RAID controller HPE SmartArray P816i-a SR Gen10 — PCIe x8, 12 Gbit/s, SAS/SATA, RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60

HPE SmartArray P816i-a SR Gen10 is an internal RAID controller designed for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers. It provides a PCI Express x8 host interface and supports 12 Gbit/s SAS and 6 Gbit/s SATA drives via 16 SAS lanes exposed across four internal Mini-SAS (x4) ports. The controller implements Adaptive RAID on Chip (AROC) and includes a 4 GB flash-backed write cache to protect data and improve write performance. Supported hardware RAID levels include 0, 1, 1 ADM, 5, 6, 10 ADM, 10, 50 and 60, enabling a balance of redundancy and throughput for a range of storage deployments.

Advantages

The SmartArray P816i-a SR Gen10 combines high-bandwidth SAS connectivity with an onboard adaptive RAID engine and non-volatile write cache to deliver consistent performance for mixed workloads. Its support for multiple RAID levels provides flexibility to prioritize capacity, performance, or redundancy depending on application needs. Integration for ProLiant Gen10 systems and internal Mini-SAS ports simplifies installation and server-level cabling while enabling connection to enterprise-class SAS or SATA drives.

Suitable for

• Database servers requiring predictable write performance and redundancy
• Virtualization hosts handling multiple virtual machines and mixed I/O
• General-purpose file and block storage in rack servers
• High-availability configurations where RAID levels with parity or mirroring are needed

Key specifications

• Host interface: PCI Express x8
• Drive interfaces: 12 Gbit/s SAS, 6 Gbit/s SATA
• SAS lanes: 16 lanes across four internal Mini-SAS (x4) ports
• Onboard RAID engine: Adaptive RAID on Chip (AROC)
• Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, 1 ADM, 5, 6, 10 ADM, 10, 50, 60
• Write cache: 4 GB flash-backed non-volatile cache

How to use

Install the controller into an available PCIe x8 slot in a compatible HPE ProLiant Gen10 server following the server and controller installation guides. Connect internal drive backplane or drive sleds to the four Mini-SAS (x4) ports using appropriate internal cables. Configure RAID arrays using the server's built-in Intelligent Provisioning, the HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA), or the controller's management utility. Initialize and verify arrays before placing them into production, and ensure firmware and driver versions are kept current for compatibility and stability.

Usage recommendations

For optimal performance and reliability, use enterprise-class SAS drives certified for HPE systems, enable the flash-backed write cache for write-intensive workloads, and select RAID levels that match your performance and redundancy requirements. Regularly schedule backups and monitor array health via HPE management tools to detect drive degradation or failures early.