HPE ProLiant SL335s G7 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers and cache upgrades for the HPE ProLiant SL335s G7, new and refurbished. Storage starts on the embedded Smart Array B110i, and its limits are what send most buyers to this page: SATA only, 3.0Gb/s, and nothing over 2.2TB per drive.
SL335s G7 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: one HPE Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller per node, RAID 0, 1 and 10 at 3.0Gb/s, switched on from the advanced section of the ROM-based setup utility
- Expansion slot: a single low-profile PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot at 3.3 volts, documented as an internal slot for Smart Array controllers
- Entry cards: Smart Array P212 with zero memory or 256MB, one internal and one external port on PCIe x8
- Internal cards: Smart Array P410 with 256MB, 512MB battery backed, 512MB flash backed or 1GB flash backed cache, two internal ports on PCIe x8
- Cache upgrades: a 512MB P-Series battery backed write cache, supported on the P410 only, and a 1GB flash backed cache module
- Cabling: the P410 needs the s6500 SAS Enablement Kit, the P212 needs the P212 Half Width SAS Power Cable Kit, and any battery backed cache option needs the s6500 BBWC Mounting Kit
- Firmware: Smart Array firmware 5.0 or later on the P212 and P410 is required for HPE drives over 2.2TB
One slot, one card, and the cable is half the order. The tray has a single low-profile PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, documented as an internal slot for Smart Array controllers. A P410 needs the s6500 SAS Enablement Kit, a P212 its half-width SAS power cable kit, and any battery backed cache the s6500 BBWC Mounting Kit.
Which Smart Array Card Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | Ports | Cache | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|---|
| B110i (embedded) | internal SATA | none | RAID 0, 1 and 10 on SATA drives at 3.0Gb/s, nothing over 2.2TB |
| P212/ZM and P212/256 | 1 internal, 1 external | none or 256MB | SAS drives plus an external port, with the P212 half-width SAS power cable kit |
| P410/256 | 2 internal | 256MB | SAS and larger drives on two internal ports, with the s6500 SAS enablement kit |
| P410/512 and P410/1G | 2 internal | 512MB BBWC or FBWC, or 1GB FBWC | The same, with cache backed by battery or by flash |
Two things follow from the tray having one slot. This is a choice of one card, not a stack: a storage controller fills the node's only expansion position. And the card is half the order — each needs a cable kit to reach the system board, a battery backed module the mounting kit too, and those kits are listed for quotation rather than priced.
Choosing the Right SL335s G7 Storage Controller
- Start with what the embedded controller cannot do. If the array is SATA, under 2.2TB per drive and happy with RAID 0, 1 or 10, the B110i already covers it.
- Buy the cable kit with the card. A P410 without the s6500 SAS Enablement Kit, or a P212 without its half-width SAS power cable, has no path to the system board.
- Battery backed cache carries a second requirement. Any BBWC option also needs the s6500 BBWC Mounting Kit, which is where the module lives in the tray.
- Prefer flash backed cache on a server of this age. A BBWC module depends on a rechargeable battery that degrades; an FBWC module writes to flash instead.
- Check firmware before fitting a drive over 2.2TB. HPE calls for Smart Array firmware 5.0 or later on the P212 and the P410.
Complete Your SL335s G7 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see SL335s G7 hard drives for what the array will hold, and the SL335s G7 parts listing for the s6500 enablement and mounting kits. Also: SL335s G7 memory, processors, s6500 power supplies and HPE parts by server model. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers.
SL335s G7 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the SL335s G7 come with?
An embedded HPE Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller, one per node, with RAID 0, 1 and 10 at a 3.0Gb/s SATA transfer rate.
How do I turn on RAID on the embedded controller?
In the ROM-based setup utility. HPE puts the option to enable RAID on the embedded SATA in the advanced section of the RBSU, and the B110i is what provides it.
Can I fit more than one Smart Array card in an SL335s G7?
No. The tray has a single low-profile PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot, documented as an internal slot for Smart Array controllers, so one card is the limit.
What is the difference between the P212 and the P410 here?
Ports and cabling. The P212 gives one internal and one external port on its half-width SAS power cable kit; the P410 gives two internal ports on the s6500 SAS enablement kit.
Do I need extra kit for a battery backed write cache?
Yes. HPE requires the s6500 BBWC Mounting Kit with any battery backed cache option, and supports the 512MB P-Series BBWC upgrade on the P410 only.
What is the difference between BBWC and FBWC?
Battery backed write cache holds its contents on a rechargeable battery that ages. Flash backed write cache writes to flash instead, so there is no battery to replace.
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