875557-001 HPE DL325 Gen10+ Back Plane Cage Enable Kit

HPE 875557-001 Back Plane Cage Enable Kit Overview

The HPE 875557-001 DL325 Gen10+ 2SFF UFF SC Dual Port Back Plane Cage Enable Kit category covers replacement and upgrade components designed for HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10+ servers that use a 2SFF (2 small form factor) Ultra-Flexible Form Factor (UFF) drive cage with a single-connector (SC) dual-port backplane. This description section is a continuous, in-depth look at the category and its subcategories: replacement kits, backplane assemblies, cage enable modules, cable harnesses, mounting hardware, firmware compatibility accessories, and installation tools. 

Design and Functionality

Core purpose of the backplane cage enable kit

The backplane cage enable kit serves two core purposes: mechanical drive support and electrical/data connectivity. By providing a stable physical mounting cage for 2.5" or small form factor drives and a dual-port single-connector (SC) backplane, the kit facilitates direct connection to server controllers, RAID cards, or HPE Smart Array controllers. Dual-port backplanes enable multi-path connectivity and high availability, allowing each drive to present two independent data paths—an important design for enterprise workloads and redundant storage topologies.

Mechanical engineering

Mechanically, the cage provides precise drive spacing, vibration damping, and airflow channels that align with the DL325 Gen10+ chassis cooling design. The kit typically includes the metal cage, drive sled interaction points, and retention features that meet HPE's serviceability standards. Proper cage alignment is critical to avoid drive seating issues and to maintain uninterrupted thermal performance within the server bay.

Electrical and signal considerations

The "dual port" and "SC" (single connector) descriptors explain the electrical design: two independent signal paths accessible through a single connector interface on the server backplane. This design reduces cable clutter while enabling redundancy. In many configurations, dual-port backplanes are used with dual-controller SANs or redundant server I/O fabrics to ensure drive accessibility even if a single I/O path fails.

Compatibility

The category centers on the DL325 Gen10+ chassis and drive architecture, but closely related part numbers and subcategories exist for other HPE 1U and 2U servers with similar 2SFF UFF requirements. When shopping within this category, always verify chassis model, chassis serial number (or product number), and firmware compatibility. Matching the cage kit to the server revision or service pack avoids fitment problems.

Subcategories and Related Parts

Replacement kits and spare assemblies

Replacement kits usually include the primary backplane cage and may include mounting screws and a small set of cable harnesses. Vendors may list these parts as "HPE spare" or "OEM replacement". This subcategory is critical for data centers that need to quickly replace a damaged backplane or upgrade a configuration with a dual-port capability.

Cabling and harnesses

Cables associated with these kits include single-connector internal SAS/SATA harnesses, power distribution harnesses, and in some cases, paths for backplane-to-controller connectors. Stocking compatible harnesses reduces downtime during field replacements and helps preserve signal integrity, especially in high-throughput environments.

Drive sleds and trays

While the enable kit focuses on the backplane, many buyers also purchase 2SFF drive sleds and trays that lock into the cage. This bundled approach ensures compatibility between sled latch mechanisms and the backplane's mechanical stops.

Technical Specifications

Form factor & mounting

Typical specifications show compatibility with 2.5" SFF drives and sleds in a 2-drive (2SFF) layout. Mounting holes align to the DL325 Gen10+ chassis frame. Physical tolerances accommodate airflow and shock resistance found in rack-mounted enterprise servers.

Connector types & signaling

The SC (single connector) interface often supports SAS and/or SATA signaling depending on the controller and backplane configuration. Dual-port support implies independent SAS addressing on each port, enabling multipathing and host controller failover strategies.

Environmental and compliance attributes

As an OEM HPE component, parts in this category generally meet HPE’s environmental standards for operations in data centers — including operating temperature and humidity ranges, shock and vibration tolerances, and regulatory certifications relevant to enterprise deployments.

Performance

Redundancy benefits of dual-port backplanes

Dual-port backplanes provide redundant I/O paths that reduce the risk of drive inaccessibility due to a single controller or cable failure. This redundancy is a core benefit for high-availability systems running critical workloads like virtualization, databases, and enterprise file services.

Thermal and airflow impact

The cage design contributes to proper server airflow management. When swapping cages or installing aftermarket components, maintain vendor-recommended airflow paths; ill-fitting components can increase inlet temperatures and throttle performance or shorten drive lifespans.

Signal integrity and cable management

Use shielded, properly routed cable assemblies where recommended. Signal degradation from bent or poorly supported harnesses can cause intermittent errors, reduced throughput, and increased RAID rebuild times.

Compatibility

Common controller pairings

Controllers commonly paired with this category include HPE Smart Array controllers and HPE-supported SAS HBAs that accept the SC dual port connector and can address the dual SAS paths. Always consult the server’s QuickSpecs or HPE compatibility matrix when matching controllers to backplane kits.

Drive compatibility

The backplane supports SFF SAS and SATA drives where designed. Note that NVMe drive support depends on the chassis and server architecture — many NVMe configurations use a different backplane or direct-connect adapters. Verify NVMe compatibility before attempting to install NVMe drives on a SAS/SATA backplane.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

Typical enterprise deployments

This category is used by enterprises deploying HPE DL325 Gen10+ servers for virtualization, container platforms, database servers, and software-defined storage nodes where compact 2.5" drives are preferred for density and performance.

Edge and constrained environments

The compact 2SFF design and dual-port redundancy make these kits suitable for edge systems that need reliability without sacrificing density. Ensure environmental tolerances match the deployment site (e.g., temperature, dust).

Lab and test environments

Labs frequently use spare cage kits to test drive failure scenarios, firmware upgrades, and controller compatibility before production rollouts.

Comparison & Alternatives

How to compare models in this category

When comparing items, consider: OEM vs aftermarket, included accessories, warranty length, and whether firmware support is included. Price-per-part must be weighed against potential downtime costs and supportability.

Alternative form factors

If your deployment needs higher density or NVMe support, consider alternative backplane options (e.g., multi-drive NVMe backplanes or different chassis families). However, these alternatives may require different server chassis and are not direct drop-in replacements for the HPE 875557-001 kit.