ML110 Gen11 - Will it boot from an NVMe ?

[VincentVH]

I am about to buy a ML110 Gen11, replacing a DL160 Gen10.

I remember I was unable to boot the DL160 Gen10 the way I had initially planned and I ended up sacrificing one of the disks that I had planned as a data disk, so now I am very cautiously looking for the answer to this simple question: will the ML110 Gen11 boot if I stick a NVMe in one of the two slots on the mainboard and install the OS on that disk?

If the answer is 'no' (which I expect, as HPE is selling a dedicated NVMe boot device), would it be possible to use a PCIe adapter to boot from NVMe in an ML110 Gen11?

[support_s]

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1. HPE Compute Security Reference Guide | HPE Trusted Supply Chain server configuration

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[VincentVH]

Not sure if the above answer is given by AI or by a human, but it is not very intelligent.

The question is simple and has no relationship to Security whatsoever, so an answer directing to some online Guide about Security is completely irrelevant.

[TVVJ]

Hello,

There is an option HPE NS204i-u Gen11 NVMe Hot Plug Boot Device for NVMe drives. Refer to section "OS Boot Device" on page 36 of the HPE ProLiant ML110 Gen11 Server's QuickSpecs for information about using this option.

You may refer to the HPE NS204i Boot Device User Guide for more information.

You may also refer to the community post titled "Re: Query: NS204i-u Boot Device in a DL380 Gen11 DOES NOT COME WITH WHAT IT NEEDS TO INSTA" for more information.

Regards,

[VincentVH]

Thank you for not reading my question and hence your irrelevant answer.

The document you linked to did come with a few helpful notes, confirming that the two NVMe slots on the main board are managed through the Intel VROC tool, and that SATA SSD's cannot be mixed with NVMe SSD's. That makes it impossible what I was looking to do: Boot from NVMe and reserve the SATA SSD's for storage.

Another note explains that you cannot use a PCIe card to add NVMe SSD's to the Intel VROC controller.

Reading and understanding the question is arguably the most important aspect of being a support engineer. Don't be surprised when ChatGPT comes for your job.

[ksram]

Hi @VincentVH ,

Good day!

If I understand correctly, you want to configure the server to boot from NVMe and use the SATA SSDs for storage purpose.

According to the specifications found here: https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/a00054055enw.pdf?jumpid=in_ResourceLibrary, the M.2 drives on the mainboard will communicate with Intel VROC, a software-based solution that utilizes the Intel CPU for RAID or HBA with directly connected drives. You will be able to install the OS on these drives associated with Intel VROC.

To answer : Will the ML110 Gen11 boot if I stick a NVMe in one of the two slots on the mainboard and install the OS on that disk? Yes, you will be able to install the OS on the M.2 Drives. as these are connected to Intel VROC.

Another note explains that you cannot use a PCIe card to add NVMe SSD's to the Intel VROC controller >> Yes, thats correct and you may install additional Controller and then connect SATA SSDs or SAS SSDs and use it for Storage purpose.

To summarize, install 2 x M.2 Drives Mainboard and install the OS here. (you may have to load the Drives during the Installation an follow some additional steps), and Install nxSSDs on Additional Controller and use it for Storage Purpose.

Please let us know if this was helpful or if you need more information, we would be happy to assist and share the information.

Thank you
RamKS