HPE ProLiant DL525 Gen13 Storage Controllers

Genuine HPE storage controllers for the HPE ProLiant DL525 Gen13, new and refurbished, shipped tested or factory sealed. HPE lists three MR Gen11 controller families for this server, each in an OCP (-o) and a PCIe plug-in (-p) version, plus the Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 for external SAS, and the Smart Hybrid Capacitor and Smart Storage Battery that back the cached controllers.

DL525 Gen13 Storage Controller Specifications

• HPE MR216i-o and MR216i-p Gen11: x16 lanes, without cache, SPDM; OCP and PCIe plug-in
• HPE MR408i-o and MR408i-p Gen11: x8 lanes, 4GB cache, SPDM; OCP and PCIe plug-in
• HPE MR416i-o and MR416i-p Gen11: x16 lanes, 8GB cache, SPDM; OCP and PCIe plug-in
• HPE Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10: 8 external lanes, no cache, 12G SAS PCIe plug-in — for external storage, not the internal E3.S bays
• Cache backup: HPE 16W Smart Hybrid Capacitor with 145mm cable, and HPE 96W Smart Storage Lithium-ion Battery with 145mm cable kit; a Storage Controller Voltage Backup Cable Kit is listed for this server
• Drive attach: HPE's storage configurations run the EDSFF E3.S bays either NVMe direct attach or through an OCP or PCIe storage controller, with 8/16-lane and 16-lane layouts and a dual 32-lane PCIe layout
• Slots: the OCP controllers use the server's OCP 3.0 slots — one rear slot standard, one front slot optional; the plug-in cards use the PCIe 6.0 stand-up slots

The -o controller and the network adapter want the same slot. HPE's storage configurations put the MR408i-o or MR416i-o in an OCP 3.0 slot, and the DL525 Gen13 has one rear OCP slot standard plus one optional front slot. Decide whether OCP carries storage or networking before choosing between an -o module and a -p card, pair any cached controller with the Smart Hybrid Capacitor or the 96W battery, and remember that several of HPE's layouts are marked as available in CQ1 2027.

Which DL525 Gen13 storage controller do I need?

Start from the bays you intend to populate and how they are cabled, because the controller decides the cable kit and the slot it occupies. HPE's configuration tables for the EDSFF server run from 4 E3.S drives to 20, and several layouts are marked as available in CQ1 2027.

The OCP controller and a network adapter compete for the same OCP 3.0 slot. With one rear OCP slot standard and the front slot optional, decide whether OCP carries storage or networking before choosing between an -o module and a -p card; the -p card takes a PCIe 6.0 slot instead, of which the EDSFF server has up to three.

Choosing the Right DL525 Gen13 Storage Controller

• Cache needs backup. The MR408i and MR416i carry 4GB and 8GB of cache; pair a cached controller with the Smart Hybrid Capacitor or the 96W Smart Storage Battery, and order the Storage Controller Voltage Backup Cable Kit listed for this server.
• Direct attach is an option, not a default. Several of HPE's storage configurations cable the E3.S bays straight to the processor with NVMe direct-attach cable kits and no controller at all.
• Count the cable kits. HPE pairs each layout with specific OROC-to-MXIO, PCIe-controller-to-MXIO and NVMe direct-attach cable kits in set quantities; the kits are listed under Cable Kits on the DL525 Gen13 parts page.
• The E208e-p is for external SAS. It has eight external lanes and no cache, and does not attach the internal E3.S bays.
• Watch the availability notes. Layouts HPE marks with an asterisk are listed as available in CQ1 2027.

Complete Your DL525 Gen13 Build

Shop the rest of the server: all DL525 Gen13 parts, E3.S NVMe drives, memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies. For other models, browse HPE parts by server model.

DL525 Gen13 Storage Controllers FAQ

What storage controllers does the HPE ProLiant DL525 Gen13 support?
HPE lists the MR216i (x16, no cache), MR408i (x8, 4GB cache) and MR416i (x16, 8GB cache) Gen11 controllers, each as an OCP -o module and a PCIe -p plug-in card, plus the Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 for external 12G SAS. The Smart Hybrid Capacitor and 96W Smart Storage Battery back the cached controllers.

What is the difference between an MR416i-o and an MR416i-p?
The form factor. Both are x16-lane Gen11 controllers with 8GB of cache and SPDM; the -o version is an OCP 3.0 module that uses one of the server's OCP slots, the -p version is a PCIe plug-in card that uses a PCIe 6.0 stand-up slot.

Does the DL525 Gen13 need a storage controller?
Not for every layout. HPE's storage configurations include NVMe direct-attach layouts that cable the E3.S bays to the processor with no controller, and controller layouts through the MR408i or MR416i. Direct attach needs the NVMe direct-attach cable kits; a controller needs its own MXIO cable kits.

Do I need a battery with a DL525 Gen13 RAID controller?
With the cached controllers, yes: the MR408i (4GB) and MR416i (8GB) are backed by either the HPE 16W Smart Hybrid Capacitor or the HPE 96W Smart Storage Lithium-ion Battery, each with a 145mm cable. The MR216i has no cache and needs neither.

Can the E208e-p controller run the drives inside a DL525 Gen13?
No. The Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 has eight external 12G SAS lanes and no cache; it connects external SAS storage. The internal EDSFF E3.S bays are NVMe and are attached either directly or through the MR Gen11 controllers.

✅ Looking for a specific DL525 Gen13 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.

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