HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen12 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE storage controllers for the HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen12, new and refurbished. The Gen12 storage stack carries the proven MR (MegaRAID) Gen11 controller family forward and adds the PCIe Gen5 MR932i-p, with Intel VROC software RAID as the controller-free NVMe alternative and the NS204i-u V2 as the dedicated boot device.
DL380 Gen12 Storage Controller Specifications
- MR416i-p / MR416i-o: 16-lane tri-mode controllers with 8GB cache — the mainstream hardware-RAID choice
- MR408i-p / MR408i-o: 8-lane, 4GB cache
- MR216i-p / MR216i-o: 16-lane, cache-less — pass-through/HBA-style for software-defined storage
- MR932i-p: 32-lane PCIe Gen5 controller — supports SAS and NVMe SSDs only (no HDDs), and drives up to 16 EDSFF drives
- Smart Array E208e-p: 8 external 12G SAS lanes for tape drives and external enclosures
- Boot: NS204i-u V2 hot-plug boot device — dual 480GB or 960GB NVMe in hardware RAID1, SED options available
- Cache protection: 96W Smart Storage battery or Hybrid Capacitor with 145mm cable kits — required when an MR416 or MR408 controller is selected
- Software RAID: Intel VROC for direct-attached NVMe
Cached controllers require cache protection. HPE requires the 96W Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor (145mm cable kits on this chassis) with the MR416 and MR408 families — and note the Gen5 MR932i-p supports SAS and NVMe SSDs only, no HDDs.
Which RAID controller does the DL380 Gen12 use?
| Controller | Form factor | Cache | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR416i-p / MR416i-o | PCIe / OCP | 8GB | Mainstream protected hardware RAID |
| MR408i-p / MR408i-o | PCIe / OCP | 4GB | Smaller cache-protected arrays |
| MR216i-p / MR216i-o | PCIe / OCP | None | HBA passthrough, vSAN/SDS, ZFS |
| MR932i-p | PCIe Gen5 ×32 | Onboard | Highest-bandwidth SSD arrays — SSD only |
| Smart Array E208e-p | PCIe | None | External 12G SAS: tape, JBOD |
| NS204i-u V2 | Dedicated boot module | — | OS boot on mirrored NVMe, keeping data bays free |
Choosing the Right DL380 Gen12 Storage Controller
- Cached controllers require cache protection: HPE lists the Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor as required with the MR416 and MR408 families — the kits for this chassis use 145mm cables.
- The MR932i-p is SSD-only — if the array includes any HDDs, use the MR416i or MR408i family instead.
- -p vs -o is placement, not performance: -p occupies a PCIe slot, -o an OCP slot — and an OCP storage controller (OROC) claims OCP slot A, so plan networking around it.
- Software-defined stacks (vSAN, Storage Spaces, ZFS) want the cache-less MR216i or direct-attach NVMe with VROC — hardware write-back cache works against them.
Complete Your DL380 Gen12 Build
Match your controller with DL380 Gen12 drives, then round out the system: memory, processors, networking adapters, power supplies, or everything on the DL380 Gen12 parts page. Previous generation: DL380 Gen11 controllers. Or browse all HPE parts by server model.
DL380 Gen12 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controllers are supported in the HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen12?
The HPE MR Gen11 family - MR416i-p/-o (8GB cache), MR408i-p/-o (4GB), and the cache-less MR216i-p/-o - plus the PCIe Gen5 MR932i-p and the Smart Array E208e-p for external SAS. Intel VROC software RAID covers direct-attached NVMe, and the NS204i-u V2 handles boot.
Does the MR932i-p support hard drives?
No. HPE lists the MR932i-p for SAS and NVMe SSDs only - it does not support HDDs. For arrays that include spinning disks, use the MR416i or MR408i family.
Do DL380 Gen12 RAID controllers need a battery?
Yes for the cached models - HPE requires the 96W Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor (145mm cable kits on this chassis) when an MR416 or MR408 controller is installed, to protect write-back cache during power loss. The cache-less MR216i needs none.
Why does my Gen12 server use controllers with Gen11 in the name?
HPE carried the MR Gen11 controller family forward: the DL380 Gen12 QuickSpecs list the MR416i, MR408i, and MR216i Gen11 controllers as the supported internal RAID options, joined by the newer PCIe Gen5 MR932i-p. They are fully supported Gen12 configurations.
What is the NS204i-u V2 boot device?
A hot-plug module holding two NVMe SSDs (480GB or 960GB, with self-encrypting options) in hardware RAID1, dedicated to the operating system. It keeps OS boot off your data bays and can mount at the rear, internally, or in the front multipurpose cage.
Can the DL380 Gen12 connect to tape drives or external storage?
Yes - the Smart Array E208e-p provides 8 external 12G SAS lanes for LTO tape drives and external enclosures, and 32Gb/64Gb Fibre Channel HBAs are available for SAN connectivity.
✅ Looking for a specific DL380 Gen12 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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