HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, Smart Host Bus Adapters and cable kits for the HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9, new and refurbished. The controller built into the board is the Dynamic Smart Array B140i, and it is SATA only — so the first question here is whether the array needs SAS, because if it does, a card is not optional.
DL388 Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i, a 10-port SATA controller that operates in UEFI mode only
- Flexible Smart Array: P440ar with 2GB flash backed write cache and two internal 12Gb ports, driving up to eight internal drives without using a PCIe slot, and shipping with the HPE Smart Storage Battery
- Smart Array cards: P440 with 4GB FBWC and one internal port, P840 with 4GB FBWC and two internal ports, and P441 with 4GB FBWC and two external ports
- Smart Host Bus Adapters: H240 and H240ar, both 12Gb with two internal ports and no write cache; the H240ar takes the same dedicated connector as the P440ar rather than a PCIe slot
- Cache backup: the 96W HPE Smart Storage Battery with 145mm cable, backing up to 16 devices and standard with some Flexible Smart Array controllers
- Cabling: seven SAS cable kits, each naming the front end and the controller family it serves, across the 8SFF, 12LFF, front 2SFF and rear 2SFF or 3LFF paths
The embedded controller is SATA only. The Dynamic Smart Array B140i is a 10-port SATA controller that runs in UEFI mode alone, so every SAS drive in this server needs a card behind it — a P440ar, P440 or P840, or an H240 family Smart HBA — together with the cable kit that names both your front end and that controller.
Which Controller Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | Ports and cache | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| B140i, embedded | 10-port SATA, no cache | SATA drives only, and UEFI boot only |
| P440ar | 2 internal 12Gb, 2GB FBWC | SAS or SATA in the chassis without spending a PCIe slot |
| P440, P840 | 1 or 2 internal 12Gb, 4GB FBWC | A PCIe card, for more cache or more internal ports |
| P441 | 2 external 12Gb, 4GB FBWC | External SAS enclosures, leaving the internal bays alone |
| H240, H240ar | 2 internal 12Gb, no cache | SAS and SATA without a cached RAID layer |
Two splits decide this page. The first is internal against external: a P441 will not drive the backplane in front of it, however much cache it carries. The second is the ar suffix — a P440ar or H240ar takes a dedicated board connector and leaves the risers free, while a P440, P840 or P441 costs a slot.
Choosing the Right DL388 Gen9 Storage Controller
- Decide SAS or SATA first. If everything in the chassis is SATA and boots under UEFI, the embedded B140i may already be enough and the card is money that need not be spent.
- Order the cable with the card. Each kit is specific to one front end and one controller family, and the wrong kit will not reach or will not fit.
- Flash backed cache needs its battery. Some Flexible Smart Array kits include the Smart Storage Battery; a cached card without one loses its write-back protection.
- The SAS expander adds bays, not capability. It lets one controller address an expanded SFF chassis, and adds no cache and no RAID levels.
Complete Your DL388 Gen9 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see DL388 Gen9 drives for what the array will hold. Also available: DL388 Gen9 memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies, or the full DL388 Gen9 parts listing. Background reading: what HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers are and genuine against third-party drives.
DL388 Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which storage controller does the DL388 Gen9 have built in?
The HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i, a 10-port SATA controller. It operates in UEFI mode only, and it does not handle SAS drives.
What does the ar in P440ar and H240ar mean?
Those cards fit a dedicated controller connector on the system board instead of a PCIe slot, which leaves the risers free for other cards. The plain P440, P840 and P441 are stand-up PCIe cards.
Do I need a cable kit with a new controller?
Almost always. Each of the seven SAS cable kits names the front end and the controller family it connects, so the 8SFF kit for a P840 or P440 is not the same part as the 8SFF kit for an H240 or P440ar.
What is the Smart Storage Battery for?
It backs up the flash backed write cache on Smart Array controllers so cached writes survive a power loss. The 96W unit listed here supports up to 16 devices, and some Flexible Smart Array kits already include one.
What is the difference between an H240 and a P440?
Cache. The H240 and H240ar are Smart Host Bus Adapters with no write cache, while the P440 and P440ar carry flash backed write cache, so a workload that depends on cached writes wants the P-series card.
Can I connect external storage to a DL388 Gen9?
Yes. The Smart Array P441 provides two external 12Gb SAS ports with 4GB of flash backed write cache, leaving the internal backplane on a separate controller.
✅ Looking for a specific DL388 Gen9 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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