 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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