HPE ProLiant ML350e Gen8 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE Smart Array controllers, cache modules and host bus adapters for the HPE ProLiant ML350e Gen8, new and refurbished. On this tower a controller is often a prerequisite rather than an upgrade: the embedded Dynamic Smart Array B120i is SATA only, and HPE states a SAS controller is required to support the eight-bay SFF cage or the six-bay LFF cage.
ML350e Gen8 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i, six internal SATA connections at up to 6Gb/s over an x4 PCIe 2.0 link, at RAID 0, 1 and 1+0, with up to eight logical volumes across six physical drives
- Factory builds: Entry models ship the B120i with zero memory, Base models add a 512MB flash backed write cache, and Performance models ship a Smart Array P420 with 1GB FBWC instead
- Internal SAS cards: Smart Array P420 with 1GB or 2GB flash backed write cache, two internal ports
- External SAS cards: Smart Array P421 with 1GB or 2GB FBWC and two external ports, and the P222 with 512MB FBWC offering one of each
- Internal and external together: Smart Array P822 with 2GB FBWC, two internal and four external ports — one per server, and only in expansion slot 2
- Cache and host bus adapters: 2GB P-series and 512MB B-series FBWC modules, SmartCache licences, the H220, H221 and H222 SAS host bus adapters and the SC11Xe Ultra320 SCSI HBA
On most ML350e Gen8 towers the controller is a prerequisite, not an upgrade. The embedded Dynamic Smart Array B120i carries six internal SATA connections at RAID 0, 1 and 1+0; RAID 5 arrives with its 512MB flash backed cache, and RAID 6 only with a Smart Array P420 family card.
Does this tower actually need a SAS controller?
| Configuration | What the document requires |
|---|---|
| Four SATA drives on the embedded controller | Nothing — the B120i handles them |
| The full eight-bay SFF cage | A SAS controller |
| The full six-bay LFF cage | A SAS controller and the redundant power supply option |
| Each additional drive cage | Its own Smart Array controller |
That makes the first question here a different one from the usual: not which card is fastest, but whether the tower can run its own drive bays without one. RAID level follows cache on this generation — the zero-memory B120i stops at RAID 0, 1 and 1+0, its 512MB flash backed cache adds RAID 5, and RAID 6 arrives only with the Smart Array P420 family.
Choosing the Right ML350e Gen8 Storage Controller
- Decide internal, external or both before the model number. The P420 serves the drives inside the tower, the P421 serves enclosures outside it, the P222 does one of each, and only the P822 does both from one slot.
- The P822 carries two restrictions. One per server, and expansion slot 2 only — worth checking against whatever is in that slot now.
- Cache is flash backed on this generation. FBWC modules hold the cache contents in flash using a supercapacitor, so there is no battery to degrade.
- A host bus adapter is not a RAID card. The H220, H221 and H222 present drives to the operating system without Smart Array RAID levels or write cache.
- Match the cache module to the controller family. The 2GB module is a P-series part and the 512MB module is the B-series Dynamic Smart Array part.
Complete Your ML350e Gen8 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see ML350e Gen8 drives for what the array will hold, and networking adapters for what else competes for the six PCIe slots. Also available: ML350e Gen8 memory, processors and power supplies, or the full ML350e Gen8 parts listing. Background reading: what are HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers. Other models are indexed under HPE parts by server model.
ML350e Gen8 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which RAID controller does the ML350e Gen8 come with?
An embedded HPE Dynamic Smart Array B120i SATA controller. Entry models ship it with zero memory; Base models add a 512MB flash backed write cache and RAID 5; Performance models ship a Smart Array P420 with 1GB FBWC instead.
Do I need a SAS controller in an ML350e Gen8?
If the tower is to run the full eight-bay SFF cage or the six-bay LFF cage, yes - HPE states a SAS controller is required for both. Four SATA drives on the embedded B120i do not need one.
Does the ML350e Gen8 support RAID 6?
Only with a Smart Array P420 family controller. The embedded B120i tops out at RAID 5 once its 512MB flash backed write cache is fitted.
Where does the Smart Array P822 go?
In expansion slot 2, and nowhere else. HPE also supports only one P822 per server, so it cannot be doubled up for more external ports.
Can I connect external storage to an ML350e Gen8?
Yes. The Smart Array P421 provides two external ports and the P822 provides four alongside two internal, while the P222 offers one of each.
What is the difference between the 2GB and 512MB cache modules?
They belong to different controller families. The 2GB flash backed write cache is a P-series module and the 512MB one is the B-series Dynamic Smart Array module.
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