P60350-B21 RAID Controller??

[jlangmead]

Hi

I'm hoping this is the correct forum for an Alletra 4120 storage server question. I'm sure the moderators will move this if not....

I'm trying to establish if the P60350-B21 part is a RAID controller or not and I seem to find conflicting information in the quickspecs.  This link definitely says it is HPE Alletra Storage Server 41X0 Direct Attach NVMe M.2 OS Boot Device Data sheet and it's hard to challenge this information. But this document also says it comes with 960GB drives when it doesn't come with any drives and that it doesn't need any cables or back-plane when it does. In fact there is so much wring in the document that I also feel it may not be RAID capable either. 

So I thought I'd ask if anyone else is using this card with the required M.2 SSD drive additions AND has been able to configure a RAID1 across the M.2 drives? I can't find anywhere in the BIOS or Smart Array admin to create a logical drive - it just sees these drives as JBOD disks. 

Am I missing something on hpw to get these disks configured into a RAID1 logical drive?

thanks

[Cali · Accepted solution]

I understand your Issue.

The Data Sheet says, 2x 960GB are included, and the Quick Spec says not included: HPE Alletra Storage Server 4120 QuickSpecs

HPE Alletra 41X0 Direct Attach NVMe M.2 OS Boot Device P60350-B21
Notes: No NVMe M.2 SSD included and requires at least one NVMe SSD.
HPE 480GB NVMe Gen3 Mainstream Performance Read Intensive M.2 Multi Vendor SSD P40513-B21
HPE 960GB NVMe Gen3 Mainstream Performance Read Intensive M.2 Multi Vendor SSD P40514-B21
HPE 1.92TB NVMe Gen3 Mainstream Performance Read Intensive M.2 Multi Vendor SSD P40515-B21
HPE Alletra 4120 NVMe M.2 Enablement Kit P50885-B21
Notes: Required when NVMe Boot Device is selected.

However, you can see a picture here: HPE Alletra Storage Server 41X0 Direct Attach NVMe M.2 OS Boot Device | HPE Store US

There is also this Part: P48183-B21
It says this has 2x 960GB M.2 included
HPE NS204i-u Gen11 NVMe Hot Plug Boot Optimized Storage Device Data sheet

It is a PCIe Card, and the M2 drives are directly on the Card, so no Drive Cable is needed.
There is a fixed RAID 1 Controller on the card; no software configuration is needed, as this is a hardware-based solution.

If I look at the Pricing, P60350-B21 is too cheap to include any M.2 Device.

The P48183-B21 is usually not a PCIe Card, it is Hot-Plug "On-Board" and includes 2x 480GB M.2.

See here: HPE OS Boot Device Options QuickSpecs54

I always use P48183-B21, because it has Hot-Plug M2. and 2x 480GB is enough.

Cali

[jlangmead]

Thanks @Cali 

I got this answer directly from HPE which I will post here as it may help others in a similar situation:

There is some mix-up information various HPE sources. linked documet is unfortunatelly entirely wrong.  HPE Alletra Storage Server 41X0 Direct Attach NVMe M.2 OS Boot Device Data sheet

Both devices can be used in Alletra 41x0 for boot, but you need to choose between them (they occupy same slot in Alletra 41x0)
Cable kit is needed and is exactly same for both options but is dependeant on the server type: HPE Alletra Storage Server 41x0 NS204i-u FIO Enablement Kit

P60350-B21 HPE Alletra Storage Server 41X0 Direct Attach NVMe M.2 OS Boot Device

• Does not include any SSD by default. Support up to two 2280 or 22110 M.2 SSDs. At least one SSD must be prurchased separately for P60325-B12 to work.
• No RAID support. System OS would see 2 independent disks. Optionally, Intel VROC or any SW RAID (i.e with Linux OS) can be utilized for RAID1.
• Is NOT hot plug.

P48183-B21 HPE NS204i-u Gen11 NVMe Hot Plug Boot Optimized Storage Device

• Comes with 2x480GB 2280 M.2 SSD disk bundled.
• Has embedded HW RAID1. System OS would see single disk. RAID1 is non-configurable with automated rebuild after SSD disk swap.
• Is hot plug in Alletra 4140 (accessible from rear of the server).
• Is NOT hot plug in Alletra 4110 and 4120.

So  the answer to my question is that  P60350-B21 is NOT a RAID Controller  I hope HPE can update their documenation soon to avoid any further confusion

Many thanks for taking the time to submit a response to my query :0)