ML 310e Gen8 v2 - b120i controller port speed

[MTeixeira]

Hi all,

I am having some issues confirming (or not) that on this server with the included b120i, that all 4 ports are 6gbps.

I found on these forums a post about the MicroServer stating that ports 3&4 are 3gbps.

https://community.hpe.com/t5/proliant-servers-netservers/microserver-gen8-b120i-two-raid-arrays/td-p/6476676

But I cant tell if the limitation is the MicroServer or the b120i.

About the ML310 : https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04128120.pdf

Nothing here seems to indicate this limitation

Can anyone please confirm if this is so.

I intend to install 2 SSDs in NON RAID mode, Should I install them in bays 1&2. Can i move the boot HDD from bay 1. Will the system continue to boot

Another question: if the disks were HDDs would the 6gbps make a difference?

Thank you

Best regards

[NareshISS]

Hello Team,

if you wants to use the B120i it support only 3 GB. if you upgrade the card for smart array controller then only support 6 GB.

Storage ControllerHP Dynamic Smart Array B120i ControllerHard DriveNone ship standard

NOTE:Only SATA 3 Gbit/s data transmission guaranteed without HP Smart Array Card.

I intend to install 2 SSDs in NON RAID mode, Should I install them in bays 1&2. Can i move the boot HDD from bay 1. Will the system continue to boot :- Yes you can install the drives in Bay 1 & 2 but speed will be 3 GB.

Another question: if the disks were HDDs would the 6gbps make a difference? no difference

Regards,

Naresh Sharma

[MTeixeira]

Hi Naresh,

Thank you for the reply.

I am not sure i understood what you meant...

This server has a b120i dynamic smart array.

What do you mean with "NOTE:Only SATA 3 Gbit/s data transmission guaranteed without HP Smart Array Card."

In ILO I see:

are there two types of b120i ?

Which one is the above ?

By smart array card you meam a discrete card on a slot ?

I Believe this controller is "on board"

In page 37 of the link i indicated we have:

but indeed on page 4 we have:

So, I Am officially confused...

Thank you

Best Regards

[MTeixeira · Accepted solution]

I confirmed here

https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04128133&doctype=quickspecs&doclang=EN_US&searchquery=&cc=es&lc=es# 

that ports 1&2 are 6gbps and ports 3&4 are 3gbps

Best regards

[BananaJack]

@MTeixeira is correct - B120i ports 0/1 support 6 Gbps SATA and all other ports run only at 3 Gbps.

I benchmarked 2 x Intel 530 SSD drives in RAID 1 using CrystalDiskMark and got sequential R/W of 550/130 MB/s on 3 Gbps and 950/230 MB/s on the 6 Gbps ports.

Ports 0 and 1 (or 1 and 2 as they're referred to in Smart Storage Administrator) are on the backplane cable connectors nearest the motherboard.