ML350e Gen8 as a storage/media server in 2023?

[CJ40]

I picked up a free ML350e Gen8 with 64GB of ECC RAM that had a single 500GB 3.5"  drive. Is this still a good machine for this in 2023? I wanted to use TruNAS or Unraid, but it appears the first caveat is that I can only use 3TB drives. I do not understand the storage controllers or if I can even populate all 6 HDD spaces in the bottom rack as there is only 1 SAS cable running to the motherboard but there is a 2nd spot for another SAS cable on the backplane. Thanks for the advice.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Please refer to QuickSpecs for possible configurations.

Please refer to OS Matrix for supported OS.

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
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[CJ40]

Okay, so from my research, most of these servers could only hold 4 LFF-large form factor drives (3.5") without the addition of parts. The easiest way to check this is to look at the backplane card on the HDD cage, mine only has one SAS cable that runs to the motherboard. To utilize all 6 bays in the LFF cage you must buy a Smart Array Card such as the P420, I chose the P420 with 2GB of memory, then you will need to remove the small screw in the front bottom of the HDD cage to remove the cover blocking slots 5 & 6. This card will need two SAS cables to run from the Array Card to the backplane on the HDD cage. This is the first time I've ever messed with a server so this is a new field for me I hope this information helps someone else. Please feel free to correct me if I made any errors in my research.

I'm still unaware if you can use a larger size HDD than 3TB with this machine. Is there a hardware restriction or was this simply the biggest drive size they had when this server was released?

[BPSingh]

Greetings!

If you refer the Maximum Internal Storage section on page# 4 of the quickspecs, 3TB is the maximum supported capacity. 

https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/c04128164

[CJ40]

Any idea what causes the 3TB restriction on this system? I'm hoping to get by with 6 of the 3TB LFF drives set up in Unraid for now. I was trying to figure out how to add some NVME or SSDs to act as a cache for Unraid. I've read that anything not labeled HPE will cause iLO to make the fans run like a jet.

How were drive cages 2 and 3 backplanes supposed to of been powered/wired? Was there a replacement power cable that split into 3 ends to power all of the other backplanes? My current backplane card power cable can't power any more backplanes and there are no more ports on the MB that I have seen.

EDIT: Upon further research, it looks like it may have only been an option if a person had the redundant power supply option on the server. Is this correct?

[BPSingh]

Greetings!

Certainly, the presence of any third-party hardware in the server could result in increased fan noise. Consult the server quickspecs for information on supported configurations.

For details on cabling, please check the following web link: 

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c03648842

[CJ40]

@BPSingh How were drive cages 2 and 3 backplanes supposed to of been powered/wired? Was there a replacement power cable that split into 3 ends to power all of the other backplanes? My current backplane card power cable can't power any more backplanes and there are no more ports on the MB that I have seen.

[BPSingh]

Greetings!

If you have 4-bay large form factor (LFF) non-hot-plug hard drive backplate assembly, it should have the power cable included.

https://partsurfer.hpe.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=691938-001

NOTE: A SAS controller and the HP ML350e Gen8 Large Form Factor (LFF) 5/6 Hard Drive Cable Kit (684527-B21) is required to support 6 LFF drives. Otherwise, only 4 SATA drives are supported with the embedded controller as mentioned in the quickspecs https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/c04128164/

https://partsurfer.hpe.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=685051-001

[CJ40]

@BPSingh Okay, I have 6 LFF drives installed in my server currently on the first
backplane. So how would I power the 2nd and 3rd backplane?

[BPSingh]

As mentioned in the server quickspecs, HP 5U 6 Large Form Factor (LFF) Hot Plug Drive Cage Kit

NOTE: To install a six-bay, LFF hot-plug drive cage in a server, a Smart array controller option and redundant power supply option is required. Page# 26

To install redundant power supplies, HP Redundant Enablement Kit would be required. Page20 of the quickspecs.

https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/c04128164/