HPE ProLiant DL380a Gen12 Networking Adapters

The DL380a Gen12 takes network adapters in its two OCP 3.0 slots and in up to six PCIe 5.0 slots, of which slots 1 to 3 need the second processor. No embedded networking; an OCP or stand-up (PCIe) networking card is required. HPE's QuickSpecs list 29 network adapters (Ethernet and InfiniBand) and 6 Fibre Channel HBAs for it.

  • 35 adapters
  • 1GbE to 100GbE · 32 and 64Gb Fibre Channel
  • New and refurbished
  • Tested or factory sealed

From the HPE ProLiant Compute DL380a Gen12 QuickSpecs (a00047453enw, version 21, 02-November-2026).

Slot map

Where each adapter goes in a DL380a Gen12

OCP 3.0
Two rear OCP 3.0 slots, OCP Slot A and OCP Slot B; OCP adapters do not use PCIe slots pp. 4, 33
Built-in ports
None pp. 10, 18, 32
Primary
Slots 1–3: PCIe 5.0 x16, x16, x16. Needs processor 2. pp. 4, 7, 26
Secondary
Slots 4–6: x16, x16, x16. On processor 1. pp. 4, 8
HPE's words for each line
  • OCP 3.0 “OCP Slot B” (page 4) “OCP Slot A” (page 4) “OCP Adapters do not consume PCIe slots.” (page 33)
  • Built-in ports “Network Ports Non-standard. Choice of OCP networking card or stand-up networking card required.” (page 10) “Notes: No embedded networking” (page 18) “The DL380a Gen12 CTO server does not come with embedded networking, hence the requirement to configure with either a PCIe or OCP networking adapter.” (page 32)
  • Primary “Primary Riser” (page 7) “1 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 2” (page 7) “2 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 2” (page 7) “3 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 2” (page 7) “Slot 1 is only available when HPE DL380a G12 4EDSFF Direct Cable for NVD (P74716-B21) is attached. Cannot be used with SFF NVMe drives.” (page 7) “Slot 3 is available by default with a DL380a Gen12 configuration.” (page 7) “Slot 3 PCIe5 x16 (default 1U CEM riser)” (page 4) “Slot 2 PCIe5 x16 (optional captive riser)” (page 4) “Slot 1 PCIe5 x16 (optional captive riser)” (page 4) “HPE ProLiant Compute DL380a Gen12 CPU Direct Liquid Cooling FIO Kit P82520-B21” (page 26) “Occupies PCIe Slot 1 in rear chassis, thus restricting any PCIe card in Slot 1.” (page 26)
  • Secondary “Secondary Riser” (page 8) “4 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 1” (page 8) “5 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 1” (page 8) “6 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 1” (page 8) “Slot 4 is not available for 4 and 8 DW configurations.” (page 8) “Slot 6 is available by default with a DL380a Gen12 configuration.” (page 8) “Slot 6 PCIe5 x16 (default 1U CEM riser)” (page 4) “Slot 5 PCIe5 x16 (optional captive riser)” (page 4)

From the HPE ProLiant Compute DL380a Gen12 QuickSpecs (a00047453enw, version 21, 02-November-2026).

All DL380a Gen12 network adapters

The network adapters HPE's QuickSpecs list for the DL380a Gen12, grouped by slot and type. In each group the adapters in stock come first, then the ones our customers order most.

OCP 3.0 or PCIe on the DL380a Gen12?

OCP 3.0PCIe adapter
How manyTwo rear OCP 3.0 slots, OCP Slot A and OCP Slot B; OCP adapters do not use PCIe slots.Up to six PCIe 5.0 slots
What HPE has listed1GbE to 100GbE Ethernet1GbE to 100GbE Ethernet; InfiniBand adapters; 32 and 64Gb Fibre Channel HBAs
Slot rulesStorage cabling limits the OCP slots: with the 4NVMe Direct Attach Cable Kit P74702-B21, which a single 4SFF cage requires, no OCP card can be selected; the 8NVMe Rear Direct Attach Cable Kit P74708-B21 limits the server to 2 rear PCIe slots and 2 OCP slots; with the 8NVMe/EDSFF DA 4 PCIe Kit no other OCP card can be selected.Slots 1 to 3 need the second processor.
How to tell from the nameOCP3 in the nameNo OCP3 in the name

How to choose a DL380a Gen12 network adapter

Rule 1

Decide the OCP 3.0 adapter first

Storage cabling limits the OCP slots: with the 4NVMe Direct Attach Cable Kit P74702-B21, which a single 4SFF cage requires, no OCP card can be selected; the 8NVMe Rear Direct Attach Cable Kit P74708-B21 limits the server to 2 rear PCIe slots and 2 OCP slots; with the 8NVMe/EDSFF DA 4 PCIe Kit no other OCP card can be selected.

HPE: “If 4NVMe Direct Attach Cable is selected, then max quantity of HPE DL380a Gen12 OCPA Cable Kit is limited to 1.” (page 23)

Rule 2

Count the processors

Slots 1 to 3 need the second processor.

HPE: “1 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 2” (page 7)

Rule 3

Mind the slot rules

At most one DPU per server, and a DPU requires the Rear PCIe 5-slot Cable Kit P74722-B21.

HPE: “DPU requires selection of HPE DL380a Gen12 Rear PCIe 5s Cable Kit (P74722-B21).” (page 32)

DL380a Gen12 adapter questions

How many network adapters can a DL380a Gen12 take?

The DL380a Gen12 takes network adapters in its two OCP 3.0 slots and in up to six PCIe 5.0 slots, of which slots 1 to 3 need the second processor. Storage cabling limits the OCP slots: with the 4NVMe Direct Attach Cable Kit P74702-B21, which a single 4SFF cage requires, no OCP card can be selected; the 8NVMe Rear Direct Attach Cable Kit P74708-B21 limits the server to 2 rear PCIe slots and 2 OCP slots; with the 8NVMe/EDSFF DA 4 PCIe Kit no other OCP card can be selected.

Does the DL380a Gen12 have network ports built in?

No embedded networking; an OCP or stand-up (PCIe) networking card is required. On the CTO server the primary network adapter is an OCP 3.0 or stand-up adapter, with further stand-up adapters optional; HPE names two CTO servers, the 8DW server P74461-B21 (iLO 6) and the 8DW/16SW server P76706-B21 (iLO 7).

Do I need the second processor for more adapters?

Slots 1 to 3 need the second processor. Slots 4 to 6 run from processor 1. HPE: “1 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full height, half length Processor 2” (page 7).

What does “Listed in QuickSpecs version 21” mean?

It means the adapter is in version 21 of HPE's QuickSpecs for the DL380a Gen12, the edition this page is built from.

Which Fibre Channel HBAs does HPE list for the DL380a Gen12?

HPE lists Emulex FC SecureHBAs (SN1620E 32Gb, SN1720E 64Gb) and QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs (SN1610Q 32Gb, SN1700Q 64Gb) under HPE Storage Options, for the 8DW/16SW CTO server P76706-B21 only. HPE's QuickSpecs list 6 Fibre Channel HBAs for it, by model: Emulex SN1620E and SN1720E; QLogic SN1610Q and SN1700Q. They are in the Fibre Channel HBAs section of this page.

What if the adapter I need is out of stock?

Out of stock today does not mean unavailable: we can often source this part. Add it to a quote request and we reply with current pricing and availability. Every message, quotes included, is answered within 24 hours.

More for the DL380a Gen12

DL380a Gen12 storage controllersDL380a Gen12 drivesDL380a Gen12 memoryDL380a Gen12 processorsDL380a Gen12 power suppliesAll DL380a Gen12 partsDL380 Gen12 networking adaptersDL320 Gen12 networking adapters

Most ordered for the DL380a Gen12

The adapters on this page our customers order most, for any server. Each card shows only while the store has it in stock.

OCP 3.0 adapters

11 adapters

Two rear OCP 3.0 slots, OCP Slot A and OCP Slot B; OCP adapters do not use PCIe slots.

PCIe Ethernet adapters

11 adapters

Stand-up cards for the PCIe slots.

InfiniBand and Omni-Path adapters

7 adapters

Under HPE InfiniBand HPE lists NDR and NDR200 adapters (PCIe5 x16); the XDR CX8 adapters and the XDR PCIe Gen6 x16 Multi Host/Socket Direct auxiliary card with a 250mm MCIO cable follow under a heading HPE Omni-Path; the Front NIC FIO Enablement Kit takes networking or InfiniBand cards.

  • P45642-H23HPE InfiniBand NDR200/Ethernet 200Gb 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-HEAT Generic Adapter200Gb1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • P66386-H21HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR200/Ethernet 200Gb 2-port QSFP112 FHHL B3220 Adapter200Gb2 portsQSFP112PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • P45641-H24HPE InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400Gb 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-NEAT Generic Adapter400Gb1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • P66387-B21HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400Gb 1-port QSFP112 HHHL B3140H Adapter400Gb1 portQSFP112PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • P79114-H21HPE InfiniBand XDR/Ethernet 2x400GbE 1-port OSFP PCIe6 x16 HHHL CX8 Crypto Adapter400Gb1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • P79115-H21HPE InfiniBand XDR400/Ethernet 400GbE 2-port QSFP112 PCIe6 x16 HHHL CX8 Crypto Adapter400Gb2 portsQSFP112PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21
  • S5R60AHPE InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400Gb 1-port QSFP112 PCIe5 x16 MCX715105AS-WEAT Adapter400Gb1 portQSFP112PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 21

Kits and risers HPE lists for these slots

1 kit

Parts that go with the adapters in these slots. They are not counted with the adapters, and the filters leave them out.

  • P81264-H21HPE InfiniBand XDR PCIe Gen6 x16 Multi Host/Socket Direct Auxiliary Card with 250mm MCIO Cable KitListed in QuickSpecs version 21

Fibre Channel HBAs for the DL380a Gen12

HPE lists Emulex FC SecureHBAs (SN1620E 32Gb, SN1720E 64Gb) and QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs (SN1610Q 32Gb, SN1700Q 64Gb) under HPE Storage Options, for the 8DW/16SW CTO server P76706-B21 only. QuickSpecs page 34

Fibre Channel host bus adapters

6 HBAs
Ships same dayMost orders ship the same business day
1-year warrantyReplacement coverage on every part
5,000+ five-star reviewsShopper Approved, BBB A+ rating
Ships to 120+ countriesBy UPS; duties are collected by the carrier

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