HPE ProLiant XL230a Gen9 Storage Controllers
Genuine HPE storage controllers and cable kits for the HPE ProLiant XL230a Gen9, new and refurbished. The tray carries an embedded SATA controller and everything past that is an add-in: the H240 Smart HBA that SAS drives require sits on a low profile PCIe riser and needs a Mini-SAS cable kit of its own.
XL230a Gen9 Storage Controller Specifications
- Embedded controller: HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i, the tray's SATA controller; it runs in AHCI mode by default, and the B140i FIO setting enables RAID and hot-plug
- Host bus adapters: the H240 Smart HBA, 12Gb with two internal ports, and the external H241, which HPE supports only with the PCIe and FlexibleLOM riser FIO kit
- Smart Array option: the Smart Array P440 with 4GB flash backed write cache, paired with a 12W Smart Storage Battery
- Fibre Channel: StoreFabric SN1100E 16Gb single-port and dual-port adapters, on that same riser kit
- Cable kits: the 12G hot-plug tray takes a Mini-SAS cable matched to the controller, with separate kits for the B140i, the H240 and the P440
- Boot mode: the H240 and the B140i operate in UEFI mode only, with AHCI mode required for legacy support
The H240 is three parts, not one. The card needs a low profile PCIe 3.0 x16 riser to sit on and a Mini-SAS H240 cable for the 12G hot-plug tray, and neither ships with the controller. Both of those render a quote link rather than a price, so check what the tray already carries before ordering the card alone.
Which Controller Does Your Array Need?
| Controller | What it drives | What it needs alongside |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Smart Array B140i (embedded) | SATA drives only | The B140i FIO setting for RAID and hot-plug, and its own Mini-SAS cable |
| H240 Smart HBA | SAS and SATA on two internal ports | A low profile PCIe 3.0 x16 riser and a Mini-SAS H240 cable |
| Smart Array P440 with 4GB FBWC | Hardware RAID with cache | A Mini-SAS P440 cable and a 12W Smart Storage Battery |
| H241 Smart HBA | External SAS storage | The Apollo 6000 PCIe and FlexibleLOM riser FIO kit |
The dividing line is SATA against everything else: if the array is SATA, the embedded controller already covers it and no card is needed. Where SAS is the requirement, budget for three parts rather than one — and note that the Mini-SAS H240 cable here and the PCIe x16 riser kit on the parts page both render a quote link rather than a price, so check what the tray already carries first.
Choosing the Right XL230a Gen9 Storage Controller
- Start from the drives, not the card. SAS is what makes the H240 mandatory; a SATA build runs on the embedded B140i.
- The riser and the cable are not included. The H240 needs the low profile PCIe 3.0 x16 riser and a Mini-SAS H240 cable, and neither ships with the controller.
- Check the tray type before ordering a Smart Array. HPE states that the Non-Hot Plug Compute Tray, 785695-B21, cannot support Smart Array controllers.
- External SAS and Fibre Channel change the riser. The H241 and the SN1100E adapters are supported only with the PCIe and FlexibleLOM riser FIO kit, a different part from the internal x16 riser.
Complete Your XL230a Gen9 Build
Controllers and drives are bought together — see XL230a Gen9 drives for what the array will hold. Also available: networking adapters, or the full XL230a Gen9 parts listing, which carries the PCIe x16 riser kit. On the Gen8 tray instead? See XL220a Gen8 v2 storage controllers, or the rack equivalent at DL360 Gen9. Background reading: HPE Flexible Smart Array controllers, with every model under HPE parts by server model.
XL230a Gen9 Storage Controllers FAQ
Which storage controller is built into the XL230a Gen9?
An embedded SATA controller that HPE calls the Dynamic Smart Array B140i. It runs in AHCI mode by default; the B140i FIO setting switches it into Dynamic Smart Array mode for RAID and hot-plug.
Do I need the H240 for SAS drives?
Yes. HPE's note for this tray is that the H240 controller is required when ordering SAS drives. The embedded controller handles SATA only.
What does the H240 need besides the card itself?
A low profile PCIe 3.0 x16 riser to sit on and a Mini-SAS H240 cable kit for the 12G hot-plug tray. Neither is supplied with the controller, and both are listed separately.
Does the XL230a Gen9 support hardware RAID with cache?
Yes, through the Smart Array P440 with 4GB flash backed write cache and a 12W Smart Storage Battery. The P440 takes its own Mini-SAS cable kit.
Will these controllers work in legacy boot mode?
HPE documents the H240 and the embedded B140i as operating in UEFI mode only. For legacy support the embedded controller has to run in AHCI mode rather than as a Dynamic Smart Array.
Why is a keyboard and mouse kit listed on this page?
The HPE USB US keyboard and mouse kit, 631341-B21, feeds into this category from the parts listing. HPE documents it as a rack option for the platform, not as a storage part.
✅ Looking for a specific XL230a Gen9 storage controller? Browse our full selection below.
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