HPE ProLiant DL380 G5 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache upgrades and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL380 G5, new and refurbished. Storage starts with whichever Smart Array the factory fitted, and the constraint that catches people out is physical: the P400 cards may only be installed in slots 3, 4 and 5.
DL380 G5 Storage Controller Specifications
- Factory controllers: Smart Array P400/512MB BBWC on Performance models, P400/256MB on Base and High Efficiency models, E200/64MB on Entry models
- Smart Array P400: 3G SAS and 1.5G SATA, two internal SFF8484 x4 wide port connectors, an x8 PCI Express host interface and up to 32 logical drives
- RAID levels: 0, 1, 1+0 and 5 on the P400, with RAID 6 available on the cached cards
- Smart Array E200: a 64MB or 128MB cache, with RAID 0, 1, 1+0 and 5
- Cards listed: E200/128 BBWC, E500/256MB, P400/256MB, P400/512MB BBWC, P600/256 BBWC and P800/512 BBWC
- Cache and battery upgrades: the 128MB BBWC enabler for the E200, 512MB cache-and-battery and battery-only upgrades for the P400, and a 512MB upgrade for the P600
- Host bus adapters: SC08Ge and SC44Ge SAS adapters, the 8 Internal Port SAS HBA with RAID, and the SC11Xe Ultra320 SCSI adapter HPE recommends for tape
Check the slot before the model number. The Smart Array P400 cards may only be installed in slots 3, 4 and 5, and every PCI-X card on this page — the P600, the Smart Array 6402 and 6404, the 642 and the single channel Ultra320 HBA — needs the Mixed Riser Cage Option Kit before it will physically go in the server.
Which Smart Array card will your chassis take?
| Controller | Cache | Where it can go |
|---|---|---|
| E200/128 BBWC | 128MB, battery backed | The Entry model card, with a cache that survives a power loss |
| P400/256MB | 256MB | Slots 3, 4 and 5 only |
| P400/512MB BBWC | 512MB, battery backed | Slots 3, 4 and 5 only; the card that brings RAID 6 |
| P600/256 BBWC | 256MB, battery backed | Requires the Mixed Riser Cage Option Kit |
| P800/512 BBWC | 512MB, battery backed | A full-height slot, for internal and external storage |
The slot map matters more here than the model number. Four PCI Express slots are available and one already holds the factory Smart Array on Base and Performance models, which leaves three. Every PCI-X card here — the P600, the Smart Array 6402, 6404 and 642, and the Ultra320 HBA — needs the mixed riser cage before it will go in any of them.
Choosing the Right DL380 G5 Storage Controller
- Count the free slots before choosing a card. A factory Base or Performance machine leaves three.
- RAID 6 is a cache purchase. The P400 reaches RAID 6 with Advanced Data Guarding only once the battery backed write cache upgrade is present, so on a 256MB card the cache module is the part to buy.
- The E200's 64MB cache is neither battery backed nor transportable. That is the argument for the 128MB BBWC version on any array holding data you care about.
- A field-fitted P400 or E500 needs the battery cable. HPE ships the 24-inch battery cable kit separately for cards integrated outside the factory.
- Refurbished cards suit this platform. The cache module and the battery are the components that age on these cards, not the card itself.
Complete Your DL380 G5 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see DL380 G5 hard drives for what the array will hold. Also available: DL380 G5 memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies, or the full DL380 G5 parts listing, which carries the Mixed Riser Cage Option Kit. Background reading: what are HPE Smart Array controllers. Other models are listed under HPE parts by server model.
DL380 G5 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the DL380 G5 come with?
It varies by factory model. Performance models shipped a Smart Array P400/512MB BBWC, Base and High Efficiency models a P400/256MB, and Entry models a Smart Array E200/64MB.
Does the DL380 G5 support RAID 6?
Yes, on the Smart Array P400, but only with the battery backed write cache upgrade fitted. RAID 6 with Advanced Data Guarding is a cache feature rather than something the bare card provides.
Which slots can a Smart Array P400 go in?
Slots 3, 4 and 5. HPE documents that restriction for both the P400/256MB and the P400/512MB BBWC, so the two low-profile embedded slots are not an option for them.
Why will my P600 or Ultra320 controller not fit?
Because those are PCI-X cards and the standard riser is PCI Express throughout. The Mixed Riser Cage Option Kit replaces two full-height PCI Express slots with PCI-X and is required for the P600 and every Ultra320 controller.
What is the difference between the 64MB and 128MB E200 cache?
Protection. The 64MB cache is not battery backed and not transportable, so its contents are lost on a power failure. The 128MB version is a battery backed write cache and can be moved with the array.
Can I connect external storage or a tape drive to a DL380 G5?
Yes. The P800 and E500 support external enclosures, the SC08Ge and SC44Ge are listed for external SAS, and HPE recommends the SC11Xe Ultra320 SCSI adapter for connecting SCSI tape drives.
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