HP Smart Array P420 SAS controller

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astrae

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#191053 21-Jan-2016 15:45

Hi Guys,

This is a bit of a longshot....

We have a couple of HP ProLiant DL380e Gen8 servers with B320i RAID Controllers in them.

We have discovered that we can't modify an array with this controller and we are looking at upgrading to a P420 controller.

The vendor has also quoted us a new 1Gb Cache module for the cards.

The B320i cards currently have a 512mb Cache module on them. My question is; does anyone know if the cache module we already have will work on the P420?

We are trying to get more info from the vendor but so far just have a "This is what you need" answer.

Sorry I don't have a part number of the current module, only a serial number.

networkn

Networkn
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#1476234 21-Jan-2016 15:51

I'd consider it VERY unlikely considering it's a generational different controller.

Without part codes, I'd imagine quite hard to verify.

The HP Management Software agents will tell you the model numbers.

gzt

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#1476243 21-Jan-2016 16:08

No idea. Sometimes you will get stuff that is backwards compatible doesn't mean the old part is forwards compatible (or desirable) even if part numbers have merged. But checking that would be the first step.

astrae

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1476245 21-Jan-2016 16:12

networkn:

I'd consider it VERY unlikely considering it's a generational different controller.

Without part codes, I'd imagine quite hard to verify.

Yeah I don't think I can get a part number without opening the server. There is no where in iLo or the management console which gives this info. I think its starting to look a bit unlikely.

PolicyGuy

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#1476246 21-Jan-2016 16:12

Completely different part numbers, so most unlikely they're compatible:

B320i HP 512MB B-series Dynamic Smart Array Flash Backed Write Cache with 24 inch Cable 676473-B21

P420 HP 512MB Flash Back Write Cache for P-Series Smart Array 661069-B21

[Edited for formatting]

astrae

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1476257 21-Jan-2016 16:28

PolicyGuy:

Completely different part numbers, so most unlikely they're compatible:

B320i HP 512MB B-series Dynamic Smart Array Flash Backed Write Cache with 24 inch Cable 676473-B21

P420 HP 512MB Flash Back Write Cache for P-Series Smart Array 661069-B21

[Edited for formatting]

Thanks for that. bugger. Adds quite a bit to the upgrade cost

networkn

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#1476260 21-Jan-2016 16:30

astrae:

PolicyGuy:

Completely different part numbers, so most unlikely they're compatible:

B320i HP 512MB B-series Dynamic Smart Array Flash Backed Write Cache with 24 inch Cable 676473-B21

P420 HP 512MB Flash Back Write Cache for P-Series Smart Array 661069-B21

[Edited for formatting]

Thanks for that. bugger. Adds quite a bit to the upgrade cost

We no longer offer E systems to our customers for this very reason. Savings initially never add up over the lifetime of a server which should be 4-5 Years.

Would they consider the purchase of a new P series, and move this E series to a secondary role such as Terminal Server etc?

astrae

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1476261 21-Jan-2016 16:37

networkn:

no longer offer E systems to our customers for this very reason. Savings initially never add up over the lifetime of a server which should be 4-5 Years.

Would they consider the purchase of a new P series, and move this E series to a secondary role such as Terminal Server etc?

No Chance of upgrading the the servers at this point. Purchased in late 2013 but considered brand new vs other stuff in the company.

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Kraven

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1476270 21-Jan-2016 16:51

What modifications do you want to make to the array? Is taking a disk image, remove/recreate the array and then imaging back an option?

astrae

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1476272 21-Jan-2016 17:01

Kraven:

What modifications do you want to make to the array? Is taking a disk image, remove/recreate the array and then imaging back an option?

We have added another drive to increase disk space and want to add this to the array.

The machines are running virtual machines. So we can move, image, change restore but will have to do this for the entire life of the servers.