HPE ProLiant DL180 Gen10 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers and cache protection hardware for the HPE ProLiant DL180 Gen10, new and refurbished. Storage starts on the embedded Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID, and its limits are why most upgrades on this platform happen at all: it is SATA only, it runs in UEFI mode alone, and it is switched off until somebody turns it on.
DL180 Gen10 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID with support for 14 SATA ports, shipped off by default and enabled through the Enable SW RAID option during configuration
- S100i limits: UEFI mode only, so a Legacy BIOS boot needs an added controller, and HPE documents Windows support alone, pointing Linux users to an in-distribution software RAID instead
- Essential controllers: E208i-a modular and E208i-p plug-in with eight internal 12G SAS lanes, and E208e-p with eight external lanes — none of the three carries cache
- Performance controllers: P408i-a modular and P408i-p plug-in with eight internal lanes and 2GB cache, P408e-p with eight external lanes and 4GB, and P816i-a with sixteen internal lanes, 4GB cache and SmartCache
- Cache protection: the Performance controllers require an HPE Smart Storage Battery, sold separately — the 96W lithium-ion battery supports up to six P-class controllers and the hybrid capacitor up to three
- Cable kits: HPE requires a cable kit matched to the chassis and the card, with separate LFF and SFF kits for the P816i-a and a Box 3 kit for the E208i-a and P408i-a
The embedded controller is SATA-only software RAID, and it is switched off. The Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 covers 14 SATA ports, has to be enabled during configuration, runs in UEFI mode only and is documented for Windows alone. SAS starts at an E208, cache starts at a P408, and a dense 12LFF or 24SFF front end is what the sixteen-lane P816i-a is for.
Which Controller Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | Lanes | Cache | What it buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| S100i (embedded) | 14 SATA ports | None | RAID with no card and no slot, on SATA drives only |
| E208i-a and E208i-p | 8 internal | None | 12G SAS support, and nothing else |
| P408i-a and P408i-p | 8 internal | 2GB | SAS plus a protected write cache |
| P408e-p | 8 external | 4GB | Drives in an enclosure outside the chassis |
| P816i-a | 16 internal | 4GB with SmartCache | The reach for a dense LFF or 24SFF front end |
Read that as two decisions rather than one ladder. The first is SATA against SAS: anything past the embedded S100i starts with an E208, and SAS support is the entire gain, since the E-series carries no cache. The second is drive count — HPE fitted the P816i-a to its own 12LFF pre-configured model because sixteen lanes and 4GB of cache is what a dense front end asks for, where the eight-lane cards suit a modest array.
Choosing the Right DL180 Gen10 Storage Controller
- Decide modular or plug-in first. An -a controller uses the system board connector and leaves your PCIe slots free; a -p controller spends one, which matters once a network adapter and an M.2 kit want slots too.
- Internal and external are different cards. The E208e-p and P408e-p drive enclosures outside the chassis and will not serve the internal backplane.
- Budget for cache protection with any P-class card. HPE lists the Smart Storage Battery as a separate purchase for the Performance controllers, and the battery and the hybrid capacitor differ on how many cards each covers.
- Buy the cable kit that matches the chassis. The LFF and SFF kits for the P816i-a are not interchangeable, and the two -a controllers need a Box 3 kit of their own.
Complete Your DL180 Gen10 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see DL180 Gen10 drives for what the array will hold, and the full DL180 Gen10 parts listing for the Smart Storage Battery and hybrid capacitor. Also available: DL180 Gen10 memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers. Other models are listed under HPE parts by server model.
DL180 Gen10 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which storage controller does the DL180 Gen10 come with?
An embedded HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID, with support for 14 SATA ports. It is off by default and has to be enabled with the Enable SW RAID option during configuration.
Does the embedded S100i support SAS drives?
No. It is SATA only. SAS drives need a Smart Array E208, P408 or P816 controller fitted to the server.
What is the difference between the -a and -p Smart Array controllers?
Where they seat. The -a controllers are modular and use the dedicated Flexible Smart Array connector on the system board, while the -p controllers are PCIe plug-in cards and occupy a slot.
Do I need a Smart Storage Battery?
With any Performance RAID controller, yes, and HPE sells it separately. The 96W lithium-ion battery supports up to six P-class controllers and the hybrid capacitor up to three.
Which controller suits a 12LFF or 24SFF DL180 Gen10?
The P816i-a. It carries sixteen internal lanes, 4GB of cache and SmartCache, and it is the controller HPE fitted to its own 12LFF pre-configured model.
Can the DL180 Gen10 boot in Legacy BIOS mode?
The server supports UEFI mode as the default and Legacy BIOS mode as an option, but the embedded S100i software RAID operates in UEFI mode only, so a legacy boot needs an added controller.
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