HPE ProLiant DL80 Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, Smart Host Bus Adapters and cache hardware for the HPE ProLiant DL80 Gen9, new and refurbished. Storage starts two different ways here — entry servers on the embedded Dynamic Smart Array B140i, base servers on a factory-fitted H240 Smart Host Bus Adapter — so check which is in the machine before assuming the embedded controller is what you are upgrading from.
DL80 Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: Dynamic Smart Array B140i on entry models — SATA only, up to ten drives at 6Gb/s, RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5, no expander support, UEFI boot mode only
- Factory controller on base models: the H240 FIO Smart Host Bus Adapter, documented for eight SAS or SATA drives at 12Gb/s with RAID 0, 1 and 5
- Cards for the slots: the P440 with 4GB flash backed write cache on one internal port and the P840 with 4GB FBWC on two, plus the H240 with two internal 12Gb ports; the H241 and the P441/4GB take two external ports each
- Cable kits: the LFF Smart Array P440/P840 SAS cable kit — one with a P440, two with a P840 — and the LFF H240 SAS cable kit, of which two go with an H240
- Cache and licensing: the 96W Smart Storage Battery is mandatory with Smart Array controllers, one per server; the B140i supports neither Secure Encryption nor SmartCache, which is standard with a P840
Check which controller the server actually shipped with. Entry models run the embedded B140i — SATA only, ten drives, 6Gb/s — while base models already carry an H240 Smart Host Bus Adapter. Neither reaches a full 12LFF cage alone, which is why the two-port P840 matches the largest front end.
Which Controller Does a Twelve-Bay Cage Need?
| Controller | Ports | Documented reach | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| B140i (embedded) | internal, SATA | 10 SATA drives at 6Gb/s | RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5 without spending a slot |
| H240 Smart HBA | 2 internal | 8 SAS or SATA at 12Gb/s | SAS and 12Gb transfer, no cache |
| P440/4GB | 1 internal | SAS and SATA at 12Gb/s | 4GB flash backed write cache |
| P840/4GB | 2 internal | SAS and SATA at 12Gb/s | Two ports, and SmartCache unlicensed |
| H241 and P441 | 2 external | External 12Gb SAS enclosures | Capacity beyond the internal bays |
Bay count is what separates this model from its 1U relatives, and it is what picks the card. A 12LFF cage is beyond the ten SATA drives the B140i is documented for and beyond the eight an H240 covers, so the P840's two internal ports is what matches the largest front end. Cabling follows the port count: one kit with a P440, two with a P840, two with an H240.
Choosing the Right DL80 Gen9 Storage Controller
- Count the bays against the controller's documented limit. Ten drives on the B140i and eight on an H240 both fall short of a full twelve-bay cage.
- If the array is SAS, the embedded controller is out. The B140i handles SATA only, whatever the drive count, and it has no expander support.
- Budget the cable kits, and count them. The P440/P840 and H240 kits are not interchangeable, and the number needed differs by card.
- Budget for the Smart Storage Battery. HPE lists the 96W battery as mandatory with Smart Array controllers, and one covers every card in the server.
- Check the boot mode before adding a card for legacy support. The embedded B140i operates in UEFI mode only, so a legacy BIOS installation needs another controller.
Complete Your DL80 Gen9 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see DL80 Gen9 drives for what the array holds. Also available: DL80 Gen9 memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies, or the full DL80 Gen9 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers. Other models are listed under HPE parts by server model.
DL80 Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which storage controller does the DL80 Gen9 come with?
One of two, depending on the model. Entry servers use the embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i; base servers ship a factory-fitted H240 FIO Smart Host Bus Adapter.
How many drives can the embedded B140i handle on this server?
Up to ten SATA drives at 6Gb/s, with RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5. That is short of a full 12LFF cage, and it supports neither SAS nor an expander.
Do I need a Smart Array P840 in a DL80 Gen9?
You do if you want one card driving a full twelve-bay cage with a write cache. The P840 carries two internal 12Gb ports and 4GB of cache; the P440 has one.
How many cable kits does a DL80 Gen9 controller need?
It depends on the card. HPE requires one LFF Smart Array P440/P840 SAS cable kit with a P440 and two with a P840, and two LFF H240 SAS cable kits with an H240.
Do I need the Smart Storage Battery?
Yes, with any HPE Smart Array controller. HPE lists the 96W Smart Storage Battery as mandatory, and one covers every Smart Array card in the server.
Does the DL80 Gen9 support SmartCache or Secure Encryption?
Not on the embedded controller. The B140i supports neither licence, so both need a Smart Array card in a slot. SmartCache comes standard, unlicensed, when a P840 is installed.
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