Add 3.5 LFF HDD to Proliant DL360e Gen8 SFF

[Goce Ristov]

I've a HP ProLiant DL360e Gen8 SFF. I use 4 x 2.5 inch SSDs. However I need to add 2 or 4 3.5" hard drives to it now.

Is there any way I can do that without changing the cage to LFF as I obviously need to have both SFF and LFF.

Any way I can expand the HP DL360e with a few more additional LFF slots?

[TTr]

The DL360 does not have much room for expansion, it can have either an 8-SFF or a 4LFF disk cage option, not both. 

If you want to add LFF drives, because you already have them or are less expensive than the SFF, you have to add them externally on a separate enclosure and connect themvia a Smart array controller with external back plate connectors.

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/product-catalog/servers/smart-array-controllers-and-smart-host-bus-adapters.filters-facet_connect_url:External.hits-12.html

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/product-catalog/storage/disk-enclosures.hits-12.html

[Goce Ristov]

It seems like that would be an overkill for what I like to do. I need to add only 2 x 3.5 inch hard drives. The reason is I need a cheap, large and reliable storage. The 8 SFF slots won't be used all, but 4. So I was thinking of connecting the 3.5 inch on the existing cage. I wouldn't mind "hacking" the dl360 to connect the LFFs outside.

What would be the cheapest way to achieve this? Also do I need both a smart array controller + disk enclosure? Can I at least avoid the cost for a disk enclosure and have the two 3.5 disks in a custom box? Is an enclosure really necessary?

[TTr · Accepted solution]

If hacking is what you want to do, you can utilize the power and data connectors that are in the back of each SFF disk slot and with a male to female cable you would bring them out to the 3.5 disks. Search online for "29-pin male to female SAS cable" or "SAS 29 Pin Female to SAS 29 Pin Male Extension Cable". Like this one https://www.amazon.com/SAS-Female-Male-Extension-Cable/dp/B01NBNBAES/ref=sr_1_44

Alternatively you could connect a fan-out cable to one of the SAS connectors on the SAS controller and bring that out to the disks. That's only a data connection. You would still need to provide power to the disks.