859085-S01 HPE Proliant DL380 Gen9 2x Intel Xeon 14 Core E5-2690v4 2.6GHz 2u Rack Server

Understanding of HPE ProLiant DL380 Rack Server

The HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen9 in the 859085-S01 Smart Buy configuration represents a pinnacle of enterprise-grade server engineering, designed for maximum performance, reliability, and density in a ubiquitous 2U rack form factor. This Smart Buy offering provides a pre-configured, optimized, and cost-effective solution for demanding workloads, eliminating guesswork in specification while delivering a robust foundation for virtualization, database applications, and business-critical infrastructure. It integrates powerful Intel Xeon processing, substantial memory bandwidth, advanced storage control, and high-availability features to meet the rigorous demands of modern data centers.

Core Processing Architecture: Intel Xeon E5-2600 v4 Series

At the heart of this server lies a formidable dual-processor platform powered by Intel's Broadwell-EP architecture, delivering exceptional computational power and efficiency.

Dual Intel Xeon E5-2690 v4 Processors

This configuration is equipped with two Intel Xeon E5-2690 v4 processors. Each CPU features 14 physical cores, providing a total of 28 cores per server. With Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, this effectively enables up to 56 concurrent processing threads, dramatically increasing throughput for parallelized applications and virtual machine hosting.

Processor Specifications and Benefits

The 859085-S01 E5-2690 v4 operates at a base clock frequency of 2.6 GHz, with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 dynamically increasing clock speeds up to 3.5 GHz for burst performance when needed. Each processor boasts a substantial 35MB of last-level L3 cache, significantly reducing latency for data-intensive operations. With a thermal design power (TDP) of 135W, these processors balance high performance with power efficiency within the platform's thermal envelope. The integrated memory controller supports up to four channels of DDR4 memory per CPU.

Platform Performance and Scalability

The dual-socket design of the DL380 Gen9 provides extensive scalability. The QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) links between processors operate at 9.6 GT/s, ensuring low-latency, high-bandwidth communication for cache-coherent non-uniform memory access (ccNUMA) workloads. This architecture is ideal for applications requiring large shared memory spaces and high core counts, such as large-scale virtualization hosts (VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and data analytics platforms.

High-Bandwidth DDR4 SDRAM

The memory configuration is critical for server performance, especially in virtualized and memory-bound environments. The DL380 Gen9's architecture is optimized for maximum memory throughput and capacity.

64GB DDR4 Memory

This Smart Buy model comes pre-configured with 64GB of DDR4 memory, achieved using four 16GB Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs). DDR4 technology offers significant advantages over previous generations, including higher data transfer rates, increased module density, and improved power efficiency at 1.2V.

Memory Architecture Details

The four DIMMs are strategically populated across the two processors to optimize performance. The DL380 Gen9 supports a maximum of 24 DIMM slots (12 per CPU), allowing for massive future expansion up to 1.5TB of DDR4 memory using 64GB LRDIMMs. The installed 2400MT/s DIMMs operate at this speed in a 1 DIMM per channel (DPC) configuration, delivering peak memory bandwidth. Advanced memory features include support for Registered DIMMs (RDIMMs) and Load-Reduced DIMMs (LRDIMMs), along with optional memory protection technologies like lockstep mode for enhanced reliability.

Storage Controller: HPE Smart Array P440ar

Data integrity, performance, and flexibility are managed by the embedded HPE Smart Array P440ar controller, a key differentiator in HPE's server lineup.

Controller Features and Capabilities

The 859085-S01 Smart Array P440ar is a 12Gb/s SAS hardware RAID controller that offloads RAID processing from the main CPU complex. It features a powerful dual-core RAID-on-Chip (ROC) processor and 2GB of Flash-backed Write Cache (FBWC). This cache accelerates both read and write operations, dramatically improving I/O performance for transactional workloads like databases and email servers.

Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC) and Smart Storage Battery

The 2GB of DDR3 cache memory is backed by integrated flash memory and the included HPE Smart Storage Battery (SSB). In the event of a sudden power loss, the SSB provides sufficient power to commit all data held in the volatile write cache to the non-volatile flash memory. Once system power is restored, the controller automatically flushes the data from flash to the drives. This ensures absolute data integrity and protection against cache data loss, a critical feature for business continuity.

RAID Functionality and Flexibility

The P440ar supports a comprehensive suite of RAID levels, including 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60. It offers advanced data management features such as online RAID level migration, expansion without downtime, and support for self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and HPE Secure Encryption. The controller is optimized for the 8 Small Form Factor (SFF) drive bays of this configuration, providing a direct and high-performance path to storage.

Storage and Drive Bay

The physical storage design of this server balances capacity potential with high-performance storage media support in a hot-swappable, serviceable chassis.

8-SFF Drive Bay Chassis

This DL380 Gen9 model utilizes the 8 Small Form Factor (SFF) drive bay configuration. The SFF bays support 2.5-inch form factor drives, which are ideal for performance-oriented storage solutions. This includes high-RPM SAS hard disk drives (HDDs), Nearline SAS HDDs, and solid-state drives (SSDs), particularly high-performance NVMe drives when used with appropriate carrier adapters.

Flexible Storage Options

The 8 bays provide flexibility in creating storage pools. For example, administrators could configure two drives in a RAID 1 mirror for the operating system and utilize the remaining six drives in a RAID 5 or RAID 6 array for data, balancing capacity and redundancy. The hot-swappable nature of all drive bays allows for failed drives to be replaced without powering down the server, a fundamental requirement for high-availability systems.

Network Connectivity: Ethernet 4-port 331i Adapter

Network I/O is a crucial component for server responsiveness and network fabric integration. This server is equipped with a versatile embedded network interface card (NIC).

HPE Ethernet 1Gb 4-port 331i Adapter Specifications

The embedded NIC features four copper Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) ports based on the proven Broadcom BCM5719 controller. These ports support widespread IEEE 802.3 standards, including energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE). The adapter supports teaming and failover functionalities (like NIC teaming in Windows Server or bonding in Linux) to aggregate bandwidth or provide network path redundancy. For environments requiring higher speed, the DL380 Gen9 has multiple PCIe 3.0 expansion slots available for adding 10GbE, 25GbE, or Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs).

Power and Cooling Infrastructure

Reliable and efficient power delivery is engineered into the platform, with intelligent features for power management and redundancy.

Dual 800W Platinum Hot-Plug Power Supplies

The server is configured with two 800W Platinum-certified hot-plug power supply units (PSUs). The 80 PLUS Platinum certification denotes exceptional electrical efficiency, typically 94% or higher at 50% load, reducing energy costs and heat output in the data center.

Power Supply Redundancy Mode

With two PSUs installed, the system can be configured in a redundant (1+1) power mode. In this configuration, if one power supply fails or its AC input is lost, the remaining supply instantly takes the entire load without interrupting server operation. The failed unit can then be hot-swapped while the server continues to run. The power subsystem also supports HPE's advanced power management features, such as Dynamic Power Capping, which allows administrators to set a firm upper limit on server power consumption.

Power Efficiency

The 2U chassis is designed with optimal airflow and cooling in mind. Multiple high-efficiency, hot-pluggable fans are arranged in zones and controlled by the integrated iLO management processor. Fans automatically adjust speed based on system temperature and component utilization, ensuring reliable cooling at the lowest possible acoustic noise and power consumption.

Form Factor and Chassis Details

The industry-standard 2U rack (2 rack units) height allows the server to be installed in any standard 19-inch server rack. One rack unit (1U) equals 1.75 inches in height; thus, the DL380 Gen9 occupies 3.5 inches of vertical rack space. This provides an excellent balance between compute density and space for robust components like ample drive bays, PCIe expansion, and high-wattage power supplies. The chassis includes tool-less slides for easy installation into compatible racks and features a front-accessible, service-friendly design for all major components.

Smart Buy Advantage

The "Smart Buy" designation indicates a pre-configured, tested, and optimized server SKU offered at a competitive price point. It simplifies procurement and ensures component compatibility. This system typically includes a standard HPE warranty, often one year of parts, labor, and next-business-day on-site support, which can be extended and enhanced through HPE Care Pack services.