HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers for the HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus, new and refurbished. Storage here runs on the Smart Array SR Gen10 family — Essential (E-series) and Performance (P-series) controllers in modular (-a) and PCIe (-p) forms, backed by the 12W Smart Storage Battery for cache protection.
DL325 Gen10 Plus Storage Controller Specifications
- E208i-a: 8 internal 12G SAS lanes, no cache, modular — does not occupy a PCIe expansion slot
- E208i-p / E208e-p: 8 internal or 8 external lanes, no cache, PCIe plug-in cards
- P408i-a: 8 internal lanes with 2GB cache, modular — also free of a PCIe slot
- P408i-p / P408e-p: 8 internal lanes with 2GB cache, or 8 external lanes with 4GB, as PCIe plug-in cards
- P816i-a: 16 internal lanes with 4GB cache and a SmartCache license included, modular
- Cache protection: every Performance RAID controller requires the HPE 12W Smart Storage Battery (782961-B21), sold separately
- Boot device: NS204i-p NVMe PCIe3 x8 OS boot device — UEFI only, not supported in Legacy mode
Budget for the battery, not just the card. Every Performance (P-series) Smart Array controller on the DL325 Gen10 Plus requires the HPE 12W Smart Storage Battery (782961-B21), which is sold separately — and the P408i-p and E208i-p plug-in cards cannot be selected with 4LFF drive cages at all.
Which RAID controller does the DL325 Gen10 Plus use?
| Controller | Form factor | Cache | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E208i-a | Modular (-a) | None | Entry internal RAID that costs no PCIe slot |
| E208i-p / E208e-p | PCIe plug-in | None | Internal or external 12G SAS without cache |
| P408i-a / P408i-p | Modular / PCIe | 2GB | Mainstream cache-protected hardware RAID |
| P408e-p | PCIe plug-in | 4GB | External 12G SAS: tape and JBOD enclosures |
| P816i-a | Modular (-a) | 4GB | 16 lanes for 16SFF and 12LFF arrays |
Modular (-a) controllers are the natural fit in 1U: they mount in a dedicated position and leave all three PCIe 4.0 slots free. Each controller and cage pairing has its own cable kit.
Choosing the Right DL325 Gen10 Plus Storage Controller
- P-series means a battery: the 12W Smart Storage Battery is a separate line item, and on a single 4LFF or 8SFF cage HPE also calls for the Additional Standard Fan Kit alongside it.
- Watch the LFF exclusion: the P408i-p and E208i-p plug-in controllers cannot be selected with 4LFF drive cages — use the modular controllers there.
- 24 bays change the answer: the 24SFF SAS/SATA chassis pairs the P408i-a with a SAS Expander, while the 24SFF U.3 NVMe chassis is direct-attach and lists no Smart Array controller at all.
- Order the matching cable kit for your controller type and cage size — an 8SFF modular controller and an 8SFF plug-in controller take different kits.
- Background reading: what HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers are.
Complete Your DL325 Gen10 Plus Build
Match your controller with DL325 Gen10 Plus drives, then round out the system: memory, processors, networking adapters, power supplies, or everything on the DL325 Gen10 Plus parts page. Neighboring generations: DL325 Gen10 controllers and DL325 Gen10 Plus v2 controllers. Or browse all HPE parts by server model.
DL325 Gen10 Plus Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controllers are supported in the HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus?
The Smart Array SR Gen10 family: the Essential E208i-a, E208i-p, and E208e-p with no cache, and the Performance P408i-a, P408i-p, P408e-p, and P816i-a with 2GB or 4GB of cache. The NS204i-p covers OS boot.
Do DL325 Gen10 Plus RAID controllers need a battery?
The Performance controllers do. HPE states that all Performance RAID controllers are supported by the 12W Smart Storage Battery (782961-B21), which is sold separately. The cache-less E208 controllers do not need one.
What is the difference between the -a and -p Smart Array controllers?
Mounting. The -a models are modular controllers that sit in a dedicated position and do not occupy a PCIe expansion slot; the -p models are PCIe plug-in cards. In a 1U chassis with three PCIe slots, the modular option is usually worth it.
Which controller do I need for 16 or 24 drives?
The P816i-a provides 16 internal lanes and 4GB of cache for 16SFF and 12LFF arrays. The 24SFF SAS/SATA chassis uses the P408i-a with a SAS Expander, and the 24SFF U.3 NVMe chassis is direct-attach with no Smart Array controller.
Can I use a P408i-p with the 4LFF drive cage?
No. The QuickSpecs states that the P408i-p and E208i-p cannot be selected with 4LFF drive cages. Use the modular E208i-a, P408i-a, or P816i-a on LFF configurations.
Why does my Smart Array controller need a cable kit?
Each combination of controller type and drive cage has its own HPE cable kit - 8SFF, 10SFF, 16SFF, and 2SFF cages each list a different kit, and modular and PCIe controllers do not share one. Order the kit that matches both halves.
✅ Looking for a specific DL325 Gen10 Plus storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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