HPE ProLiant SL390s G7 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache modules and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant SL390s G7, new and refurbished. The embedded controller on this platform is the Smart Array B110i, and it is SATA only — every SAS drive in an SL390s G7 needs an add-in card, and that card costs the tray its single expansion slot.
SL390s G7 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Smart Array B110i SATA RAID per server node, offering RAID 0, 1 and 10 at a 3.0 Gb/s SATA transfer rate, enabled from the ROM-based setup utility
- SAS requirement: an HPE Smart Array controller is required for SAS hard drives, alongside the SAS cable or enablement kit that matches the tray
- Entry card: Smart Array P212 in Zero Memory and 256MB forms, one internal and one external port on a PCIe x8 connection
- Internal cards: Smart Array P410 in 256MB, 512MB BBWC, 512MB FBWC and 1GB FBWC forms, each with two internal ports on PCIe x8
- External cards: Smart Array P411 in the same four cache forms, with two external ports for storage outside the chassis
- Cache upgrades: 256MB P-series, 512MB battery backed and 512MB or 1GB flash backed write cache modules, plus the 650 mAh P-series battery that enables BBWC on the 256MB cache
- Legacy SCSI: the SC11Xe Ultra320 single channel PCIe x4 host bus adapter, which HPE names as its recommended adapter for SCSI tape
The embedded controller is SATA only. The Smart Array B110i on the system board gives you RAID 0, 1 and 10 at 3.0 Gb/s SATA and costs no slot, but HPE requires a Smart Array controller for SAS drives. That card takes the tray's one general-purpose PCI Express slot, so a SAS array and an add-in network card cannot both be fitted.
Which Controller Does Your Tray Actually Need?
| What you are running | Controller | Slot cost |
|---|---|---|
| SATA drives, RAID 0, 1 or 10 | Embedded B110i | None — it is on the system board |
| SAS drives inside the tray | Smart Array P212 or P410 | The one low-profile slot |
| Storage enclosures outside the chassis | Smart Array P411 | The one low-profile slot |
| SCSI tape | SC11Xe Ultra320 HBA | The one low-profile slot |
On a rack server the question is which controller; on an SL390s G7 tray it is whether the slot can be spared, because each tray has exactly one general-purpose PCI Express slot and the internal x16 slots take GPUs and nothing else. The usual answer is yes: the embedded NC543i already supplies 10 Gigabit Ethernet and the InfiniBand QSFP port, so the slot is normally free for storage. Fill it with a Smart Array card and an add-in network or InfiniBand adapter has nowhere left to go.
Choosing the Right SL390s G7 Storage Controller
- Check whether you need a card at all. A SATA-only tray running RAID 0, 1 or 10 is already served by the embedded B110i, which costs nothing and occupies no slot.
- Budget for the kit as well as the card. Adding SAS calls for a cable or enablement kit on top of the controller, and which one depends on the tray and the drive size.
- Decide internal or external before choosing a model number. A P411 has external ports only and will not drive the drives inside the tray.
- Battery backed and flash backed cache are not interchangeable. BBWC modules depend on a battery that ages; FBWC modules use flash, which is the better long-term choice on a platform of this age.
- The 650 mAh battery is what makes the 256MB cache a write cache. HPE lists it specifically to enable BBWC on that module rather than as a spare for the larger caches.
Complete Your SL390s G7 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see SL390s G7 hard drives for what the array will hold, and networking adapters for what else wants the same slot. Also available: SL390s G7 memory, processors and the chassis-level power supplies, or the full SL390s G7 parts listing and HPE parts by server model. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers.
SL390s G7 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller is built into the SL390s G7?
An embedded HPE Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller, one per server node, offering RAID 0, 1 and 10. It runs SATA at 3.0 Gb/s and is enabled from the ROM-based setup utility.
Does the embedded B110i support SAS drives?
No. The B110i is a SATA controller. HPE states that a Smart Array controller is required for SAS hard drives, so SAS means an add-in P212, P410 or P411 card.
How do I enable RAID on the embedded SATA controller?
Enter the ROM-based setup utility and turn the option on in its advanced section. The B110i is present on the system board but RAID is not enabled by default.
Can I fit a Smart Array card and a network card at the same time?
Not in the same tray. Each SL390s G7 tray has one general-purpose PCI Express slot, and the internal x16 slots are dedicated to GPUs. The embedded NC543i covers 10GbE and InfiniBand, which usually leaves the slot for storage.
What is the difference between BBWC and FBWC?
Battery backed write cache holds the cache contents on a rechargeable battery that degrades over time. Flash backed write cache writes them to flash instead, so there is no battery to replace.
Can I connect external storage to an SL390s G7?
Yes. The Smart Array P411 provides two external ports, and the P212 carries one internal and one external port. Both occupy the tray's single expansion slot.
✅ Looking for a specific SL390s G7 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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