HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, Smart Host Bus Adapters and cache backup hardware for the HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen9, new and refurbished. The first question here is which embedded controller the server was built with: the B140i is SATA only, while the P440ar is a 12Gb SAS card with 2GB of flash backed write cache.
ML350 Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Entry models: embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i — SATA only at 6Gb/s, up to 10 internal drives, RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5, and UEFI boot mode only
- Base and performance models: HPE Flexible Smart Array P440ar with 2GB FBWC, 12Gb, two internal ports and eight internal drives without consuming a PCIe slot, Smart Storage Battery included
- Internal add-in cards: Smart Array P440 with 4GB FBWC, one internal port and eight drives from one PCIe slot, and the two-port P840 with 4GB FBWC
- External add-in cards: Smart Array P441 with two external ports and the P841 with four, both carrying 4GB FBWC
- Smart Host Bus Adapters: the H240ar, which like the P440ar takes no PCIe slot, plus the stand-up H240 for internal drives and H241 for external
- Cache backup and licensing: the 96W Smart Storage Battery with 145mm cable, P01366-B21 replacing 727258-B21, plus separately licensed SmartCache, which the B140i does not support
Embedded against stand-up is the decision, not internal against external. The AROC cards — P440ar and H240ar — take no PCIe slot and reach eight internal drives, but HPE states the SAS Expander Card cannot be connected to either of them. Addressing more drives than that means moving to a stand-up P440, P840 or H240, and each card class takes its own Mini-SAS cable kit.
Which ML350 Gen9 Controller Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | Ports | Cache | Slot and reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| B140i, embedded on entry models | SATA only | None | Dedicated; up to 10 SATA drives, UEFI mode only |
| P440ar, embedded AROC | 2 internal, 12G | 2GB FBWC | Uses no PCIe slot; eight internal drives |
| P440 | 1 internal, 12G | 4GB FBWC | One PCIe slot; eight internal drives |
| P840 | 2 internal, 12G | 4GB FBWC | One PCIe slot; HPE's card for the 48-drive build |
| P441 and P841 | 2 or 4 external, 12G | 4GB FBWC | External enclosures, leaving the internal bays alone |
The split that catches people out is not internal against external, it is embedded against stand-up. The AROC cards, P440ar and H240ar, take no expansion slot but cannot be connected to the SAS Expander Card, so addressing more than eight internal drives means moving to a stand-up P440, P840 or H240. Each card class takes a different Mini-SAS cable kit, bought separately from the card.
Choosing the Right ML350 Gen9 Storage Controller
- Establish what the server already has. A B140i machine cannot run SAS drives at all, so on an entry model the controller is the first purchase, not an upgrade.
- The SAS Expander will not talk to an AROC card. HPE states it must be used with a P440, P840 or H240, never with the H240ar or P440ar — and that it carries no tape or RDX device.
- Buy the cable kit that matches the card class. There is one Mini-SAS kit for the AROC, another for stand-up P-series cards and a third for Host Bus Adapters, and they are not interchangeable.
- Host bus adapters are not RAID cards. The H240, H240ar and H241 present drives for software RAID or external attach, with no write cache and no parity.
Complete Your ML350 Gen9 Build
The controller decides what an array can hold — see ML350 Gen9 drives for what goes behind it. Also available: memory, processors, networking adapters and power supplies, or the full ML350 Gen9 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers. Other models: HPE parts by server model.
ML350 Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the ML350 Gen9 come with?
One of two. Entry models carry the embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i, a SATA-only controller. Base and performance models carry the Flexible Smart Array P440ar with 2GB of flash backed write cache.
What RAID levels does the B140i support?
RAID 0, 1, 10 and 5, on SATA drives only. It addresses up to 10 internal drives, supports no SmartCache licence and runs in UEFI boot mode only.
What is an AROC controller?
A Flexible Smart Array controller that plugs into a dedicated connector rather than a PCIe slot. On this server the P440ar and H240ar are the AROC options, each supporting up to eight internal SAS or SATA drives.
Can I use the SAS Expander Card with the P440ar?
No. HPE states that the SAS Expander Card must be used with a Smart Array P440 or P840 or an H240 Host Bus Adapter, and cannot be connected to the H240ar or P440ar.
Do Smart Array cards need a separate cable kit?
Yes, and the kit depends on the card class. HPE lists one Mini-SAS cable kit for the AROC, a second for stand-up P-series Smart Array cards and a third for Host Bus Adapters.
Can I connect external storage to an ML350 Gen9?
Yes. The Smart Array P441 provides two external 12Gb ports and the P841 four, both with 4GB of flash backed write cache. The H241 Smart Host Bus Adapter offers two external ports without RAID.
✅ Looking for a specific ML350 Gen9 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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