HP
HP 804394-B21 Smart Array E208i-p SR Gen10 Controller
★★★★★
Eight-lane PCIe 3.0 SAS/SATA controller gives Gen10 servers cache-free 12Gb/s storage connectivity without occupying an internal slot.
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Overview
Optimize Your Storage with HP Smart Array E208i-p SR Gen10 Controller
Enhance your server's storage capabilities with the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Smart Array E208i-p SR Gen10 Controller. This 12G SAS PCIe plug-in controller delivers reliable performance and efficient data management for demanding server environments.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Computer Component
- Hardware Interface: SAS
- Internal Lanes: 8
- Cache: No Cache
- Form Factor: PCIe Plug-in
- Generation: Gen10
Detailed Specifications:
- Brand: HP
- Item Model Number: 804394-B21
- Item Weight: 10.6 ounces (0.66 Pounds)
- Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches (2.52"L x 8.66"W x 9.84"H)
- Number of Processors: 1
- Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Style: Classic
Key Features
Host Interface
PCI Express 3.0 x8
Controller Type
12Gb/s SAS
Controller Type
Serial ATA/600
RAID Supported
Yes
RAID Levels
0
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface delivers up to 8 GB/s bidirectional bandwidth, sufficient to saturate eight 12Gb/s SAS drives simultaneously.
- 12Gb/s SAS support doubles the per-drive throughput ceiling compared to 6Gb/s SAS controllers, future-proofing the storage bus for high-speed SSD workloads.
- Dual-protocol design (12Gb/s SAS + SATA/600) allows mixed SAS and SATA drive populations in the same server without additional controllers.
- PCIe plug-in form factor enables storage expansion in Gen10 servers that lack an internal embedded controller slot.
- HPE Smart Array ecosystem integration provides enterprise-grade monitoring, predictive failure analysis, and firmware management through SSA.
👎 Cons
- No onboard cache eliminates write-back caching, making RAID 5/6 unavailable and capping write performance compared to P-series Smart Array controllers.
- Gen10-specific design means this card is not a drop-in option for Gen9 or earlier HPE servers, nor for non-HPE platforms.
- RAID 0 as the primary listed RAID level provides no redundancy — users requiring data protection must verify RAID 1/10 availability through HPE's configuration documentation.
- At 8 internal SAS lanes, expanding beyond 8 direct-attached drives requires a SAS expander, adding cost and a potential reliability dependency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What server platforms is the E208i-p SR Gen10 compatible with?
The E208i-p SR is designed specifically for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers. It is a PCIe plug-in card using an x8 PCIe 3.0 interface. Compatibility outside HPE's Gen10 ecosystem is not guaranteed and HPE does not support it in third-party server chassis.
Does the E208i-p SR have onboard cache, and does that limit its RAID capabilities?
Correct — this controller has no onboard cache. As a Smart Array SR (Software RAID) controller, parity-based RAID levels such as RAID 5 and RAID 6 are not supported. The listed RAID level is RAID 0, plus RAID 1 and 10 are typically available on SR-class controllers. Write-intensive workloads that benefit from write-back caching will require an upgrade to a P-series controller with ABWC (Advanced Battery-Backed Write Cache).
What drive protocols does the E208i-p handle, and how many drives can it address?
The controller supports both 12Gb/s SAS and SATA/600 (6Gb/s SATA) drives. It provides 8 internal SAS lanes, meaning it can address up to 8 direct-attached drives or expand to more devices via SAS expanders.
What is the maximum theoretical throughput of this controller?
The PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface provides approximately 8 GB/s of bidirectional bandwidth. The 12Gb/s SAS protocol delivers up to 1.2 GB/s per physical lane. In practice, the x8 PCIe bus is the ceiling for aggregate array throughput across all connected drives.
Does this controller require HPE SmartStorage Administrator or specific drivers?
Yes. Full management functionality — including RAID configuration, health monitoring, and firmware updates — requires HPE's Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) tool and the appropriate HPE-supplied drivers. Generic OS inbox drivers may detect the device but will not expose SR RAID functionality.
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