HPE ML10 GEN 9 SERVER => Hardware RAID

[loopy05]

Dear all,

for our Dubai location our hardware reseller recommended us that server including a "RAID-5 with 4 SATA 2TB disks". It sounded good, price was cheap, so we ordered it. Travelled to Dubai to setup the server (Windows Server 2012 R2). We found out very soon then that the RAID is a software based RAID. Not happy with it but gave it a shot (configured the disks as a RAID-5 with 4 disks), installed Windows Server 2012 R2 on it. Now the problems began. Crap performance, system hangs for minutes when copying data or doing several tasks on the server. RDP session hangs sometimes for 20 minutes until it comes back. This configuraion is just not useful.

We to to upgrade that server now with a hardware RAID-controller and/or SAS disks. Can anyone recommend which (HP) RAID controller is compatible with that server? Or should we try to give the server back?

Thanks,
Sven

[parnassus · Accepted solution]

Low-End (Entry or Performance models, doesn't matter) HPE ProLiant ML10 Gen9 offers you very little chance of getting true Hardware RAID (via a real RAID Controller with Flash and Battery backup)...like it happens - configuration here matters! - deploying mid-/high-End level ProLiant MLxxx Tower Servers or DLxx/DLxxx Rack Servers with HPE Smart Array Controllers.

The HPE ProLiant ML10 Gen9 uses the embedded Intel RST SATA RAID Storage Controller which requires Software aid (as you discovered), moreover this Server doesn't support Hot-Plug SATA/SAS Disks...which, IMHO, could be a very important detail to keep in mind when planning to manage a disk outage quickly and transparently. 

The HPE ProLiant ML10 Gen9, as per its QuickSpecs, supports only the HPE H241 12Gb 2-ports External Smart Host Bus Adapter...which can work in HBA Mode or RAID Mode but, as written, its two ports are external facing for external connections only...so, in your scenario, that's a no-go.

I suggest you a better suited ML110 Gen9 or ML150 Gen9 if you're looking for a Tower model: in both cases...you're going to disable their internal HPE Dynamic Smart Array B140i controller and equip them (so you should order it) a proper HPE Smart Array Pxxx controller (like, as example, the very good HPE Smart Array P440/4GB FBWC 12Gb 1-port Int SAS Controller, SKU 726821-B21 which offers up to RAID 6 ADG with 4G of Flash battery backed up) with good SAS or SATA Hot-Plug disks. The price will NOT be the same...but the performance you're looking for (if you will equip it with the right amount of RAM) will be granted. Clearly one could suggest also the newer HPE ProLiant Gen10...but, since you wrote about a Gen9, I didn't considered Gen10. Others can.

[loopy05]

Great answer, thank you for the detailed informations.

We will give the ML110 Gen10 / Smart Array P440 a chance .