Peripheral controller HP Enterprise HPE 804398-B21

The HPE Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 Controller (Peripheral Controller HP Enterprise HPE 804398-B21) is an enterprise-class PCIe expansion controller that provides 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity for externally attached drives. It supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5 and 10, mixed RAID/HBA operation, and optional data-at-rest encryption, enabling cost-effective storage configurations for HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers and external disk enclosures.

Advantages

This controller delivers 12 Gb/s SAS performance over a PCI Express 3.0 x8 host interface, offering a low-cost path to software-defined storage and external JBOD or advanced array connectivity. Mixed Mode allows simultaneous RAID and HBA operation to reduce the need for additional controllers. Optional HPE Smart Array SR Secure Encryption protects data-at-rest on attached drives, while HPE SmartSSD Wear Gauge helps preserve data integrity by warning of potential drive issues.

Suitable for

• Connecting external SAS or SATA drives in JBOD enclosures
• Implementing basic RAID (0, 1, 5, 10) for servers
• Enabling software-defined storage solutions
• Deployments requiring data-at-rest encryption on external drives

Key specifications

• Manufacturer: HP Enterprise (HPE)
• Model / MPN: 804398-B21
• Host interface: PCI Express 3.0 x8
• SAS speed: 12 Gb/s
• External SAS lanes: 8
• Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 10
• Mixed Mode: RAID and HBA simultaneously
• Optional: HPE Smart Array SR Secure Encryption (license required)

How to use

Install the controller into an available PCIe expansion slot on a compatible HPE ProLiant Gen10 server and connect the external SAS cables to the target JBOD or external array using the provided ports. Use the UEFI storage configuration tool during boot or the HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) in the operating system to create and manage RAID volumes, configure Mixed Mode, and apply encryption options where licensed. For scripted or remote deployments, the UEFI tool and iLO RESTful interface support automation of array configuration.

Recommendations

Ensure firmware and driver versions on the server match HPE compatibility matrices before deployment, and purchase the SR Secure Encryption license if data-at-rest protection is required. Monitor drive health with HPE tools and plan backups before changing RAID configurations.