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P542D delivered strong throughput with cache.
759557-B21
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HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER
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759557-B21
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- HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER
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759557-B21 Overview
759557-B21-HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER is a high-performance storage controller designed as an expansion card that plugs into a PCIe slot – specifically a PCIe x8 interface supporting the PCIe 3.0 generation – and is built around the HPE Smart Array P542 chipset. As a dedicated RAID controller, it delivers hardware RAID functionality with a 2GB cache and is optimized for storage expansion in server environments.
Engineered for demanding data center applications, the 759557-B21-HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER offers broad operating system compatibility with Windows, Linux, VMware ESXi, and FreeBSD. Featuring a low-profile bracket design (with full height bracket support available as required) and passive cooling, this controller is ideally suited for efficient storage expansion and enhanced server performance.
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759557-B21 Specifications
- Height
- 1.73 inches
- Depth
- 9.84 inches
- Weight
- 1.06 lbs
- PCIe Version
- PCIe 3.0
- Width
- 5.91 inches
- Product Type
- Expansion Card
- Interface
- PCIe x8
- Supported Ports
- N/A
- Max Data Rate
- N/A
- Capture Resolution
- N/A
- Capture Frame Rate
- N/A
- Low Profile Bracket
- Yes
- Full Height Bracket
- Yes
- Cooling
- Passive
- Bus Width
- 64-bit
- Power Requirements
- 3.3V
- Use Case
- Storage Expansion
- Card Type
- Storage Controller
- Port Count
- N/A
- RAID Levels Supported
- RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 / RAID 50 / RAID 60
- Operating System Compatibility
- Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi / FreeBSD
- Chipset / Controller
- HPE Smart Array P542
- Product Name
- 759557-B21-HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER
759557-B21 Use Case
High-Density Virtualization in Enterprise Data Centers
In a large financial institution deploying hundreds of VMware ESXi hosts on HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 servers, the 759557-B21 HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller delivers line-rate NVMe and SAS performance with advanced RAID 1/10 support. By offloading I/O management and leveraging 2 GB of cache with Flash-Backed Write Cache (FBWC), it reduces VM latency by up to 40% and boosts consolidation ratios by 30%. The outcome: predictable virtual machine performance at scale, simplified storage administration, and 99.99% uptime for critical services.
Mission-Critical Transaction Processing for Financial Services
A global bank running Oracle RAC on HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus servers implements the 759557-B21 HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller to underpin high-availability OLTP databases. Utilizing hardware-accelerated RAID 10 and persistent cache ensures sub-millisecond response times under heavy write loads. This configuration increases transaction throughput by 2× and delivers continuous data integrity during power events. The result: enhanced customer experience, regulatory compliance, and zero data loss in financial transactions.
Accelerating AI/ML Data Pipelines in HPC Clusters
A research lab building an HPE ProLiant DL580 Gen10-based HPC cluster for deep learning leverages the 759557-B21 HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller to orchestrate large-scale NVMe flash arrays and tiered SAS storage. With built-in RAID 5/6 for capacity efficiency and adaptive cache algorithms, data ingestion for model training is 3× faster versus software RAID. This reduces experiment turnaround from days to hours, maximizes GPU utilization, and shortens time-to-insight for AI workloads.
Quality Certifications
To get the detailed certification, please go to the Compliance Center.
Product Comparison Table 
| 759557-B21 |  830824-B21 |  804228-B21 |  726821-B21 |  749975-B21 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Expansion Card | Expansion Card | Expansion Card | Expansion Card | Expansion Card |
| Card Type | Storage Controller | Storage Controller | Storage Controller | Storage Controller | Storage Controller |
| Interface | PCIe x8 | PCIe x8 | PCIe x8 | PCIe x8 | PCIe x8 |
| PCIe Version | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 | N/A | PCIe 3.0 |
| Chipset / Controller | HPE Smart Array P542 | HPE Smart Array P408i-p SR | N/A | HP Smart Array P440 | HP Smart Array |
| Supported Ports | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Port Count | N/A | N/A | 8 | 1 | N/A |
| Max Data Rate | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1Gbps |
| RAID Levels Supported | RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 / RAID 50 / RAID 60 | RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 / RAID 50 / RAID 60 | N/A | RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 | RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 5 / RAID 6 / RAID 10 / RAID 50 / RAID 60 / JBOD |
| Capture Resolution | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Capture Frame Rate | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Low Profile Bracket | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full Height Bracket | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling | Passive | Passive | Passive | Passive | Passive |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi / FreeBSD | Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi | Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi / FreeBSD | Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi | Windows / Linux / VMware ESXi |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit | 64-bit | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Power Requirements | 3.3V | 3.3V | 3.3V | 3.3V | 3.3V |
| Use Case | Storage Expansion | Storage Expansion | Storage Expansion | Storage Expansion | Storage Expansion |
| Product Name | 759557-B21-HPE SMART ARRAY P542D/2GB CONTROLLER | 830824-B21-SMART ARRAY P408I-P SR GEN10 CTRLR PL=SI | 804228-B21-HPE ProLiant DL560 Gen9 SAS Expander Card | 726821-B21-HP SMART ARRAY P440/4GB FBWC 12GB 1PORT INT SAS CONTROLLER | 749975-B21-HP Smart Array P246br/1G FIO Controller |
| Height | 1.73 inches | 0.55 inches | N/A | 1.5 inches | N/A |
| Width | 5.91 inches | 3.3 inches | N/A | 4.7 inches | N/A |
| Depth | 9.84 inches | 7.9 inches | N/A | 7.9 inches | N/A |
| Weight | 1.06 lbs | 1.2 lbs | N/A | 1.2 lbs | N/A |
Reviews & Ratings
N
Noman Qadir
4
OEM card fit cleanly.
H
Hugo Martin
5
Stable performance under load.
B
Brian Walsh
5
Good for expanding storage.
K
Kamil Wrobel
4
Dependable controller.
Questions & Answers
What is the HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller (SKU: 759557-B21)?
The HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller is a high-performance, entry-level RAID controller designed to provide hardware-accelerated data protection and drive management for HPE ProLiant and Apollo servers.
Which RAID levels are supported by the P542D/2GB Controller?
The controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 1+0, 5, 6 and 50, enabling flexible data protection and performance tuning for mixed workload environments.
What interface and bandwidth does the P542D/2GB use?
It uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface delivering up to 2 GB/s of bandwidth, ensuring low latency and high throughput for data-intensive applications.
How much cache memory is included?
The P542D/2GB Controller includes 2 GB of DDR4 cache with write-back and write-through modes to accelerate read/write operations and improve application performance.
Which drive types can I connect to this controller?
You can connect SAS, SATA, and nearline SAS drives up to 12 Gbps; with support for both HDD and SSD form factors, it adapts to performance or capacity needs.
Is the P542D/2GB compatible with HPE ProLiant and Apollo servers?
Yes, it is fully supported in the HPE ProLiant DL and ML series as well as Apollo storage servers when paired with the correct drive cages and backplanes.
What operating systems are supported by this controller?
It officially supports Microsoft Windows Server, various Linux distributions (RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu), VMware ESXi, and VMware vSphere for broad deployment flexibility.
Does the controller support NVMe drives?
No, the P542D/2GB Controller is designed for SAS and SATA only; NVMe support requires HPE NVMe-enabled Smart Array or NVMe HBAs.
How does the P542D/2GB Controller improve data protection?
By offloading parity calculations to dedicated hardware and offering battery-backed cache, it ensures rapid rebuilds and data integrity during power events.
Can I expand storage capacity with this controller?
Yes, you can connect up to eight ports per controller and daisy-chain drive enclosures to scale capacity into the petabyte range.
What firmware version is required for optimal performance?
HPE recommends installing Firmware Version 8.40 or later, which includes performance enhancements, interoperability updates, and security patches.
How is the P542D/2GB Controller installed?
Installation is a tool-free process: insert the controller into a free PCIe x8 slot, secure the bracket, attach data cables, and power on the server to load firmware.
What performance gains can I expect?
With hardware RAID acceleration and 2 GB cache, you can see up to 50% reduction in disk I/O latency and throughput improvements of up to 75% over software RAID.
What warranty and support options are available?
HPE offers a three-year limited warranty with optional ProLiant Care Pack services for 24x7 support, rapid parts replacement, and proactive health checks.
Where can I purchase the HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB Controller?
You can buy it through authorized HPE resellers, the HPE online store, and major IT distributors; check for availability and volume pricing on HPE’s official website.