HPE ProLiant ML30 Gen11 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE storage controllers for the HPE ProLiant ML30 Gen11, new and refurbished. Every model of this server ships with embedded Intel VROC SATA hybrid RAID, which covers RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 on SATA drives at no extra cost — a plug-in card is what adds SAS, cache and external ports.
ML30 Gen11 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded RAID: Intel VROC SATA hybrid RAID on every model, supporting RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10; disabled by default, and enabled in the UEFI system utilities or the iLO Redfish API
- VROC limits: SATA only, UEFI boot mode required, Windows Server and Linux supported but not VMware, and a RAID set cannot span drive form factors
- Tri-mode controllers: HPE MR216i-p Gen11 with sixteen lanes and no cache, MR408i-p Gen11 with eight lanes and 4GB of cache, and MR416i-p Gen11 with sixteen lanes and 8GB of cache
- Tri-mode restrictions: not supported on the four-bay non-hot-plug model, and HPE documents a maximum of one MR416i-p or MR216i-p per server
- Essential RAID: HPE Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10, eight external lanes and no cache, 12G SAS — for external storage only, and not supported on the non-hot-plug server
- Energy pack: a tri-mode controller requires either the 96W Smart Storage Lithium-ion Battery or the Smart Storage Hybrid Capacitor on a 260mm cable, plus a battery holder kit; the two cannot be selected together
Check what the embedded controller already does before buying a card. Every ML30 Gen11 ships with Intel VROC SATA hybrid RAID covering levels 0, 1, 5 and 10 — it just has to be enabled in the UEFI system utilities, since it is disabled by default. A plug-in card earns its slot where VROC stops: SAS drives, a write cache, external storage, or VMware, which HPE does not list VROC as supporting.
Do you need a plug-in controller at all?
| What you need | Answer |
|---|---|
| SATA RAID 0, 1, 5 or 10 | Already present — embedded Intel VROC, enabled in the UEFI system utilities |
| RAID under VMware | A plug-in card — VROC covers Windows Server and Linux only |
| Internal SAS drives | MR216i-p without cache, or MR416i-p with 8GB — hot-plug chassis only |
| Write cache on an internal array | MR408i-p at 4GB or MR416i-p at 8GB, plus an energy pack |
| External SAS storage | Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10, eight external lanes, no cache |
Many ML30 Gen11 builds do not need a card at all: a SATA array on the embedded VROC is what HPE ships on both pre-configured models. The card earns its slot where VROC stops — SAS drives, a write cache, external enclosures, or a hypervisor VROC does not cover. Cabling follows the chassis as well: a tri-mode card needs the Gen10 Plus BCM cable kit on the four-bay hot-plug chassis and the Gen11 SFF PCIe cable kit on the eight-bay.
Choosing the Right ML30 Gen11 Storage Controller
- Check the chassis first. The four-bay non-hot-plug model supports neither the tri-mode controllers nor the E208e-p, so a controller upgrade there is not available whatever the budget.
- Internal and external are different cards. The E208e-p carries eight external lanes and is documented for external storage only; it will not drive the bays in the tower.
- Budget the energy pack with the card. HPE requires either the 96W lithium-ion battery or the hybrid capacitor with any tri-mode controller, and a Smart Storage battery holder kit to mount it.
- Plan the slot before you buy. A SAS controller and a PCIe Gen5 x16 card both need slot 1 and cannot be fitted together, and the Front PCI Fan and Baffle Kit is required with any plug-in controller.
Complete Your ML30 Gen11 Build
The controller and the drives are bought together — see ML30 Gen11 drives for what the array will hold. Also available: ML30 Gen11 memory, processors, networking and power supplies, or the full ML30 Gen11 parts listing. Background reading: what HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers are and how Gen10 and Gen11 compare. Other models are listed under HPE parts by server model.
ML30 Gen11 Storage Controllers FAQ
Does the ML30 Gen11 come with a RAID controller?
Yes, an embedded one. Intel VROC SATA hybrid RAID is on every model and supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10. It is disabled by default and is enabled in the UEFI system utilities or the iLO Redfish API.
Does Intel VROC work with VMware?
No. HPE documents Intel VROC SATA RAID as supporting Windows Server and Linux but not VMware, so a VMware host on this server needs a plug-in controller instead.
Which controllers add SAS support to an ML30 Gen11?
The HPE MR216i-p, MR408i-p and MR416i-p Gen11 tri-mode controllers for internal drives, and the Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 for external storage. None of them is supported on the four-bay non-hot-plug model.
Do I need a battery with an MR Gen11 controller?
Yes. HPE requires either the 96W Smart Storage Lithium-ion Battery or the Smart Storage Hybrid Capacitor, each with a 260mm cable, plus a battery holder kit. The battery and the capacitor cannot be selected together.
What is the difference between the MR216i-p and the MR416i-p?
Cache. Both are sixteen-lane tri-mode cards, but the MR216i-p has no cache and the MR416i-p carries 8GB. The MR408i-p sits between them with eight lanes and 4GB of cache.
Can I fit a controller and a PCIe Gen5 card at the same time?
No. HPE states that SAS controllers and a PCIe Gen5 x16 card cannot be selected together, since both have to be installed in slot 1. With two x8 cards, the controller goes in slot 1 and the other in slot 2.
✅ Looking for a specific ML30 Gen11 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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