HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen11 (Official Topic)

[ralaxo]

Hello dear community,

While we are waiting STH senseis making a review of Gen11. Why not to make this topic as a guideline for all happy owners of this server.

So me as an owner of Gen11, here are what I cleared out:

1) You can't put an NVMe without iLO kit; - ordered it and still waiting the delivery;
2) You can put any SSD of diffrent brand but need to buy HPE MicroSvr Gen10 NHP SFF (P/N 870213-B21);

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3) You can't connect HDD/SSD drives directly to HBA card because there is a splitted sata+power connector(Slimline SATA receptacle) which connects directly to motherboard;

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4) You need to buy separate HPE proprietary cable (P64334-001 or it is know in shops as P68413-B21) to connect directly to HBA adapter card;

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Next step is to determine whether I am able to connect to a diffrent brand of HBA card or I must use HPE MR216i-p Gen11 x16 (P47785-B21) ? This I need only for pass-through HDDs to TrueNAS.

Regarding this I've done some research and find out that HPE uses some special connectors from Amphenol SlimSAS Low-profile connector cable which I couldn't find any adapters from SlimSAS to SFF-8087 or SFF-8643.

I am simply can't connect to my existing LSI SAS 9211-8i because of old connector generations, but what if replace it with HBA 9500-8i (ebay link) ? Otherwise I don't wanna buy an expensive HPE Tri Mode card for 500$+

To be continued...

 

[ralaxo]

Sorry for the images link...I wasn't able to attach them directly here...

 

[sth3453]

hey @ralaxo, did you have any success in wiring up the drives to a non-HPE HBA? I also have an LSI 9211-8i, but don't mind buying a newer HBA if needed

 

[ralaxo]

hey @ralaxo, did you have any success in wiring up the drives to a non-HPE HBA? I also have an LSI 9211-8i, but don't mind buying a newer HBA if needed

Hey !

Yes but I've tried with diffrent vendor NIC (Dell) and it works !

However this NIC is 10Gb but it works only in 1Gb mode. I think this is related to drivers... I am working on that and will comment on this later.

I think non HPE-HBA also should work...

 

[ralaxo]

If there is need to check another vendor HBA, I can do it for you.

 

[sth3453]

If there is need to check another vendor HBA, I can do it for you.

I'm unsure specifically about the cabling. You mentioned that HPE uses SlimSAS and you couldn't find the right adapter to connect it to an SFF port. Have you decided on which HBA you plan on using, and how to connect the drives to it?

 

[ralaxo]

I'm unsure specifically about the cabling. You mentioned that HPE uses SlimSAS and you couldn't find the right adapter to connect it to an SFF port. Have you decided on which HBA you plan on using, and how to connect the drives to it?

Exactly, HPE uses cable which can connect only to HBA 9500-8i and above

 

[ghost792]

2) You can put any SSD of diffrent brand but need to buy HPE MicroSvr Gen10 NHP SFF (P/N 870213-B21);

picture-1 hosted at ImgBB

Image picture-1 hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

In my Gen 10+ Microserver, I'm using these 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapters and they work great. Don't know if they work in the Gen 11, but if it's a similar caddyless system, I suspect they will.

2.5" SSD & SATA Hard Drive to Desktop 3.5" SATA Bay Converter Mounting

Compatible with any 2.5" SATA hard drive or SSD Compatible with backplane trays such as those found in Apple Mac Pro silver tower models Fully SATA 3.0 Revision (6Gb/s) compatible and backward compatible with SATA 2.0 Revision (3Gb/s) and 1.0 Revision (1.5Gb/s) drives Open design allows for full...

sabrent.com

 

[ColinR]

Hi Guys, I am looking at buying a Gen 11 Microsever, however, I would like to add 4 x U.2 NVMe drives instead of the SATA/SAS drives. I would presume that I just need a cable that uses the same power connector on the motherboard to 4 x SFF-8639? And then use a dedicated NVMe PCIe controller card? Is anyone aware if such a cable exists? Thanks in advance.