HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 6GBPS 1-Port INT/1-Port EXT Bulk

In the world of computing, efficient data storage and retrieval are crucial for the seamless operation of various systems. One key component that contributes to this efficiency is the RAID controller. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of the HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 RAID Controller, a powerful solution designed to enhance data management capabilities. From its key features to its installation and performance, we will explore the ins and outs of this sophisticated piece of hardware.

Before we dive into the details of the HP 631667-B21, let's establish a foundational understanding of RAID controllers. RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a technology that combines multiple disk drives into a single logical unit to improve data redundancy, performance, or both. RAID controllers play a pivotal role in managing these arrays, ensuring data integrity, and optimizing storage performance.

• High-Speed Connectivity: At the heart of the HP 631667-B21 is its support for high-speed connectivity. The controller boasts a PCI-E 3.0 x8 interface, providing a substantial data transfer rate. The PCI Express 3.0 standard enhances the overall speed and efficiency of data communication between the RAID controller and the server's motherboard.
• Versatile SAS Compatibility: This RAID controller is equipped with 6Gbps SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) technology. SAS offers a reliable and high-performance interface for connecting storage devices. The 6Gbps data transfer rate ensures swift and responsive access to stored data, making it an ideal choice for environments where speed is of the essence.
• Dual-Port Design: The HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 features a 1-Port Internal/1-Port External configuration. This dual-port design provides flexibility in connecting internal and external storage devices simultaneously. It caters to a wide range of storage setups, accommodating various storage needs within a single controller.
• PCI-E 3.0 Compatibility: The PCI-E 3.0 compatibility ensures that the RAID controller takes full advantage of the latest advancements in peripheral component interconnect express technology. This not only enhances speed but also future-proofs the controller for upcoming hardware advancements.
• Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC): One standout feature of the HP 631667-B21 is its Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC). This technology combines the speed of volatile memory (RAM) with the persistence of flash memory. In the event of a power loss or system failure, the FBWC ensures that data in the cache is written to the flash memory, preventing data loss and maintaining the integrity of stored information.

The HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 supports various RAID levels, each offering a unique balance of performance, redundancy, and capacity. Understanding these RAID levels is essential for tailoring your storage solution to meet specific needs.

• RAID 0 - Striping: RAID 0 enhances performance by striping data across multiple drives. However, it provides no redundancy. If one drive fails, all data is lost. RAID 0 is suitable for scenarios where speed is paramount, and data resilience is of lesser concern.
• RAID 1 - Mirroring: RAID 1 focuses on redundancy by mirroring data across two drives. While this provides data protection in the event of a drive failure, it does not improve performance. RAID 1 is ideal for situations where data integrity is the top priority.
• RAID 5 - Striping with Parity: RAID 5 combines striping with parity information, distributed across multiple drives. This offers a balance of performance and redundancy. If one drive fails, the parity information can be used to reconstruct the data. RAID 5 is a popular choice for those seeking a compromise between speed and data protection.
• RAID 6 - Dual Parity: RAID 6 builds upon RAID 5 by incorporating dual parity, allowing for the simultaneous failure of two drives without data loss. This level of redundancy comes at the cost of slightly reduced performance. RAID 6 is suitable for applications where a high level of fault tolerance is critical.

The performance of the HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 is a testament to its design and engineering. The combination of high-speed connectivity, SAS compatibility, and FBWC technology ensures responsive and reliable data access. The controller's ability to support various RAID levels further contributes to its adaptability in diverse computing environments.

• Throughput: The PCI-E 3.0 interface facilitates impressive throughput, enabling quick data transfers between the RAID controller and the server's motherboard. This is particularly advantageous in scenarios where large datasets need to be accessed or processed promptly.
• IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second): The HP 631667-B21 excels in delivering high IOPS, making it suitable for applications that demand rapid read and write operations. Whether in a database server, a file server, or a virtualized environment, the controller's performance contributes to an overall smoother computing experience.
• Scalability: Scalability is a crucial factor in storage solutions, especially in dynamic computing environments where storage needs may evolve over time. The HP 631667-B21 addresses this with its support for a variety of RAID levels and its ability to accommodate both internal and external storage configurations. This makes it a scalable solution that can adapt to changing storage requirements.

The HP 631667-B21 P222 SAS RAID controller supports 6 Gbps SAS technology, which allows for high-speed data transfer rates of up to 6 Gbps. This makes it ideal for use in high-performance computing environments, such as data centers and other enterprise-level applications that require fast data transfer.

6 Gbps SAS technology provides a significant improvement over previous SAS generations, which supported data transfer rates of 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps. This increase in data transfer rate allows for faster data access and increased storage performance, which can improve the overall efficiency and productivity of your server.

The 6 Gbps SAS interface also provides improved scalability and backward compatibility with previous SAS generations, allowing you to easily expand your storage capacity and integrate with existing infrastructure.

The HP 631667-B21 P222 SAS RAID controller's support for 6 Gbps SAS technology provides faster data transfer rates, improved storage performance, and increased scalability, making it a great choice for businesses and organizations that need high-speed data transfer and increased storage performance.

Flexible Connectivity

The HP 631667-B21 P222 SAS RAID controller offers flexible connectivity options, with one internal and one external port. This allows for easy expansion of your storage capacity, using SAS expanders.

The internal port allows you to connect the controller directly to the server motherboard, while the external port allows you to connect it to an external storage device, such as an external hard drive or JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks) unit.

This flexible connectivity allows you to configure your storage in a way that best meets your needs, whether you need to expand your storage capacity, add redundancy, or create a tiered storage system.

Additionally, the controller supports multiple SAS expanders, which allow you to connect multiple storage devices to the controller and expand your storage capacity even further.

The HP 631667-B21 P222 SAS RAID controller's support for one internal and one external port provides flexible connectivity options that allow you to expand your storage capacity and configure your storage in a way that best meets your needs. Additionally, support for multiple SAS expanders allows you to connect multiple storage devices to the controller and expand your storage capacity even further.

• Manufacturer Name: HP
• Part Number or SKU# 631667-B21
• Product Type: SAS-SATA
• Product Name: Smart Array P222/512 Fbwc 6GB SAS Controller

• Interface: SATA 6Gb/s / SAS 6Gb/s
• Data Transfer Rate: 600 MBps
• Buffer Size: 512 MB
• Supported Devices: Hard drive, disk array (RAID)
• Channel Qty: 8
• RAID Level: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, RAID 50

• Interfaces: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s / SAS 6Gb/s - 36 pin 4i Mini MultiLane SAS (SFF-8087) ( internal ) 1 x SATA 6Gb/s / SAS 6Gb/s - 26 pin 4x Shielded Mini MultiLane SAS (SFF-8088) ( external )
• Compatible Slots: 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x8
• Compliant Standards: WEEE

Compatibility Information

• HP LTO-5 Ultrium 3000.
• HP ProLiant DL Series: DL160 Gen8, DL160 Gen8 Entry, DL160 Gen8 Performance, DL320e Gen8, DL320e Gen8 Base, DL320e Gen8 Entry, DL320e Gen8 Performance, DL360p Gen8, DL360p Gen8 Base, DL360p Gen8 CMS, DL360p Gen8 Entry, DL360p Gen8 High Performance, DL380e Gen8, DL380p Gen8, DL380p Gen8 Base, DL380p Gen8 Entry, DL380p Gen8 High Performance, DL380p Gen8 Special, DL385p Gen8, DL385p Gen8 Dedicated Workload, DL385p Gen8 Entry, DL385p Gen8 Maximized Consolidation, DL385p Gen8 Storage, DL560 Gen8, DL560 Gen8 Base, DL560 Gen8 Entry, DL560 Gen8 Performance, MicroServer Gen8, MicroServer Gen8 Base, MicroServer Gen8 Base Starter Kit, MicroServer Gen8 Entry
• HP ProLiant ML Series: ML310e Gen8, ML310e Gen8 Base, ML310e Gen8 Entry, ML310e Gen8 Performance, ML310e Gen8 v2, ML310e Gen8 v2 Base, ML310e Gen8 v2 Enty, ML310e Gen8 v2 Performance, ML350e Gen8, ML350e Gen8 Base, ML350e Gen8 Entry, ML350e Gen8 Performance, ML350e Gen8 v2, ML350e Gen8 v2 Base
• HP ProLiant SL Series: SL210t Gen8 1U Node, SL230s Gen8 1U Left Half Width Tray, SL230s Gen8 1U Right Half Width Tray, SL230s Gen8 Base 1U Left Tray Server, SL230s Gen8 Base 1U Right Tray Server, SL250s Gen8 2U Left Half Width Tray, SL250s Gen8 2U PCIe Gen3 Left Tray, SL250s Gen8 2U Right Half Width Tray, SL250s Gen8 Base 2U Left Half Width Tray, SL250s Gen8 Base 2U Right Half Width Tray, SL270s Gen8 1U Left Half Width Tray, SL270s Gen8 1U Right Half Width Tray, SL270s Gen8 Base 4U Left Half Width Tray, SL270s Gen8 Base 4U Right Half Width Tray, SL270s Gen8 SE 4U Left Tray, SL270s Gen8 SE 4U Right Tray
• HP StoreEver LTO-6 Ultrium 6250, LTO-6 Ultrium 6650

In general, the HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 RAID Controller stands as a robust solution for organizations and individuals seeking a reliable and high-performance storage management solution. Its key features, including high-speed connectivity, versatile SAS compatibility, and advanced FBWC technology, make it a formidable choice for a range of applications.

From the physical installation to the configuration of RAID levels, the controller offers a user-friendly experience. The emphasis on data protection through RAID levels like 1, 5, and 6 ensures that users can tailor their storage setup according to specific needs, whether prioritizing speed, redundancy, or a balance of both.

The performance and scalability of the HP 631667-B21 further solidify its position as a valuable component in the realm of data storage and management. As technology continues to advance, having a RAID controller that is not only current but also adaptable to future developments is a strategic investment.

The HP 631667-B21 Smart Array P222 6GBPS 1-Port INT/1-Port EXT PCI-E 3.0 X8 SAS FBWC Raid Controller is not just a hardware component; it is a key enabler of efficient and reliable data storage, ensuring that your critical information is not only accessible but also protected in the ever-evolving landscape of computing.