Smart Array

Smart Array
Name	Smart Array
Caption	A HP Smart Array controller card.
Inventor	Hewlett-Packard
Introduced	1990s
Related	RAID, Host Bus Adapter, Disk array

Smart Array. It is a family of hardware RAID controllers and associated management software developed by Hewlett-Packard for its line of ProLiant servers and certain HP Integrity servers. These controllers are integral to providing data redundancy, performance improvements, and storage management within enterprise and data center environments. The technology has evolved over decades, becoming a standard feature in HPE server offerings following the split of the parent company.

Overview

The development of the Smart Array product line began in the 1990s, aligning with the rise of the ProLiant server series and the growing corporate demand for reliable data storage. These controllers were designed to offload RAID processing from the main CPU, improving overall system performance and reliability. Over time, the controllers have been integrated into various server generations, from the DL380 to the Gen10 series, supporting advancements in interfaces from PATA and SATA to SAS and NVMe. The technology is a key component in HPE's broader infrastructure solutions, often bundled with management tools like the iLO and SIM.

Architecture and Components

A typical Smart Array system centers on a dedicated ASIC or processor, such as the PMC or Broadcom chipsets, which handles RAID calculations. This controller is connected to the server via a PCI Express slot and interfaces with drives through backplanes supporting SAS or SATA protocols. Key architectural components include onboard DRAM cache, often protected by a battery or flash-backed module, and a dedicated ROM for firmware. The physical assembly may involve drive carriers, expander cards, and cables that connect to StorageWorks enclosures or direct-attached JBOD arrays.

Features and Capabilities

Primary capabilities include support for multiple RAID levels, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10, with some advanced models offering RAID 50 and RAID 60. Features often encompass online spare activation, hot swapping of drives, predictive failure analysis via S.M.A.R.T., and encryption of data at rest. Performance is enhanced through technologies like Advanced Data Guarding and striping across multiple drive channels. Integration with HPE OneView and HPE iLO Amplifier Pack allows for centralized monitoring and management, providing alerts through the SNMP and insights into I/O latency and cache utilization.

Configuration and Management

Initial setup and ongoing administration are performed through the Option ROM Configuration for Arrays utility, accessible during the POST sequence, or via the HPE Smart Storage Administrator graphical tool within operating systems like Microsoft Windows Server or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Scripting and automation can be achieved using the HPE Smart Array Scripting Toolkit or command-line utilities compatible with Windows PowerShell and Bash. Configuration tasks include defining logical drives, assigning hot spares, adjusting cache ratios, and updating firmware, which is often distributed through the HPE Support Center or the Service Pack for ProLiant.

Common Models and Series

The product line is segmented into series denoting capability and market segment. Entry-level or "Value" series controllers, like the B120i, are often software-assisted and embedded on the server motherboard. Mainstream series, such as the P400 and P800, were prevalent in the G5 and G6 eras. The Gen8 and Gen9 generations introduced the P440ar and P840ar controllers, featuring higher cache and support for SAS 12G. The modern HPE Gen10 series includes the E208i-p and the high-performance P408i-a, which supports NVMe drives.

Use Cases and Applications

These controllers are deployed in a vast array of scenarios where data integrity and availability are critical. Common applications include hosting Microsoft SQL Server databases, supporting virtualized environments on VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V, and serving as storage for SAP HANA in-memory computing platforms. They are foundational in data center infrastructures for web hosting companies, in enterprise resource planning systems, and within high-performance computing clusters. The technology is also utilized in disaster recovery solutions, often replicating data to HPE StoreOnce appliances or HPE 3PAR StoreServ arrays.

Category:Computer hardware Category:Data storage Category:Hewlett-Packard