HPE ProLiant BL620c G7 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array cache modules, batteries and mezzanine controllers for the HPE ProLiant BL620c G7, new and refurbished. Storage starts on the embedded Smart Array P410i, which HPE ships with no cache at all — RAID 0 and 1 run without one, so a cache is bought here for write performance, not to make the controller work.
BL620c G7 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: integrated SAS version 2.0 (6Gb) HPE Smart Array P410i with 3G SATA support, RAID 0 and 1, and two internal x4 wide-port SAS connectors for the two drive bays
- Controller paths: x4 PCIe Gen2 to the blade at 2GB/s and x2 6G SAS to the backplane at 1.2GB/s, with firmware upgradeable through a recovery ROM
- Cache options: 512MB and 1GB flash backed write cache for the P410i, ECC protected and held through a capacitor
- Cache ceiling: a combined total of two battery cache options across the P410i and any Smart Array mezzanine controller fitted
- Mezzanine controllers: optional Smart Array RAID cards with battery or flash backed cache, for SAS storage outside the c-Class enclosure; the card stocked here is the four-port external P700m/512
- Logical drives: up to 32 supported, with a documented maximum logical drive capacity of 2TB
The P410i ships with no cache, and it does not need one. RAID 0 and RAID 1 are supported on the embedded controller without a cache module, so a cache is bought for write performance or for an array on a mezzanine card. The blade allows two battery cache options in total across the P410i and any mezzanine controller.
Does your P410i need a cache module?
| Configuration | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| P410i as shipped, no cache | RAID 0 and RAID 1 across the two internal bays |
| P410i with 512MB flash backed cache | Write caching on the internal pair, held on flash through a capacitor |
| P410i with 1GB flash backed cache | The largest documented cache for the embedded controller |
| P700m mezzanine controller | Four external SAS ports and its own 512MB cache, for storage outside the blade |
On a two-bay blade the internal array is a mirror or a stripe whatever cache is fitted, so a module is worth buying for write behaviour rather than for RAID levels. The extra levels need an array bigger than two drives, and here that array hangs off the mezzanine card.
Choosing the Right BL620c G7 Storage Controller
- Cache is optional, not a prerequisite. HPE ships the P410i with none, and RAID 0 and 1 are supported without it, so a blade that only mirrors two drives already works as bought.
- Count the battery cache options. Two in total across the embedded controller and any mezzanine card, so a cached P410i and a cached mezzanine controller together use the allowance.
- A Smart Array mezzanine card needs a Type II slot. Mezzanine slots 2 and 3 are the x8 PCIe Gen2 slots documented for Smart Array RAID controllers; slot 1 is a Type I x4 slot for network and Fibre Channel cards.
- The mezzanine controller adds reach, not bays. It connects SAS storage outside the enclosure; the two internal bays stay on the P410i either way.
- Check which card a battery belongs to. The P-Series Low Profile Battery listed here supports the P700m mezzanine controller, not the flash backed cache upgrades for the P410i.
Complete Your BL620c G7 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see BL620c G7 hard drives for what the pair of bays will hold. Also available: BL620c G7 memory and processors, or the full BL620c G7 parts listing. Another c-Class blade of this generation: BL680c G7 storage controllers. Every model we stock is under HPE parts by server model. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers.
BL620c G7 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the BL620c G7 have?
An integrated SAS 2.0 (6Gb) HPE Smart Array P410i with RAID 0 and 1. HPE ships it with no cache, and both RAID levels work without one.
What cache options does the P410i take on this blade?
512MB and 1GB flash backed write cache modules. The blade supports a combined total of two battery cache options across the P410i and any Smart Array mezzanine controller fitted.
Can I add a second storage controller to a BL620c G7?
Yes, as a mezzanine card. Smart Array RAID mezzanine controllers connect direct attach and shared SAS storage outside the c-Class enclosure; the card stocked for this blade is the four-port external P700m with 512MB of cache.
Which mezzanine slot does a Smart Array card go in?
Slot 2 or slot 3. Those are the Type II x8 PCIe Gen2 slots documented as supporting Smart Array RAID controllers. Slot 1 is a Type I x4 slot, for network and Fibre Channel cards only.
Does adding cache give me more RAID levels inside the blade?
Not in any useful way. The P410i drives two bays here and its documented RAID support on this blade is 0 and 1, so the extra levels a cache unlocks need an array larger than two drives.
What is the Smart Array P-Series Low Profile Battery for?
It supports the Smart Array P700m mezzanine controller. The P410i cache upgrades listed for this blade are flash backed and hold their contents through a capacitor instead.
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