HPE NS204i-u Gen11 NVMe Hot Plug Boot Optimized Storage Device

Overview

The HPE P48183-B21 is a storage card designed to provide ProLiant Gen11 servers with a reliable, mirrored boot volume without using front-bay drive slots. It features two 2280 NVMe solid state drives configured in hardware RAID 1, delivering a single 480 GB NVMe device that appears instantly to the host system. This setup allows administrators to install operating systems like VMware ESXi, Linux, or Windows immediately after installation, simplifying server deployment and maintenance.

By moving the boot image to a PCIe card, this device frees up valuable front drive bays for additional storage or performance needs, making it well suited for virtualization clusters, edge appliances, and database servers. Its half-height, half-length form factor fits easily into PCIe Gen3 slots while leaving room for other expansion cards.

Key features

• Hardware RAID 1 mirroring on the card ensures the operating system is automatically protected without requiring software configuration.
• Plug-and-play installation with no need for drivers or setup utilities, enabling quick server provisioning.
• Compact half-height, half-length design fits into standard PCIe Gen3 slots while preserving adjacent slot space.
• Supports major operating systems including VMware ESXi, Linux distributions, and Windows Server for broad compatibility.
• Separates boot volume from application data, simplifying backups, upgrades, and disaster recovery plans.
• Complies with RoHS and Lot 9 environmental regulations, ensuring responsible manufacturing standards.
• Backed by a three-year limited warranty from HPE, providing confidence for deployment in production and remote environments.

Key specs

• Storage capacity: 480 GB usable NVMe
• Drive configuration: Two 2280 M.2 NVMe SSDs in hardware RAID 1
• Interface: PCIe Gen3 x4 slot
• Form factor: Half-height, half-length PCIe card
• Compatibility: VMware ESXi, major Linux distributions, Windows Server
• Warranty: Three-year limited warranty
• Regulatory compliance: RoHS and Lot 9

Connectivity and compatibility

This storage card installs into a PCIe Gen3 slot, making it compatible with a wide range of ProLiant Gen11 servers. Its hardware RAID 1 configuration is recognized immediately by supported operating systems, eliminating the need for additional drivers or software. This ensures seamless integration into existing server environments running VMware ESXi, Linux, or Windows Server.

Ideal uses and environments

The P48183-B21 is a strong choice for IT teams managing virtualization clusters, edge computing appliances, or database nodes where maximizing front drive bays is critical. Its mirrored boot volume enhances system reliability, while the compact design allows for flexible server configurations with additional networking or accelerator cards. This makes it well suited for data centers and remote sites requiring dependable, easy-to-manage boot storage.