HPE ProLiant DL165 G7 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache modules and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL165 G7, new and refurbished. This server has only two PCI Express slots and HPE documents which controller may use which one, so the card you can fit here is as much a slot question as a RAID question.
DL165 G7 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Smart Array B110i SATA RAID on the non-hot-plug and cold-plug SATA models, which will not take a hard drive larger than 2TB
- Factory controller on hot-plug models: HPE Smart Array P410, shipped either with no cache or with 256MB of battery backed cache
- Slot rule: HPE documents the Smart Array P410 as the controller for the low-profile internal-only slot; a P212 used for internal and external connectivity takes the full-height PCIe x16 slot instead
- Internal cards: Smart Array P410 in 256MB, 512MB BBWC, 512MB FBWC and 1GB FBWC forms, two internal ports on a PCIe x8 connection
- External cards: Smart Array P411 in the same cache range for external storage only, plus the P812 with 1GB flash backed cache for two internal and four external ports
- Upgrades and adapters: 1GB and 512MB flash backed write cache modules, cache upgrades for the P212 and P411, a 650mAh P-series battery, and the SC08Ge and SC08e external SAS host bus adapters
On a two-slot server, the slot rule matters as much as the RAID level. HPE documents the Smart Array P410 as the controller for the low-profile internal-only slot, while a P212 used for both internal and external connectivity takes the full-height x16 slot. RAID 5 comes from the cache, not the card: a P410 with no cache is limited to RAID 0, 1 and 1+0.
Which Smart Array card does your DL165 G7 need?
| Controller | Ports | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| B110i (embedded) | SATA drives only | On the system board, capped at 2TB per drive |
| P212 | 1 internal, 1 external | The full-height x16 slot |
| P410 | 2 internal | The low-profile internal-only slot |
| P411 | 2 external | External storage only |
| P812 | 2 internal, 4 external | Internal drives plus external enclosures |
With two slots in a 1U chassis, the first question is whether the server needs to reach anything outside itself. A P410 serves the internal backplane from the low-profile slot and leaves the full-height slot free; a P212 or a P411 spends that slot on external connectivity. Cache, not the card number, decides the rest.
Choosing the Right DL165 G7 Storage Controller
- Decide internal or external before picking a model number. HPE lists the P411 for external storage only; it will not drive the internal backplane, whatever cache it carries.
- RAID 5 comes with the cache, not the card. A P410 with no cache is limited to RAID 0, 1 and 1+0; the battery backed cache upgrade is what enables RAID 5 and 5+0, along with array expansion, logical drive extension, RAID migration and stripe size migration.
- RAID 6 needs three things together. HPE calls for at least 256MB of cache, a battery and the Smart Array Advanced Pack licence before RAID 6 is available.
- Cache upgrades are not universal. The 256MB P-series upgrade is supported on the P212 only and the 512MB battery backed upgrade on the P411 only, so the module has to match the card.
- Battery backed and flash backed cache are different parts. BBWC depends on a rechargeable battery that ages; FBWC writes the cache contents to flash, which is the easier module to live with on a server this old.
Complete Your DL165 G7 Build
The embedded controller sets a 2TB per-drive ceiling, so controllers and drives are bought together — see DL165 G7 hard drives for what the array will hold. Also available: DL165 G7 memory, processors and networking adapters, or the full DL165 G7 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers, and the HPE parts by server model index.
DL165 G7 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the DL165 G7 come with?
It depends on the model. SATA models carry the embedded HPE Smart Array B110i; hot-plug SAS and SATA models shipped with a Smart Array P410, with or without a 256MB battery backed cache.
Does the DL165 G7 support RAID 5?
Yes, on a Smart Array P410 with the battery backed cache upgrade fitted. Without cache the P410 is limited to RAID 0, 1 and 1+0.
How do I get RAID 6 on this server?
HPE requires at least 256MB of cache and a battery on the Smart Array P410, plus the Smart Array Advanced Pack licence.
Can I put a storage controller in the low-profile slot?
HPE documents the Smart Array P410 as the controller for the internal-only low-profile slot. A P212 set up for internal and external connectivity uses the full-height x16 slot instead.
What is the difference between BBWC and FBWC?
Battery backed write cache holds its contents on a rechargeable battery that degrades over time. Flash backed write cache writes them to flash, so there is no battery to replace.
Can I connect external storage to a DL165 G7?
Yes. The Smart Array P411 provides two external ports, the P812 four external alongside two internal, and the SC08e is a two-port external PCIe SAS host bus adapter.
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