HPE ProLiant DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card

The HPE ProLiant DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card is a powerful internal storage expansion solution designed for HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. This full-height expansion card unlocks the potential of your backplane by enabling support for up to 28 drives when connected to a Gen9/Gen10 supported Smart Array or Smart HBA controller. Built for 12Gb/s SAS connectivity, it delivers the bandwidth needed for data-heavy workloads while maintaining reliability and straightforward management within the HP storage ecosystem. Whether you’re growing a virtualization environment, consolidating databases, or expanding backups and archival storage, this SAS expander card provides a scalable path to higher capacity without sacrificing performance or manageability. It integrates with HP’s familiar storage management tools, helping administrators optimize throughput, monitor health, and maintain data integrity across expanding storage infrastructures.

• Maximum drive expansion with Gen9/Gen10 support

  Designed to work with Gen9 and Gen10 servers, the DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card enables you to scale internal storage by connecting up to 28 drives through compatible Smart Array or Smart HBA controllers. This capability is ideal for data-intensive workloads that demand large on-board capacity and robust I/O performance, such as virtualization, large-scale backups, media libraries, and database repositories. By leveraging existing backplane architectures, you can dramatically increase effective storage without adding external enclosures or complex networking. The result is a cost-efficient, scalable storage expansion that grows with your business needs while preserving system manageability and reliability.

• 12Gb/s SAS connectivity and enterprise reliability

  With 12Gb/s SAS interfaces, this expander card delivers high-bandwidth data pathways from the host controller to the drive backplane. The architecture is engineered for reliability in enterprise environments, featuring solid signal integrity, consistent throughput, and compatibility with HPE’s storage ecosystem. This combination helps reduce bottlenecks during peak I/O, accelerates data transfers, and supports continuity for mission-critical workloads. The expander card is designed to maintain performance consistency under load, contributing to lower latency and improved overall storage responsiveness in demanding scenarios.

• Full-height form factor for dense data center deployments

  The DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card is a full-height expansion card formulated to fit standard enterprise server chassis. Its robust build and standardized mounting ensure secure installation in suitable HPE ProLiant servers without requiring custom brackets or adapters. In dense data center environments, the full-height design helps maximize rack-space efficiency while delivering scalable storage expansion. Administrators benefit from straightforward integration with existing server backplanes, streamlined cable management, and compatibility with HP’s lifecycle management tools, making it easier to deploy and sustain larger storage configurations over time.

• Seamless integration with HP storage management tools

  Once installed, the expander card works in concert with HP’s Smart Storage Administrator and other built-in management utilities to simplify discovery, configuration, and monitoring. You can provision drives, monitor health and firmware levels, and perform basic topology audits from familiar HP interfaces. This integration reduces the complexity of expanding storage, minimizes downtime during deployment, and supports proactive maintenance through consolidated visibility across your storage tier. The result is a cleaner, more maintainable storage environment that scales with your evolving workloads.

• Ideal for a wide range of workloads and deployments

  Whether you’re building a virtualization cluster, expanding a database environment, or enhancing backups and archival storage, the DL345 Gen10 Plus SAS Expander Card offers a scalable path to additional capacity without sacrificing performance or manageability. Its compatibility with Gen9/Gen10 servers and supported Smart Array or Smart HBA controllers makes it a versatile option for existing HP infrastructures. By enabling additional drives within the same chassis, this expander card helps unlock new levels of storage density, improves data resiliency through larger local storage pools, and supports more flexible data protection strategies for modern workloads.

Technical Details of HPE ProLiant DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card

• Get this information from the "specifications" section of the product from https://ec.synnex.com/ using product "UPC" or "SKU" as reference

how to install HPE ProLiant DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card

Step 1: Power down the server, unplug all power sources, and follow your data center’s safety procedures before handling any internal components. Remove the server cover to access the internal components.

Step 2: Identify a suitable full-height expansion slot that is supported for SAS expander cards in your Gen9 or Gen10 ProLiant server. Prepare the slot by removing any obstructing brackets or accessories and ensure there is adequate clearance for the expander card and any connected cables.

Step 3: Insert the DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card into the appropriate expansion slot and secure it with the mounting screws. Confirm that the card is seated evenly and that the port connectors align properly with the backplane or controller interface.

Step 4: Connect the SAS cables from the expander card to a compatible Smart Array or Smart HBA controller and to the server’s storage backplane if required by your configuration. Route cables carefully to avoid tension, bending, or interference with fans and other components. Ensure all cables are secured and won’t dislodge during operation or maintenance.

Step 5: Reassemble the server chassis, reconnect power, and boot the system. Use HP’s Smart Storage Administrator and the server’s iLO interface to verify the new hardware is detected, confirm firmware compatibility, and configure the expanded drive topology. Perform a basic health check on the new drives, verify redundancy if applicable, and run a quick performance test to confirm expected throughput.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is the DL345 Gen10 Plus 12Gb SAS Expander Card compatible with both Gen9 and Gen10 ProLiant servers?

A: Yes. The expander card is designed to work with Gen9 and Gen10 ProLiant servers when paired with a supported Smart Array or Smart HBA controller. This enables internal storage expansion within the HP ecosystem while preserving management and firmware compatibility across generations.

Q: How many drives can be connected using this expander card?

A: The card supports up to 28 drives when connected to a Gen9/Gen10 supported Smart Array or Smart HBA controller. This makes it suitable for substantial storage growth within a single server chassis, enabling large pools of fast, locally accessible storage for various workloads.

Q: What type of connectivity does the expander card use?

A: It uses 12Gb/s SAS connectivity to deliver high-bandwidth access between the host controller and the drive backplane. This ensures robust data transfer rates and compatibility with modern SAS-based storage architectures in HP environments.

Q: What form factor is the card?

A: The DL345 is a full-height expansion card, designed to fit standard enterprise server chassis. Its form factor is intended for dense deployments where a compact, high-capacity storage expansion within a single server enclosure is required.

Q: What controllers are required for operation?

A: The expander card requires a Gen9 or Gen10 supported Smart Array or Smart HBA controller to provide host-side control and drive connectivity. This ensures proper management, driver support, and compatibility with HP’s storage management suite.