HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen10 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 controllers for the HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen10, new and refurbished. Storage starts on the embedded Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID, which drives 14 SATA ports and nothing else — a SAS drive will not run behind it, and SAS means fitting a modular or plug-in Smart Array card.
ML350 Gen10 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded: Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID, 14 SATA ports, RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10, UEFI mode only, off by default, with AHCI available for Linux and VMware
- Essential RAID: E208i-a modular, E208i-p plug-in and E208e-p external, all eight lanes with no cache
- Performance RAID: P408i-a and P408i-p with eight internal lanes and 2GB cache, P408e-p with eight external lanes and 4GB, and P816i-a with sixteen internal lanes, 4GB and SmartCache
- Modular against plug-in: the -a cards mount in the AROC slot and take no PCIe expansion slot; the -p cards take one
- Cache backup is separate: HPE states that Performance RAID controllers require the Smart Storage Battery or the Smart Storage Hybrid Capacitor, sold separately from the card
- Cabling is separate: one cable kit per controller, differing by card class and chassis — an AROC Mini-SAS kit for modular cards, a Smart Array/HBA Mini-SAS kit for plug-in ones, each in SFF and LFF versions
The embedded controller is SATA only. Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID drives 14 SATA ports, runs in UEFI mode only and is off by default — a SAS drive will not run behind it. Moving to SAS means a modular or plug-in Smart Array card, and each one needs its own cable kit, specific to both the card class and the chassis.
Which Smart Array Card Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | Lanes and cache | Takes a PCIe slot? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| S100i (embedded) | 14 SATA ports, no cache | No | SATA drives only, software RAID |
| E208i-a, E208i-p | 8 internal, no cache | Only the -p | The step from SATA to SAS |
| P408i-a, P408i-p | 8 internal, 2GB | Only the -p | Cached RAID on the internal bays |
| P816i-a | 16 internal, 4GB | No | Large arrays with SmartCache; needs the fan cage kit |
| E208e-p, P408e-p | 8 external | Yes | External enclosures, leaving the internal bays alone |
The decision here is modular against plug-in before it is Essential against Performance. A modular -a card sits in the AROC connector and leaves all eight PCIe slots free, which matters on a tower also carrying an expander, a GPU and a 25 Gigabit adapter. Cache is the second question: the E-series carries none, so RAID 5 write performance and SmartCache belong to the P-series — and every P-series card needs a Smart Storage Battery or Hybrid Capacitor to protect that cache.
Choosing the Right ML350 Gen10 Storage Controller
- Buy the cable kit with the card. HPE requires one kit per controller, specific to both the card class and the chassis.
- Check the cache backup you already have. The Smart Storage Battery and the Smart Storage Hybrid Capacitor are sold separately from the controller, and HPE lists one of them as a requirement for every Performance RAID card.
- The P816i-a asks for cooling. HPE requires the Redundant Fan Cage Kit with that controller, as it does for the P824i-p MR card the document also lists.
- S100i is SATA and UEFI only. It is off by default, supports Windows for its RAID modes, and points Linux users at an in-distro software RAID solution instead.
- Adding cages on S100i needs its own cable kit. HPE calls for the embedded SATA cable kit when a second and third drive cage go in behind it.
Complete Your ML350 Gen10 Build
The controller decides what an array can hold — see ML350 Gen10 drives for what goes behind it, and note that NVMe bypasses Smart Array entirely. Also available: ML350 Gen10 memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies, or the full ML350 Gen10 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers. Other models: HPE parts by server model.
ML350 Gen10 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the ML350 Gen10 come with?
An embedded HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 software RAID with 14 SATA ports, supporting RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10. It is SATA only, runs in UEFI mode only, and is off by default.
Can the ML350 Gen10 run SAS drives?
Not on the embedded S100i, which is SATA only. HPE describes the server as field upgradeable to SAS by fitting a modular Smart Array controller, and the plug-in E208 and P408 cards do the same from a PCIe slot.
What is the difference between the -a and -p Smart Array cards?
Where they mount. The -a cards are modular and sit in the AROC connector without using a PCIe slot; the -p cards are plug-in and occupy one. Lane count and cache are otherwise comparable within a series.
Do I need a Smart Storage Battery with a P408 or P816i-a?
HPE lists the Smart Storage Battery or the Smart Storage Hybrid Capacitor as a requirement for all Performance RAID controllers, and states it is sold separately from the card. Check what is already fitted before ordering a controller.
Does a Smart Array card need a cable kit?
Yes, one per controller. The kit differs by card class and by chassis - an AROC Mini-SAS kit for modular cards and a Smart Array/HBA Mini-SAS kit for plug-in cards, each in SFF and LFF versions.
Will NVMe SSDs run behind a Smart Array controller?
No. HPE states that NVMe drives on this server are not supported by Smart Array controllers. They connect through the NVMe Express Bay riser boards instead.
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