Migrating RAID Array from HP P420 to Non-HP server platform

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otome

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I have a RAID array that was originally created on an HP Smart Array P420 controller installed in an HPE DL380 Gen8 Server. I want to move this array. along with the data on it to a different server platform that does not have HP hardware(LSI raid) or motherboard.

I have a problem with install my HP P420 on the consume level motherboard or on the server, sometimes the HP smary array management on windows can recognize this card but now it can't. And in the server, it often shows me:
A PCIe link training failure is observed in Slot<X> and the link is disabled
Even I disabled the option rom/boot rom at the server's UEFI.

And once the it popped up in the Linux system, but it seems can't detect all the disks(I detach the origin HPE enclosure, using an external power supply), it gave me such message:
hpssa.png

1. So, does it mean my old HP Smart Array card is broken(Linux kernel can't detect such PCIe device anymore)?
2. The RAID is RAID 6, is there a chance some of disks are broken either?

3. If I bought a consume level dummy enclosure(they are all SATA disks), and connected it to a new HP smart array card, can the new card restore the array configuration?
4. And should I buy those HP smart array card with the external ports(likes P421, which is more expensive than P420).
 
Patriot

Patriot

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The raid information is stored on the drives, a new hpe controller would pick up the drives, it is acting like a dead controller.
 
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otome

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Patriot said:
The raid information is stored on the drives, a new hpe controller would pick up the drives, it is acting like a dead controller.
Click to expand...
So we can confirm the RAID card I have is broken? Does the formal generation of the HP smart array card can read my my RAID 6 array(P421 is much expensive than P420)?
Also, does the HPE P421 can resue the cache module from the P420?

I don't need to write to the raid 6 array but reading its data.

P.S. how to shutdown the disks properly (in Linux) when using a non HPE server but HP smart array card?
 
Last edited:
Patriot

Patriot

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otome said:
So we can confirm the RAID card I have is broken? Does the formal generation of the HP smart array card can read my my RAID 6 array(P421 is much expensive than P420)?
Also, does the HPE P421 can resue the cache module from the P420?

I don't need to write to the raid 6 array but reading its data.

P.S. how to shutdown the disks properly (in Linux) when we are using the HPE server but HP smart array card?
Click to expand...
You said linux kernel can't detect the card, but what you showed has the driver talking to the card.
Why do you think the linux kernel isn't detecting the card?

They are dirt cheap... $12 for a fix is stupid to waste time on... what do you mean hpe server and hp card... they are all hpe components.
 
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otome

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Patriot said:
You said linux kernel can't detect the card, but what you showed has the driver talking to the card.
Why do you think the linux kernel isn't detecting the card?

They are dirt cheap... $12 for a fix is stupid to waste time on... what do you mean hpe server and hp card... they are all hpe components.
Click to expand...
It is a little complicate, it would shows me the
A PCIe link training failure is observed in Slot<X> and the link is disabled
message no matter the Linux kernel can detect it or not.

And the Linux kernel once can still probing the card as it shows in the picture. But now it can't.
I was wondering whether it is caused by the UEFI or just compatible issue.
It happens before when I was testing it in windows and consume level motherboard, you need to cold(power off) it for a while.

P421 second hand is USD 65 here, $12 can only get P420 without cache module.

Sorry, I miss a word in my last reply, I mean:
how to shutdown the disks properly (in Linux) when not using the HPE server but a HP smart array card?
 
Patriot

Patriot

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The controller still gets pcie power commands from OS even if it can't link up with UEFI on non-hpe hardware pre sell off of the smart array division to >>microchip. I ran a p420 controller in a desktop for several years and used the offline acu to configure the raid
.

You can try reseating the card or upgrading the firmware in case of pcie link failures, if it shows up in the DL380gen8 uefi and rbsu.
If it does not show up in inventory on the HPE server, its borked. I am not sure raid 6 would work in cache less mode.

If you are planning on moving drives around from internal to external enclosure....it can work, you could also do it wrong and not have the array detected. As far as I know the cache modules are all compatible within the same generation... but it should be on the product

When in doubt, search Product X quickspecs...
The p420 base config is 512mb cache, and its slower, the p421 is 1gb and 2gb modules only and the 1333mhz spec.

And you do need the cache for raid6

1780554470284.png
1780554570472.png
imo, stabilize what you have if you care about the data on the drives then come up with a transfer to new server scenario.

And LSI and HPE controllers write on the opposite ends of the drives for the raid config so.... no it wont transfer.

you can also definitely get it on ebay for less than $65... with fbwc installed, $12 p420, $20 p421 w/.1gb fbwc.
 
Last edited:
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otome

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Jun 2, 2026
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Patriot said:
The controller still gets pcie power commands from OS even if it can't link up with UEFI on non-hpe hardware pre sell off of the smart array division to >>microchip. I ran a p420 controller in a desktop for several years and used the offline acu to configure the raid
.

You can try reseating the card or upgrading the firmware in case of pcie link failures, if it shows up in the DL380gen8 uefi and rbsu.
If it does not show up in inventory on the HPE server, its borked. I am not sure raid 6 would work in cache less mode.

If you are planning on moving drives around from internal to external enclosure....it can work, you could also do it wrong and not have the array detected. As far as I know the cache modules are all compatible within the same generation... but it should be on the product

When in doubt, search Product X quickspecs...
The p420 base config is 512mb cache, and its slower, the p421 is 1gb and 2gb modules only and the 1333mhz spec.

And you do need the cache for raid6

View attachment 49064
View attachment 49065
imo, stabilize what you have if you care about the data on the drives then come up with a transfer to new server scenario.

And LSI and HPE controllers write on the opposite ends of the drives for the raid config so.... no it wont transfer.

you can also definitely get it on ebay for less than $65... with fbwc installed, $12 p420, $20 p421 w/.1gb fbwc.
Click to expand...
Get it. I can get a new Gen 8 smart array card with the offline acu (server can support virtual cd boot).

I heard a rumor that after gen 8, the smart array can't work on the non HP platform, is that true?

And does smart array RAID card care about the enclosure is from HP or not? If it uses those NAS hard disk enclosure(I need to find one support SFF port) and can power off the disk, I would like to drop the HP enclosure part I detach from the old serve, which is not easy to power up(the power adapter lines from 4 pins IDE power may not be stable enough).

I don't need to keep the old raid array after I migrated its data. LSI raid card don't need to take over those disks.

The reason I don't want to try ebay is the international shipment fee and tax(and time). I may buy the next generation HPE smart array card if it is easy to use, since P420 is kind of out of data.
 
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