HPE ProLiant ML310e Gen8 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache modules and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant ML310e Gen8, new and refurbished. The tower starts on an embedded Dynamic Smart Array B120i that is SATA only, with no cache and RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 — so SAS drives, write cache and anything past six physical drives all mean a standup card.
ML310e Gen8 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i, six internal SATA connectors on an x4 PCIe 2.0 host interface, with hot-plug support and no cache memory
- Embedded RAID: RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 only, across up to eight logical volumes on six physical drives; HPE documents no flash backed write cache on the B120i
- Standup Smart Array cards: the P420 with two internal 6Gb SAS ports, the P421 with two external ports, and the P222 with one of each
- Cache: 512MB flash backed write cache on the P222 and 1GB or 2GB on the P420 and P421, with the 2GB P-series module listed as the upgrade
- Host bus adapters: the H220, H221 and H222 SAS HBAs for drives, external storage and tape without RAID, plus the SC11Xe Ultra320 SCSI HBA on a PCIe x4 connection
- Licensing: Smart Array Advanced Pack 2.0, stocked here as a software licence
An eight-bay SFF ML310e Gen8 needs a standup card, not an upgrade decision. HPE gives the embedded B120i six internal SATA connectors and up to eight logical volumes across six physical drives, and specifies a standup Smart Array controller or host bus adapter for the eight-bay SFF configuration. The same card is what brings SAS support and flash backed write cache with it.
Does the embedded B120i cover the array you want?
| What you need | Embedded B120i | Standup card |
|---|---|---|
| SATA drives at RAID 0, 1 or 1+0 | Yes | Yes |
| SAS drives of any kind | No | P222, P420, P421 or an H-series HBA |
| More than six physical drives | No | Required for the eight-bay SFF chassis |
| Flash backed write cache | No | P222 at 512MB, P420 or P421 at 1GB or 2GB |
| An external enclosure or tape drive | No | P222, P421, or an H221 or H222 HBA |
Read that as a shopping list rather than a comparison. The B120i is adequate for a branch-office tower running two or four SATA drives in a mirror, which is what most of these servers do; every other line moves the decision to a standup card, and the split between those cards is simply where the ports point.
Choosing the Right ML310e Gen8 Storage Controller
- Settle internal against external before the model number. A P421 will not drive the drives in the chassis, whatever cache it carries, and a P420 will not reach an external enclosure.
- An eight-bay SFF tower needs a card, not an opinion. HPE specifies a standup Smart Array controller or host bus adapter for that configuration, because the embedded controller addresses six physical drives.
- Cache is what a Smart Array buys you here. The embedded controller has none, so a P222, P420 or P421 is as much about write performance as it is about RAID levels.
- An HBA is the right answer for tape. The H221 and H222 give SAS connectivity without RAID, and the SC11Xe covers Ultra320 SCSI drives that predate SAS entirely.
- Check the slot you have free. Four PCIe slots serve the whole tower, and only two are Gen3 capable, and then only with a Xeon E3-1200 v2 fitted.
Complete Your ML310e Gen8 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see ML310e Gen8 drives for what the array will hold. Also available: ML310e Gen8 memory, networking adapters, power supplies and rack options, or the full ML310e Gen8 parts listing and HPE parts by server model. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers.
ML310e Gen8 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the ML310e Gen8 come with?
An embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i. It supports RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 across up to eight logical volumes on six physical drives, has six internal SATA connectors and carries no cache memory.
Does the ML310e Gen8 support RAID 5?
Not on the embedded controller. HPE documents RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 for the B120i, so RAID 5 means fitting a standup Smart Array card such as the P222, P420 or P421.
Why would I add a Smart Array card to this server?
For SAS drives, for flash backed write cache, for more than six physical drives, or for external storage. The embedded B120i covers none of those.
What is the difference between the P420 and the P421?
Where the ports point. The P420 has two internal 6Gb SAS ports for drives in the chassis; the P421 has two external ports for an enclosure. The P222 has one of each.
Can I use a host bus adapter instead of a Smart Array card?
Yes, where RAID is not the point. The H220, H221 and H222 give SAS connectivity without a RAID engine, which suits tape drives and software-managed storage.
Does the embedded controller support write cache?
No. HPE states that a standup Smart Array card must be configured if flash backed write cache is required.
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