
( Brand: Hp ), ( Manufacturer Part Number: 585908-001 ), ( Part Type: Controller Card ), ( Compatible Brand: For Hp ), ( Connectors: Sas ), ( Manufacturer Warranty: No Warranty ), ( Item Height: Full Height ), ( Item Length: Low Profile ), ( Compatible Port: Pci Express ), ( Product Line: Smart Array )
The **HP Smart Array P400 SAS PCIe 8-Port RAID Controller (Part Number: 585908-001, BBWC)** is a high-performance, enterprise-grade storage solution designed to deliver robust data protection, scalability, and efficiency for mission-critical workloads. Engineered with Hewlett Packard Enterprise s (HPE) proven Smart Array technology, this controller card integrates seamlessly into modern server architectures, offering an ideal balance between reliability and performance for small to mid-sized businesses, remote offices, or branch environments. Built around a **PCIe 2.0 x8 interface**, the P400 leverages a **dual-core processor** and **128MB of DDR2 cache** to accelerate RAID operations, ensuring smooth data handling even under heavy workloads. Its **8-port SAS interface** supports a mix of 6Gbps and 3Gbps SAS/SATA drives, providing flexibility for legacy and next-generation storage configurations while maintaining backward compatibility.
At the heart of the P400 s functionality lies its **BBWC (Battery-Backed Write Cache)**, a critical feature that enhances data integrity by buffering write operations in volatile memory and periodically flushing them to disk. This ensures that critical data remains safe in the event of a power failure or system crash, reducing the risk of data corruption. The controller supports **RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10**, allowing administrators to tailor storage configurations to their specific needs whether prioritizing performance with RAID 0, redundancy with RAID 1, or a balance of both with RAID 10. RAID 5 and RAID 6 further protect against disk failures through distributed parity, making the P400 an excellent choice for environments where uptime and data resilience are paramount.
Beyond its core RAID capabilities, the HP Smart Array P400 excels in manageability and efficiency. It features **HP Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) software**, a user-friendly interface that simplifies RAID configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. The controller also supports **HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM)** and **HP ProLiant Support Pack**, enabling centralized management of storage resources across multiple servers. Additionally, its **low-power design** and **compact form factor** make it an energy-efficient choice for data centers, reducing operational costs while maintaining peak performance. Whether deployed in a standalone server or integrated into a larger storage infrastructure, the P400 delivers a reliable, cost-effective solution for businesses seeking enterprise-grade storage protection without the complexity of more advanced controllers.
For organizations transitioning to modern storage architectures, the P400 s compatibility with **SAS expanders** and **JBOD configurations** further extends its versatility, allowing for scalable storage growth as needs evolve. Its **hot-plug capability** ensures minimal downtime during drive replacements, while its **SAS 6Gbps connectivity** future-proofs the system for upcoming storage technologies. With a focus on **data protection, performance, and ease of use**, the HP Smart Array P400 SAS PCIe 8-Port RAID Controller stands as a dependable workhorse for businesses demanding a balance of reliability and efficiency in their storage infrastructure.
### **Pros and Cons of the HP 585908-001 Smart P400 SAS PCIe 8-Port RAID Controller Card (BBWC)**
#### **Pros:**1. **High Performance and Scalability** The P400 SAS controller supports up to eight SAS/SATA ports, making it suitable for mid-range servers requiring multiple drives. It includes a **BBWC (Battery-Backed Write Cache)**, which improves write performance and reliability by caching writes in volatile memory before committing to disk.
2. **RAID Support** Offers RAID 0, 1, 1 0, 5, and 6 configurations, providing data redundancy and performance optimization. RAID 6, in particular, is useful for protecting against double disk failures.
3. **Compatibility with HP Servers** Designed for HP ProLiant servers, ensuring seamless integration with existing hardware and software ecosystems. Works well with HP s Smart Storage Administrator and other management tools.
4. **Low Latency and High Throughput** The PCIe 2.0 x8 interface provides sufficient bandwidth for most enterprise workloads, including virtualization, database operations, and file serving.
5. **Reliability with BBWC** The battery-backed write cache reduces the risk of data loss in case of a power failure, as writes are safely flushed to disk before power is lost.
6. **Cost-Effective for Mid-Range Use** Compared to high-end controllers like the P800 or P4000, the P400 is more affordable while still delivering solid performance for many business applications.
7. **Hot-Plug Support** Allows for drive replacements without shutting down the system, minimizing downtime.
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#### **Cons:**1. **Limited Port Count** Only eight ports may be insufficient for large-scale storage arrays or high-density configurations requiring more drives.
2. **PCIe 2.0 x8 Interface** While adequate for most workloads, it is not as future-proof as newer PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 interfaces, which offer higher bandwidth for next-gen storage needs.
3. **No NVMe Support** Unlike newer controllers, this card does not support NVMe SSDs, limiting its use in modern high-speed storage architectures.
4. **Outdated Firmware and Driver Support** HP has largely phased out support for older models like the P400, meaning fewer updates, security patches, and compatibility with the latest operating systems.
5. **No Virtualization-Optimized Features** Lacks advanced features like **NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)** or **persistent memory support**, which are beneficial for modern virtualized environments.
6. **Limited Cache Size** The write cache is battery-backed but not extremely large, which may impact performance in high-write workloads compared to controllers with larger caches.
7. **Potential Compatibility Issues** While designed for HP servers, using it in non-HP systems may require additional configuration or may not work optimally.
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### **Conclusion:**The **HP 585908-001 Smart P400 SAS RAID Controller** is a solid, mid-range solution for businesses needing reliable RAID protection and moderate performance in HP ProLiant servers. It excels in environments where **data redundancy (RAID 6), battery-backed write caching, and cost efficiency** are priorities. However, its **limited port count, outdated PCIe interface, lack of NVMe support, and aging firmware** make it less ideal for modern, high-performance, or large-scale storage deployments.
If you are running an **older HP server with SAS/SATA drives and require basic RAID protection without breaking the bank**, this controller remains a practical choice. For **new deployments, virtualized environments, or NVMe-based storage**, a newer controller (such as the **HP P841 or P4000**) would be a better long-term investment.
### **Recommendation:** - **Buy it if:**- You have an **HP ProLiant server** (e.g., DL380, BL460, ML350 series) running **SAS/SATA drives**.
- You need **RAID 6 protection** for critical data with minimal downtime.
- Your budget is limited, and you don t require **NVMe or PCIe 3.0 support**.
- You are upgrading an **older system** where this controller fits seamlessly.
- **Avoid it if:**- You are building a **modern server** with **NVMe SSDs** or require **PCIe 3.0/4.0 performance**.
- You need **more than eight ports** or plan to expand storage significantly.
- You are running **Linux or non-HP systems**, where compatibility may be an issue.
- You expect **long-term support**, as HP has shifted focus to newer models.
For most **enterprise or virtualized environments today**, a **newer RAID controller** (such as the **HP Smart Array P841 or Dell H740P**) would be a more future-proof choice. However, if you are constrained by budget and hardware compatibility, the P400 remains a **functional and reliable option** for its intended use case.
HP Smart Array P400 SAS PCIe 8-Port RAID Controller Card w/ BBWC 585908-001.