The HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 is a chipset-integrated, software-defined RAID solution. Unlike hardware RAID controllers (like the HPE Smart Array P408i-a) which feature dedicated onboard processors and cache memory, the S100i relies on the server’s CPU and system RAM to manage RAID calculations. Key Capabilities and Limitations
If you already have Windows Server 2022 installed, you can update the driver. Run the downloaded cpXXXXXX.exe file.
The S100i controller requires the server to be in UEFI Boot Mode ; it does not support Legacy BIOS mode. Installation Methods 1. Assisted Installation (Recommended)
If Windows is already installed on a different controller (or non-RAID disk), you can add the S100i driver afterwards.
Reboot your HPE Gen10 server and press to enter System Utilities. The HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 is
By mastering this driver, you turn a simple embedded SATA controller into a functional, redundant storage subsystem capable of running Windows Server 2022 in small to medium business environments, branch offices, or development labs. For mission-critical workloads, however, consider upgrading to a hardware RAID controller.
The downloaded HPE driver package is typically compressed. You need to extract it to a USB flash drive or accessible network location before booting into Windows Server 2022 setup.
: Provides the official overview of supported features, including RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10 for up to 14 SATA drives. HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide
During the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, click Load Driver . Run the downloaded cpXXXXXX
: Integrates with the Windows Server system event log to provide real-time status updates. Deployment Requirements
| Issue | Likely cause | Solution | |-------|--------------|----------| | Drive not seen during Windows install | Driver missing | Load S100i driver as described above | | Windows Server 2022 fails to boot after enabling RAID | Boot order or driver conflict | Boot into recovery → load driver, or reinstall OS with driver | | Poor performance on RAID 5 | Software RAID overhead | Use RAID 10 or hardware RAID for better write performance | | HPE SSA cannot see controller | Outdated driver or missing chipset drivers | Update S100i driver and chipset drivers |
To ensure the best compatibility with Windows Server 2022, you should always use the latest driver provided by HPE.
The S100i controller . SAS drives require a physical Smart Array controller (P-series). How do I check if the driver is loaded? including RAID levels 0
P49876_001.exe → extracts to HPE_Smart_Array_S100i_SR_Gen10_SW_RAID_Win2022_x64
Make sure you update both the driver (in Windows) and the System ROM/BIOS (for S100i functionality) using the Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP).
Before initializing a Windows Server 2022 installation deployment, you must properly configure the underlying server hardware infrastructure.
Boot the server and press to enter System Utilities / UEFI System Configuration . Navigate to