794875-001 HPE XL2xx 12GBPS 4SFF Hard Drive Cage Kit

Product Overview of HPE 794875-001 XL2xx 12Gbps 4SFF HDD Backplane Kit

The HPE 794875-001 XL2xx 12Gbps 4SFF Hard Drive Cage Kit is engineered to provide seamless integration and outstanding reliability for enterprise-level storage expansion. Designed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, this HDD cage kit ensures optimized connectivity, durability, and enhanced performance for high-demand workloads.

Key Specifications and Part Details

• Manufacturer: HPE
• Part Number: 794875-001
• Device Type: Hard Drive Cage Kit
• Category: BACKPLCAGE
• Interface Speed: 12Gbps SAS / SATA compatibility
• Form Factor: 4-SFF slot support

Performance Benefits

Designed to meet modern data center requirements, the HPE 794875-001 HDD backplane kit delivers a range of performance enhancements, making it a vital component for server scalability and storage architecture.

Main Advantages

• Supports faster 12Gbps throughput for high-speed data transfers
• Compatible with multiple server platforms in the HPE ProLiant XL series
• Improves airflow and cooling for consistent operational efficiency
• Provides easy-to-manage hot-swappable drive bays
• Ensures smooth scalability for expanding workloads

Compatibility with Enterprise Systems

The HPE 794875-001 XL2xx kit integrates flawlessly with a wide selection of HPE ProLiant servers, ensuring enterprise-grade flexibility. By allowing multiple drives to connect simultaneously, it optimizes storage management across high-performance IT infrastructures.

Supported Applications

• Virtualized environments and cloud infrastructure
• Big data analytics and data warehousing
• Database-driven business operations
• Mission-critical workloads requiring rapid access

Durability and Build Quality

Constructed with precision, the HPE HDD backplane kit ensures longevity and resilience under heavy data traffic conditions. High-grade materials, robust connectors, and advanced design features contribute to dependable service and reduced downtime.

Highlights of the Build

• Premium-grade connectors with reduced signal loss
• Heat-dissipating design supporting optimal cooling
• Secure fit within ProLiant server chassis
• Tested and validated for long-term enterprise use

Technical Excellence for IT Professionals

Tailored for system administrators, IT experts, and data center managers, the 794875-001 kit delivers the balance of simplicity and advanced engineering. The 12Gbps SAS interface enables seamless drive management, while the small form factor (SFF) compatibility optimizes rack space without sacrificing performance.

Scalability and Future-Readiness

Businesses planning to scale can rely on this HPE kit to provide the flexibility required for growth. The backplane’s architecture allows integration with new storage solutions while maintaining compatibility with existing setups.

Scalable Features

• Expandable storage capacity with additional SFF drives
• Support for diverse workloads ranging from small business needs to enterprise demands
• Future-ready design for next-generation server environments

 Features and Advantages

• 12Gbps data transfer speed
• 4-SFF drive slot configuration
• Enhanced cooling and airflow design
• Reliability and performance backed by HPE
• Broad server compatibility

Category Outline of HPE 794875-001 12G 4SFF Hard Drive Cage Kit   

The HPE 794875-001 XL2xx 12G 4SFF Hard Drive Cage Kit category covers the drive-cage assemblies and related accessories engineered for HPE ProLiant rack servers in the XL2xx family. These kits are purpose-built to accept up to four SFF (2.5-inch) drives using 12G SAS/SATA connectivity, delivering a compact, high-density storage bay optimized for enterprise workloads. Pages in this category describe compatible drive cage assemblies, mounting hardware, backplanes, cable adapters, tray assemblies, and replacement parts, plus practical guidance for installation, compatibility checks, and performance tuning.

Key category focus and who benefits

This category is aimed at system administrators, datacenter technicians, enterprise buyers, IT procurement teams, and resellers who need reliable drive-cage components for HPE XL2xx servers. Items described in this category are suitable for:

• Server refresh projects requiring OEM replacement cages.
• Upgrade paths from 2.5" SATA to 12G SAS backplanes and drives.
• Maintaining hot-swap capability while increasing storage throughput.
• Small-to-medium enterprises scaling virtualized infrastructure.

Technical description 

The HPE 794875-001 drive cage assembly is a mechanical and electrical subsystem designed to house four SFF drives within the XL2xx front bay footprint. It integrates drive trays or carriers, an interface to the server backplane (or a backplane-integrated variant), and mounting fixtures that secure the assembly to the server chassis. Functionally, the cage:

• Supports 2.5-inch SFF SSDs and HDDs (SFF-2.5 form factor).
• Enables 12G SAS performance when mated with a compatible backplane and HBA/RAID controller.
• Preserves hot-swap and drive activity LED behaviors expected by HPE server management tools.
• Facilitates proper airflow channels and thermal control within the server chassis.

Design elements and mechanical features

The cage uses stamped and formed steel for rigidity and heat-sinking, with plastic or metal drive sleds that include ejector mechanisms. Common design highlights:

• Precision mounting points to align drive connectors with the backplane.
• Front bezels or blanking panels to maintain airflow and front-panel aesthetics.
• Drive latch or handle designs that retain drive sleds during vibration and enable tool-less removal.
• Provision for LED windows and status indicators to remain visible at the front panel.

Electrical and interface considerations

This drive cage is typically paired with an HPE 12G SAS backplane and works with HPE Smart Array controllers or validated HBAs. Key electrical and interface points:

• 12G SAS compatibility: When used with 12Gbps SAS backplanes and host controllers, drives can operate at full 12G throughput for high I/O workloads.
• SATA backwards compatibility: SATA drives can be used in many configurations, but mixed SAS/SATA arrays should be validated against HPE guidelines to avoid unexpected behaviors.
• Power and signaling: The cage aligns drive power and differential SAS/SATA signals to the server backplane connectors; replace cages carefully to preserve pinout and power distribution.

Hot-swapping and serviceability

794875-001 kits preserve hot-swap functionality so failed drives can be replaced without powering down the server. Serviceability features include:

• Tool-less drive trays for fast replacement.
• Drive activity and fault LEDs visible from the front of the chassis.
• Indexed connectors that prevent incorrect insertion and reduce risk of backplane damage.

Performance implications and storage use cases

Choosing a 4SFF cage for 2.5" drives optimizes density and IOPS for mixed workloads. Use cases and performance notes:

High IOPS database workloads

Enterprise SAS SSDs installed in a 4SFF cage can deliver very high random I/O for transactional databases and caching tiers. The 12G SAS interface reduces bottlenecks compared to older 6G systems and offers better link aggregation in multi-lane setups.

Virtualization and hyperconverged infrastructure

2.5" SSDs in a compact 4-bay cluster node are ideal for hypervisor local storage (vSAN, hyperconverged nodes) where performance-per-rack-unit and low latency matter.

Backup and archival tiers

Although the cage supports high-performance SSDs, it is equally suitable for high-capacity 2.5" HDDs where capacity and lower cost-per-GB are priorities. Consider RAID levels and controller cache options to optimize sequential throughput for backup targets.

Specifications & parts breakdown

A clear breakdown of typical components in a 794875-001 kit helps buyers identify what they need:

Mechanical components

• 4-bay 2.5" drive assembly frame.
• Individual drive sleds/trays (quantity matching the bay count).
• Mounting screws and retention clips.
• Front bezel or blanking panel (if applicable).

Electrical components

• Backplane mating surface (cage side connector interface).
• Optional harness connectors or adapter cables, where the kit includes backplane cabling.

Replacement parts, spares, and accessory options

To minimize downtime, many organizations keep spares such as:

• Individual drive trays and ejector mechanisms.
• Backplane connector seals and harnesses.
• Front bezels and LED lenses.
• Spares for latches, screws, and alignment pins.

Firmware, controllers & interoperability

Drive cage hardware is closely coupled with controller firmware and backplane electronics. To ensure reliable operation:

• Keep RAID/HBA firmware current — many firmware updates contain device compatibility fixes and performance improvements for new drive families.
• Follow HPE compatibility matrices to match drive models and firmware with server generation and controller models.
• When possible, source drives from the same vendor family and firmware revision for consistent behavior in arrays.

Controller options and RAID considerations

Use HPE Smart Array controllers for integrated RAID with higher-level features such as cache protection and advanced rebuild algorithms. Controller selection affects available RAID levels, battery/cache options, and performance. If you are using software RAID, ensure OS-level drivers support the chosen backplane topology.

Cooling, airflow, and thermal management

A 4SFF cage alters local airflow patterns. Proper airflow management ensures drive longevity and performance:

• Maintain unobstructed front-to-back airflow across the drive sleds and backplane.
• Use blanking panels in empty bays to prevent recirculation and dead zones.
• Monitor drive temperatures with iLO or other management tools and configure thresholds and alerts.
• When switching to high-power NVMe or enterprise SSDs in adjacent bays, check combined thermal budgets.