RAID controller HPE SmartArray E208i-p SR Gen10

The HPE SmartArray E208i-p SR Gen10 is an enterprise-class RAID controller designed for internal attached SAS and SATA drives. It supports 12 Gb/s SAS and PCIe 3.0, offers hardware RAID levels 0, 1, 5 and 10, and provides mixed-mode operation to run RAID and HBA simultaneously. The controller occupies a PCIe expansion slot and supports optional HPE Smart Array SR Secure Encryption for data-at-rest protection.

Advantages

This controller delivers 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers while remaining cost-effective for software-defined storage deployments. Mixed Mode operation increases flexibility by allowing RAID and HBA functions at the same time, removing the need to purchase an additional controller. Built-in management support through HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) and a UEFI storage configuration tool enables quick configuration and scripting via iLO RESTful interfaces. Optional SR Secure Encryption and SmartSSD Wear Gauge improve data protection and help preserve drive integrity.

Suitable for

• Internal SAS/SATA storage expansion in HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers (DL360, DL380, DL560)
• Small to medium enterprise RAID deployments requiring RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
• Software-defined storage setups needing cost-effective SAS connectivity
• Environments that require encryption of data at rest and basic drive health monitoring

Key specifications

• Interface: PCI Express 3.0 (occupies one PCIe expansion slot)
• SAS speed: 12 Gb/s
• Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 10
• Drive support: SAS and SATA (internal)
• Modes: Mixed Mode (RAID + HBA simultaneous)
• Optional features: HPE Smart Array SR Secure Encryption (license required), SmartSSD Wear Gauge

How to use

Install the controller into an available PCIe expansion slot on a compatible HPE ProLiant Gen10 server. Connect internal SAS or SATA drives to the controller’s eight internal SAS lanes. Use the UEFI storage configuration tool or HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) to create and configure RAID volumes. For scripted or remote deployments, configure arrays through iLO using the RESTful interface. If required, enable SR Secure Encryption with the appropriate license to secure data-at-rest on attached drives.

Recommendations

Use mixed-mode operation when you need both direct HBA access to certain drives and RAID protection for others, and ensure SR Secure Encryption is licensed if regulatory or compliance encryption is required. Regularly monitor drive health with SmartSSD Wear Gauge and perform backups before making changes to RAID configurations.