Query: ML110 Gen9 adding more LFF drives

[ngrigoriev]

Hello,

DIY enthusiast here I bought a used ML110 Gen9 and in process of making a good NAS server for my home lab.

The server had only one 4LFF cage and I would like to put 8 disks in it. Getting another similar cage seems prohibitevely expensive, even the used offerings I see are 2x of what I paid for the entire server And I can live without hot-plug functionality. I already have the mini-SAS to 4x SATA cable, so the problem is the power. I understand that P4 connector (8-pin) is the one supposed to provide the power to the second cage/backplane. I also see from the cabling diagram that there seems to be a cable connecting to this P4 and providing 4x SATA power connectors.

However, I cannot find even the part number for this cable. And, I suspect, that even if I find the part number, it will be something either impossible to find or something that costs like a server Thus, the question: does anyonw know a cable that would work for powering 4 SATA drives from that 8-pin connector? Or maybe anyone has done it already and can share the solution details? Worst case, does anyone know the pinout of this connector?

Thanks!

[Sham82]

Hello @ ngrigoriev

Thank you for your Post.

You can check the cable part number from below documents.

HPE ProLiant ML110 Gen9 Server - Cabling
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c05054092&docLocale=en_US

HPE ProLiant ML110 Gen9 Server - Spare Parts
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c04623555&docLocale=en_US

Please note :With optional drive cages installed, the server supports up to 4 LFF non-hot-plug drives, 8 LFF hot-plug
drives or 16 SFF hot-plug drives. If only one drive cage is installed, it must be installed in box 1. The
server does not support mixing SFF and LFF drives.

Page 85 for cabling
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04605894

Regards
HPE

[ngrigoriev]

Hi,

Thanks, but even assuming I want to go HP way, these documents still do not provide the information I am looking for. Ot it is not obvious

Yes, it is from the cabling document I discovered the existence of " drive power cable". But there seems to be not a single part description mentioning it. Unless it is hidden under "Miscellaneous cable kit".

[Sham82]

Hello @ ngrigoriev

Miscellaneous cable kit - Includes hard drive, power button and status LED cable
https://partsurfer.hpe.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=791718-001

Regards
HPE

[ngrigoriev]

All the images of this kit I found show nothing like a power cable with 4 SATA power ports. Including the picture you shared. I am sure this is NOT the right part.

[Sham82]

Hello @ ngrigoriev

please check the other cable parts from below link
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c04623555&docLocale=en_US

also please share the clear picture of the installed cable and log a case with HPE for further investigation.

Regards
HPE

[support_s]

Hello,

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[ngrigoriev]

No, you did not help at all - you have continously shared the same link that does not answer the question.

It appears that you do not even bother reading the question.

I get more information from the public community forums outside of HP than from here.

[ngrigoriev]

No, you did not even read my question carefully enough and your responses did not provide the information I was looking for.

[Mr_Techie]

@ngrigoriev 

Let me share my insights:

1. You can power 4 SATA drives from the P4 connector using a custom or off-the-shelf 8-pin EPS to SATA power cable

2. The pinout is known: top row = +12V, bottom row = GND

3. Watch out for GPU cables — you want EPS 8-pin style instead

4. SATA power breakout boards or clean custom wiring will give you a stable, non-hot-swap setup for cheap

Let me know if you need more help. 

[ngrigoriev]

@Mr_Techie  So far this is one of my options. However, I still need to go there with the multimeter to confirm the pinout, because color-wise it is not that simple:

Black Red Red Black

Yellow Black Blue [Empty]

I assume:

- Red is +5V

- Yellow is +12V

- Black is ground

- Blue is....well, -12V?

But, like I said, I need to measure it against black.

Also, the existing EPS cables are female, I need the male one.

So far my plan was to check if (physically) HP cable is a standard Molex - fist. Because I was told it is not, which would not surprise me. Then if it is, then I could make a cable going from one 8-pin male to two LP4s. And then I could use standard LP4-to-SATA power cables. My understanding is that even if that blue cable is used for power sense, it is not needed for non-hot-plug setup.

[Mr_Techie]

@ngrigoriev 

• Check if the connector is standard Mini-Fit Jr (EPS style) – often is, even if HPE says proprietary.
• Use a male 8-pin Mini-Fit Jr to create a custom cable.
• Wire it to 2x Molex LP4 connectors (which provide 5V and 12V).
• Use LP4-to-SATA power adapters to power your drives.