HPE ProLiant BL460c G7 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array cache modules, batteries and mezzanine controllers for the HPE ProLiant BL460c G7, new and refurbished. The blade's two drive bays run on an embedded Smart Array P410i that ships with no cache and supports RAID 0 and RAID 1, so what the parts on this page buy is write caching and logical drive headroom — not extra RAID levels.
BL460c G7 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Smart Array P410i on an x4 PCI Express host interface, with 0MB of cache as standard
- Disk interface: 6Gb/s SAS and 3Gb/s SATA across the blade's two hot-plug SFF bays
- RAID levels: RAID 0 (striping) and RAID 1 (mirroring), which is what two bays allow
- Cache upgrades: a 256MB P-series cache module, a 512MB battery backed write cache, and 512MB and 1GB flash backed write cache modules
- Logical drives: two with the standard 0MB cache, 32 with the 256MB module, and 64 with the 512MB module
- Mezzanine controllers: HPE Smart Array P700m in 256MB and 512MB forms — a four-port external PCIe x8 SAS controller for direct attach and shared storage outside the blade
- Batteries: the P-Series Low Profile Battery, listed for the P700m, and the 650 mAh P-Series battery for the 256MB cache module, which ships with the cable that attaches it
A cache module does not add RAID levels to this blade. The embedded Smart Array P410i ships with no cache and supports RAID 0 and RAID 1, and it still supports exactly those two with a 1GB module fitted. What the cache buys is write caching, Online Drive Flash on SAS drives, and the logical drive count rising from two to 32 or 64.
What does a cache module actually change here?
| Cache fitted | Logical drives supported | RAID levels |
|---|---|---|
| None, as the blade ships | 2 | 0 and 1 |
| 256MB | 32 | 0 and 1 |
| 512MB | 64 | 0 and 1 |
The right-hand column never moves, and on a blade with two bays the middle one rarely bites either. What a cache module genuinely buys is write caching, Online Drive Flash on SAS drives — which HPE says needs a 256MB, 512MB or 1GB module — and eligibility for the Smart Array Advanced Pack, which needs a licence key, at least 256MB of cache and a battery kit. If none of those three is why you came to this page, the embedded controller is already doing everything two bays can ask of it.
Choosing the Right BL460c G7 Storage Controller
- The P700m does not drive the internal bays. It is a four-port external SAS controller on a mezzanine card, for direct attach and shared storage outside the blade, and the two bays stay on the P410i.
- Battery backed and flash backed cache are different purchases. A battery backed module needs the separate battery option kit before BBWC works at all; the flash backed modules do not, which matters on hardware of this age.
- Match the battery to what it serves. The 650 mAh P-Series battery is listed for the 256MB cache module only, and the Low Profile Battery for the P700m.
- A mezzanine controller costs a mezzanine slot. There are two on this blade, and Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand cards compete for the same pair.
Complete Your BL460c G7 Build
Cache sizing follows what the bays hold — see BL460c G7 hard drives before choosing a module. Also available: BL460c G7 memory and processors, or the full BL460c G7 parts listing, which carries the Fibre Channel, Ethernet and InfiniBand mezzanine options that share those two slots. Adjacent hardware: BL460c G6 storage controllers and BL465c G7 storage controllers. Background reading: what HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers are and the HPE parts by server model index.
BL460c G7 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller is built into the BL460c G7?
An embedded HPE Smart Array P410i with no cache as standard, on an x4 PCI Express host interface. It supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 across the blade's two drive bays.
Does adding cache to the P410i add RAID levels?
No. RAID 0 and RAID 1 are what the controller offers with or without a cache module. The cache raises the number of logical drives supported from two to 32 with a 256MB module and 64 with a 512MB module, and enables write caching.
What is the difference between BBWC and FBWC here?
Battery backed write cache holds its contents on a rechargeable battery, and HPE lists a separate battery option kit as required to enable BBWC. Flash backed write cache does not need that kit, so there is no battery to age out.
What is the Smart Array P700m for?
External storage. It is a four-port PCIe x8 SAS controller on a mezzanine card, used for direct attach and shared SAS storage outside the blade. It does not replace the P410i on the two internal bays.
Do I need the Smart Array Advanced Pack?
Only for the extra features it licenses. HPE lists a licence key, a minimum of 256MB of cache and a battery kit as the prerequisites, and the controller runs at its standard RAID levels without any of them.
Which battery goes with the 256MB cache module?
The 650 mAh P-Series battery, which is listed for use with the 256MB cache module only and includes the cable that attaches the battery to the cache.
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