P47786-001 HPE MR216i-o OCP SPDM Pcie Gen11 x16 Lanes without Cache Storage Controller

HPE P47786-001 OCP Storage Controller

The HPE P47786-001 MR216i-o OCP SPDM PCIe Gen4 storage controller is engineered for modern Gen11 servers requiring compact, high-throughput, and secure storage expansion. Built on a Broadcom Aero ASIC platform, this controller delivers consistent performance while maintaining flexible drive connectivity across NVMe, SAS, and SATA infrastructures.

General Information

• Manufacturer: HPE
• Part Number: P47786-001 
• Host Interface Pcie Gen 4.0 X8 Host

Host Interface Capabilities

• PCIe Gen4 x8 host communication channel
• Enhanced throughput for enterprise workloads
• Improved signal integrity over previous PCIe generations
• Optimized for virtualization and database operations

Supported Storage Interfaces

• 16Gb/s NVMe for ultra-low latency performance
• 12Gb/s SAS for enterprise-class reliability
• 6Gb/s SATA for economical capacity expansion

Drive Expansion Capacity

• Maximum of 16 drives per controller
• Supports dynamic storage allocation
• Ideal for scalable server deployments.

Hot-Swap Capabilities

• Add drives without shutting down servers
• Replace failed disks seamlessly
• Maintain continuous data availability

Broad Operating System Compatibility

• Microsoft Windows Server editions
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
• VMware ESXi hypervisor
• Canonical Ubuntu distributions

Hypervisor Integration Benefits

• Stable storage throughput
• Reduced I/O bottlenecks
• Enhanced workload consolidation

Compact OCP NIC 3.0 Form Factor Design

• Space-saving hardware footprint
• Improved airflow within chassis
• Enhanced cooling efficiency
• Optimized for high-density servers

HPE P47786-001 MR216i-o Storage Controller

The MR216i-o represents a paradigm shift in storage controller design, moving away from traditional RAID-centric models with onboard cache and battery backup units (BBUs) towards a lean, efficient, and secure connectivity hub. Its primary mission is to facilitate blisteringly fast communication between the server's PCIe Gen11 root complex and an array of NVMe solid-state drives (SSDs) via the OCP 3.0 interface. By forgoing local cache, it eliminates associated complexities, costs, and potential points of failure, aligning perfectly with architectures where data persistence and caching are handled at the software layer or within the enterprise-grade NVMe drives themselves. This design philosophy prioritizes raw bandwidth, low latency, and firmware-level security, providing the essential hardware foundation for disaggregated and composable infrastructure strategies.

Core Specifications and Physical Design

The HPE P47786-001 is defined by a set of specifications tailored for high-throughput applications. The "PCIe Gen11 x16 Lanes" designation is paramount, indicating it leverages the immense bandwidth of the PCI Express 4.0 (commonly marketed as Gen11 by HPE) standard. With a full x16 lane allocation, the controller offers a maximum theoretical bidirectional bandwidth of approximately 64 GB/s, ensuring it is never the bottleneck for even the most demanding NVMe drive arrays. The card conforms to the OCP 3.0 SFF (Small Form Factor) design, a globally recognized standard that promotes vendor-agnostic interoperability, efficient cooling, and simplified serviceability within the server chassis. The "MR216i-o" nomenclature signifies its role as a Multi-function RAID controller (conceptually, though focused on HBA/IT Mode), supporting up to 16 drives, and the "-o" suffix specifically denotes the OCP form factor.

Decoding the Part Number: HPE P47786-001

Understanding HPE's P47786-001 system provides insight into the component's lineage and purpose. The base number, P47786, identifies this specific controller model and its core architecture. The -001 suffix typically indicates a specific revision, firmware bundle, or regional variant. This part number guarantees compatibility with HPE ProLiant, Synergy, and other HPE server platforms that feature an OCP 3.0 mezzanine slot. It ensures that the controller is supported by HPE's iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) management suite and is covered by HPE's global warranty and support services, providing peace of mind for enterprise deployment.

Interoperability and Vendor Freedom

Unlike proprietary mezzanine cards, the OCP 3.0 standard ensures the HPE P47786-001 MR216i-o can, in principle, operate in any OCP 3.0-compliant server from various manufacturers, though full functionality requires vendor-specific driver and firmware support. This openness gives data center operators greater flexibility in sourcing hardware and designing homogeneous infrastructures, reducing lock-in and fostering competition.

Enhanced Thermal and Power Design

The OCP 3.0 SFF specification mandates a streamlined card layout with optimized component placement for superior airflow. The HPE P47786-001 is engineered with this in mind, allowing high-speed components to remain within thermal limits without excessive cooling. Its direct connection to the server board also provides more stable and efficient power delivery compared to traditional PCIe add-in cards.

Simplified Maintenance and Serviceability

The tool-less, mezzanine-style installation of OCP cards allows for rapid replacement or upgrade without disturbing other server components. This design significantly reduces mean time to repair (MTTR), a critical metric for large-scale data center uptime and operational efficiency. Perhaps the most significant feature of the HPE P47786-001 MR216i-o is its native integration of the Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM). SPDM is an industry-standard protocol defined by the DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) that enables hardware-level authentication and integrity verification.

SPDM in Action with the MR216i-o

During server boot or at runtime, the HPE server platform can initiate an SPDM session with the MR216i-o controller. The controller responds with signed certificates and measurements that prove its authenticity as a genuine HPE component. This process is transparent to the operating system but is fundamental to a Zero Trust hardware architecture. It provides assurance that the storage data path is rooted in a trusted hardware component.

The PCIe Gen11 x16 Engine for NVMe Arrays

The performance profile of the P47786-001 MR216i-o is defined by its commitment to maximizing PCIe bandwidth. The "without Cache" configuration is specifically advantageous for certain performance-centric workloads. With 16 lanes of PCIe 4.0 (Gen11) connectivity, the controller provides a massive pipe to the CPU. This is essential when aggregating the throughput of multiple high-end NVMe drives. For example, a fully populated bay of sixteen Gen4 NVMe U.2 drives could theoretically saturate over 8 GB/s per drive in sequential reads; the MR216i-o's x16 link is designed to handle this aggregate load without contention, ensuring every drive can perform at its peak.

Optimized for Software-Defined Storage (SDS)

In SDS environments like vSAN, Ceph, or Storage Spaces Direct, the storage intelligence resides in the hypervisor or cluster software. These platforms require direct, unfettered access to the physical drives (a mode often called HBA or "IT Mode"). The cache-less MR216i-o is perfectly suited for this role, presenting drives directly to the OS while still providing the benefits of OCP design and SPDM security. It acts as a secure and high-performance pass-through device.

Deployment and Firmware

The controller is typically factory-installed or can be easily added to the OCP 3.0 slot. HPE provides firmware updates through its Standard SPP (Service Pack for ProLiant), ensuring compatibility, stability, and security patches. Firmware management can be handled via iLO, HPE One View, or integrated scripting tools. HPE offers broad driver support for all major operating systems, including Windows Server, various distributions of Linux (Red Hat, SUSE, Canonical), and VMware ESXi. These drivers are optimized to expose the full performance and SPDM capabilities of the controller to the OS. In many cases, the controller will default to a standard NVMe HBA mode, requiring no special configuration for basic operation.

vs. Traditional RAID Controllers (with Cache & BBU)

Traditional controllers like the HPE P47786-001 MR416i-p focus on hardware RAID functionality, using onboard cache and a BBU to accelerate writes and protect data in transit. The MR216i-o abdicates this role, targeting environments where data protection (like erasure coding) is software-based or where drives are used in JBOD/JBOF configurations. It trades RAID features for bandwidth, security (SPDM), and form factor (OCP).

vs. Standard PCIe Add-in Card (AIC) HBAs

Standard PCIe HBAs perform a similar pass-through function but use the classic slot-based form factor. The OCP 3.0 design of the MR216i-o offers better thermal performance, easier serviceability, and a more secure, direct board connection. The inclusion of SPDM is also a key differentiator not found on most standard HBAs.

vs. NVMe Drives Connected via Backplane Only

Some servers allow direct CPU connection to backplane slots. However, a dedicated controller like the P47786-001 MR216i-o provides important functions: it aggregates lanes, handles switching for multiple drives, implements the SPDM protocol, and offers a standardized, upgradeable component separate from the server motherboard.

Multi-Protocol Storage Compatibility

The P47786-001 MR216i-o storage controller supports a diverse range of drive technologies, allowing organizations to scale their infrastructure using performance-focused NVMe or cost-efficient SAS and SATA devices.