HPE ProLiant DL120 Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers and Smart Host Bus Adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL120 Gen9, new and refurbished. This is the page that unlocks the rest of the server: the embedded Dynamic Smart Array B140i is a SATA-only controller that also runs in UEFI mode only, so SAS drives, write cache and legacy boot all begin with a card in one of the PCIe slots.
DL120 Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i on entry models — SATA protocol only, 6Gb/s, RAID 0, 1, 1+0 and 5, with no expander support
- Embedded limits: the B140i operates in UEFI mode only, and HPE records SmartCache and Secure Encryption as not supported on it
- Base model controller: HPE H240 Smart Host Bus Adapter, 12Gb, two internal ports, up to 8 SAS or SATA drives with RAID 0, 1, 1+0 and 5
- External Smart HBA: HPE H241, 12Gb with two external ports, for storage outside the chassis
- Smart Array cards: P440 with 4GB flash backed write cache and one internal 12Gb port, and P441 with 4GB FBWC and two external 12Gb ports
- Battery: the 96W Smart Storage Battery is mandatory with HPE Smart Array controllers, and one per server covers every Smart Array card in it
- Cabling: HPE documents a SAS cable kit matched to the chassis and controller, with separate kits for the 4LFF and 8SFF front ends
The embedded controller does not speak SAS. HPE documents the B140i storage protocol support as SATA only, up to eight drives, and records it as running in UEFI mode only. SAS drives, write cache and Legacy BIOS boot all start with a card — and any Smart Array card also requires the 96W Smart Storage Battery, which HPE lists as mandatory.
Which Controller Does Your DL120 Gen9 Need?
| Controller | Ports | Drives it addresses | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| B140i (embedded) | Internal, on the system board | Up to 8 SATA | Nothing to buy, but no SAS and no cache |
| H240 Smart HBA | 2 internal | Up to 8 SAS or SATA | SAS support and 12Gb signalling |
| Smart Array P440 | 1 internal | The internal bays | 4GB flash backed write cache |
| H241 Smart HBA | 2 external | An external enclosure | SAS outside the chassis, no cache |
| Smart Array P441 | 2 external | An external enclosure | 4GB FBWC on external storage |
The first question here is not cache, it is protocol: the embedded controller does not speak SAS, so a machine with SAS drives in front of it already has a card, and a machine without one is limited to SATA. The second question is internal against external, and only then does write cache come into it. Whichever Smart Array card you choose, budget for the Smart Storage Battery as well, and for the SAS cable kit that matches your chassis.
Choosing the Right DL120 Gen9 Storage Controller
- SAS drives make the card compulsory. No amount of firmware turns the B140i into a SAS controller; it is a SATA part by design.
- The Smart Storage Battery is not optional. HPE documents it as mandatorily required with Smart Array controllers, and one per server covers them all.
- Decide internal or external before the model number. The P441 and H241 present their ports outside the chassis and will not drive the internal backplane.
- Count your slots first. One low-profile PCIe 3.0 slot is standard here, so a controller and a network card is already a riser-kit conversation.
- Legacy boot is a controller decision too. The B140i runs in UEFI mode only, so a workload that needs Legacy BIOS boot needs an add-in card whatever the drives are.
Complete Your DL120 Gen9 Build
Controllers and drives are one decision on this platform — see DL120 Gen9 drives for what the bays will hold. Also available: DL120 Gen9 memory, networking adapters, power supplies and processors, or the full DL120 Gen9 parts listing. Background reading: what HPE Smart Array controllers do. Other models are listed under HPE parts by server model.
DL120 Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which storage controller does the DL120 Gen9 come with?
Entry models carry the embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i; base models ship the H240 Smart Host Bus Adapter instead. Both support RAID 0, 1, 1+0 and 5 across up to eight drives.
Does the B140i support SAS drives?
No. HPE documents the B140i storage protocol support as SATA only. SAS needs an H240 Smart HBA or a Smart Array P440.
Do I need a Smart Storage Battery?
Yes, with any HPE Smart Array controller - HPE lists the 96W Smart Storage Battery as mandatorily required. One per server covers every Smart Array controller in it.
What is the difference between the H240 and the Smart Array P440?
The H240 is a Smart HBA with two internal 12Gb ports and no cache. The P440 is a Smart Array controller with one internal 12Gb port and 4GB of flash backed write cache.
Can I connect external storage to a DL120 Gen9?
Yes. The H241 Smart HBA and the Smart Array P441 each provide two external 12Gb SAS ports, the P441 with 4GB of flash backed write cache.
Does the embedded controller support Legacy BIOS boot?
No. HPE states that the B140i operates in UEFI only mode, and that legacy support needs an additional controller.
✅ Looking for a specific DL120 Gen9 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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