HPE ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache modules and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2, new and refurbished. The embedded Dynamic Smart Array B120i is a SATA controller with no cache — it gives you RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 across six SATA connectors, and everything beyond that, SAS included, means a standup card.
ML310e Gen8 v2 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i on a x4 PCIe 2.0 interface, six internal SATA connectors, 6Gb/s on ports 0 and 1, 3Gb/s on ports 2 and 3
- Embedded limits: RAID 0, 1 and 1+0 only, zero cache memory, and up to eight logical volumes across six physical drives
- Internal add-in cards: Smart Array P420 with 1GB or 2GB flash backed write cache and two internal ports, and the P222 with 512MB FBWC, one internal port and one external
- External add-in cards: Smart Array P421 with 1GB or 2GB flash backed write cache and two external ports, for enclosures rather than chassis bays
- Cache and licensing: a 2GB P-series flash backed write cache module, plus SmartCache licences that put an SSD in front of the array
- Host bus adapters: H220, H221 and H222 SAS adapters, for passing drives through to the operating system rather than a hardware array
- Slot restriction: HPE documents Smart Array controllers going in PCIe slot 3, slot 4 or both — the two PCIe 3.0 slots, not the two PCIe 2.0 ones
The B120i has no cache at all, and it is SATA only. Six SATA connectors, six physical drives, RAID 0, 1 and 1+0, no flash backed write cache option. If the requirement is SAS, RAID 5, all eight SFF bays or a write cache that survives a power cut, the answer is a standup card — and HPE puts it in slot 3 or slot 4.
Do you need a standup card, or will the B120i do?
| What you want | What it takes |
|---|---|
| RAID 0, 1 or 1+0 across up to six SATA drives | Nothing — the embedded B120i already does it |
| Any SAS drive, or all eight SFF bays | A standup Smart Array controller or a SAS host bus adapter |
| RAID 5, or a write cache that survives a power cut | Smart Array P222 or P420 with flash backed write cache |
| An external disk enclosure | Smart Array P421, or the external port on the P222 |
| Drives passed straight through to the OS | An H220, H221 or H222 HBA |
The B120i is genuinely enough for a branch-office tower running mirrored SATA, and that is worth confirming before spending a slot. Past that point the split is internal against external: the P420 serves drives inside the chassis, the P421 serves enclosures outside it.
Choosing the Right ML310e Gen8 v2 Storage Controller
- Count your drives against six. The embedded controller reaches six physical drives, so an eight-bay SFF tower has outgrown it before RAID level even comes up.
- Cache is what the standup cards are really for. The B120i has none, and flash backed write cache is the difference between a mirror and a parity array that performs.
- Keep slots 3 and 4 in mind. HPE restricts Smart Array cards to those two, which are also the only PCIe 3.0 slots, so a controller and a 10 Gigabit adapter compete for them.
- A host bus adapter is not a RAID card. The H220, H221 and H222 present drives to the operating system; choose one when software is doing the array.
Complete Your ML310e Gen8 v2 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see ML310e Gen8 v2 drives for what the array will hold. Also available: memory, networking adapters, power supplies and rack options, or the full ML310e Gen8 v2 parts listing and HPE parts by server model. Background reading: what HPE Smart Array controllers do.
ML310e Gen8 v2 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller comes with the ML310e Gen8 v2?
The HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i, embedded on the system board. It runs six internal SATA connectors and supports RAID 0, 1 and 1+0.
Does the B120i support RAID 5?
No. The embedded controller is limited to RAID 0, 1 and 1+0, has zero cache memory and takes no flash backed write cache. A standup Smart Array card is required for anything beyond those levels.
Can the embedded controller run SAS drives?
No. The B120i is a SATA controller. SAS drives need a standup Smart Array controller or a SAS host bus adapter such as the H220, H221 or H222.
How many drives can the embedded controller handle?
Six physical drives, and up to eight logical volumes across them. An eight-bay SFF configuration therefore needs a standup controller or host bus adapter.
Which PCIe slot does a Smart Array controller go in?
Slot 3, slot 4, or both. HPE restricts Smart Array cards to those two slots, which are also the two PCIe 3.0 slots in this server.
What is the difference between the P420 and the P421?
Ports. The P420 carries two internal ports for drives inside the chassis; the P421 carries two external ports for disk enclosures outside it. Both come with 1GB or 2GB of flash backed write cache.
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