RAID controller HP Enterprise HPE SmartArray P408i-a SR Gen10 — PCIe x8, 12 Gbit/s, supports SATA & SAS, RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60

The Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10 is a server RAID controller with Adaptive RAID on Chip (AROC) supporting 12 Gb/s SAS and 6 Gb/s SATA drives. It provides two internal Mini-SAS ports with eight SAS lanes and includes a 2 GB flash-backed write cache to protect write data and improve array performance. Supported RAID levels include 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60, plus Advanced Data Mirroring modes (1 ADM and 10 ADM).

Advantages

This controller combines high-throughput SAS connectivity and a non-volatile write cache to ensure data integrity and consistent performance under mixed workloads. Built-in AROC and multiple RAID levels allow flexible configuration for capacity, redundancy and performance. The Mini-SAS internal ports simplify connection to backplanes and drive enclosures in Gen10 server platforms.

Key specifications

• Supported storage drive interfaces: Serial ATA (SATA), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
• Host interface: PCI Express x8
• RAID levels: 0, 1, 1 ADM (Advanced Data Mirroring), 5, 6, 10, 10 ADM, 50, 60
• Maximum SAS transfer rate: 12 Gbit/s
• SATA transfer rate: 6 Gbit/s
• Internal ports: 2 × 4-lane Mini-SAS (8 SAS lanes)
• Write cache: 2 GB flash-backed

How to use

Install the Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10 into a compatible server PCIe x8 slot and connect the internal Mini-SAS ports to the server backplane or drive enclosure. Configure RAID arrays using the server management utility or array configuration tool during system setup. Ensure firmware and management software are up to date and monitor cache and array health through the management interface. For best results, follow vendor guidelines for drive compatibility and replacement procedures.

Recommendations

Use enterprise-class SAS or SATA drives listed as supported by your server vendor and maintain current firmware and controller drivers. Regularly monitor RAID health and configure appropriate backup procedures; consider using mirrored or parity RAID levels to meet your redundancy and performance requirements.