HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers and licences for the HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen10, new and refurbished. The server ships with Smart Array S100i software RAID, and its two limits are what send most buyers to this page: S100i drives SATA only, never SAS, and it runs in UEFI mode only.
DL560 Gen10 Storage Controller Specifications
- Standard: HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID, supporting 10 SATA drives, off by default and enabled in firmware
- Essential RAID: Smart Array E208i-a modular, E208i-p plug-in and E208e-p external, each eight 12G SAS lanes with no cache
- Performance RAID: Smart Array P408i-a modular and P408i-p plug-in with eight internal lanes and 2GB cache, P408e-p with eight external lanes and 4GB cache
- Highest lane count: Smart Array P816i-a SR Gen10, 16 internal 12G SAS lanes with 4GB cache and SmartCache included
- Modular form factor: the -a controllers do not occupy a PCIe expansion slot, which matters on a server whose slots 4 to 8 depend on a second processor
- Cache backup: performance controllers require a Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor, sold separately; only one of the two goes in a server, and the capacitor covers up to three controllers
- Licences: SmartCache and SR Secure Encryption data-at-rest licences, sold per server or per key
The embedded S100i software RAID handles SATA only. It supports up to 10 SATA drives, runs in UEFI mode only, and is off until you enable it — so a SAS array needs a Smart Array E208 or P408 card at minimum. Any performance controller also needs a Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor, which is sold separately.
Which controller does a 24-bay DL560 Gen10 need?
| Controller | Lanes and cache | Uses a PCIe slot | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| S100i (standard) | Software RAID, no cache | No | Up to 10 SATA drives, UEFI mode, no SAS |
| E208i-a / E208i-p | 8 internal, no cache | -a no, -p yes | SAS support and hardware RAID without write cache |
| P408i-a / P408i-p | 8 internal, 2GB | -a no, -p yes | One or two drive boxes with cached writes |
| P816i-a | 16 internal, 4GB | No | All three drive boxes from a single card |
| P408e-p | 8 external, 4GB | Yes | External SAS enclosures |
Lane count is the number to read first: eight lanes cover eight drives directly, so a fully populated 24-bay chassis is where the 16-lane P816i-a earns its price. Modular against plug-in matters more here than on a two-socket machine, because a single-processor DL560 Gen10 has only three PCIe slots and a modular controller does not consume one of them.
Choosing the Right DL560 Gen10 Storage Controller
- If the array has SAS drives, S100i is not an option. The embedded software RAID handles SATA only, so a SAS array needs an E208 or P408 card at minimum.
- Budget for the energy pack with any performance card. The Smart Storage battery or hybrid capacitor is a separate part, and a performance controller is not complete without one.
- Four or more performance controllers rules out the capacitor. It covers up to three; past that the 96W Smart Storage battery is the required part.
- Internal and external are different cards. A P408e-p or E208e-p drives enclosures outside the chassis and will not serve the internal backplane, however much cache it carries.
- SmartCache is licensed except on one card. It comes with the P816i-a; on other performance controllers it is a separate licence.
Complete Your DL560 Gen10 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see DL560 Gen10 drives for what the array will hold and how many boxes are populated. Also available: DL560 Gen10 memory, processors, networking adapters, power supplies and rack options, or the full DL560 Gen10 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers, or browse HPE parts by server model.
DL560 Gen10 Storage Controllers FAQ
What RAID controller does a DL560 Gen10 come with?
HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID. It is off by default and has to be enabled, it operates in UEFI mode only, and it supports up to 10 SATA drives.
Does the S100i support SAS drives?
No. The S100i handles SATA hard drives only. A SAS array needs a Smart Array E208 or P408 series controller, or the P816i-a.
Which controller drives all 24 bays?
The Smart Array P816i-a SR Gen10, which has 16 internal 12G SAS lanes and a 4GB cache. Eight-lane controllers cover fewer drives directly, so a fully populated chassis usually points to the P816i-a.
Do I need a Smart Storage battery?
Yes, with any performance RAID controller. HPE requires either the Smart Storage battery or the Smart Storage hybrid capacitor for cache backup, and both are sold separately from the controller.
Can I fit a controller without using a PCIe slot?
Yes. The modular -a controllers - E208i-a, P408i-a and P816i-a - do not occupy a PCIe expansion slot. That matters on a server running one processor, which has only three slots available.
Is SmartCache included with the controller?
It is standard on the P816i-a. On the other performance RAID controllers SmartCache is a separate licence, sold per server or across multiple servers.
✅ Looking for a specific DL560 Gen10 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
Browse all models
Why Global One?
- Trusted by thousands. Over 36,000 customers in 100+ countries trust Global One Technology to deliver mission-critical HP Enterprise hardware - including Fortune 500 businesses, schools, hospitals, and federal, state, and local goverment agencies.
- HPE is our specialty! We only sell genuine HP Enterprise parts.
- EASY ordering process. Purchase online now with credit card or PayPal!
- FAST shipping. Global One Technology ships orders received by 4pm ET the same day and offers NEXT DAY delivery to US customers.
