HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen10 Plus v2 8SFF x1 U.3 BC Mid Tray Basic Drive Cage Kit

Overview

The HPE P39600-B21 is a mid-tray drive cage kit designed specifically for the ProLiant DL385 Gen10 Plus v2 server. It supports up to eight 2.5-inch U.3 or U.2 drives, enabling straightforward storage expansion without the need to remove existing disks or alter the server’s internal layout. This solution fits seamlessly into the server chassis, maintaining airflow and serviceability while providing additional capacity for demanding workloads.

Key features

• Supports eight 2.5-inch U.3 or U.2 drives to increase storage density efficiently within the server
• Mid-tray installation slides directly into the existing slot, preserving current cabling and airflow paths
• Compatible with a range of storage controllers, allowing customization based on workload requirements
• Enables quick capacity growth for virtualization hosts, data analytics nodes, and development labs
• Compact design maintains the server’s thermal performance and ease of maintenance
• Lightweight and purpose-built to integrate smoothly with the DL385 Gen10 Plus v2 chassis

Key specs

• Form factor: Mid-tray drive cage
• Drive support: Up to eight 2.5-inch U.3 or U.2 drives
• Dimensions: 46.99 × 51.77 × 7.62 cm
• Weight: 3.02 kg
• Compatibility: HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen10 Plus v2 server
• Includes: Drive cage only, no processor or controller included

Installation and setup

Installation is designed to be simple and efficient, allowing administrators to add the drive cage during scheduled maintenance windows with minimal downtime. The cage slides into the mid-tray slot already present in the server chassis, eliminating the need for additional rails or brackets. This approach helps maintain existing cabling and airflow, ensuring the server continues to operate optimally after the upgrade.

Ideal uses and environments

This drive cage kit is well suited for environments where expanding local storage capacity is critical. It works well in virtualization clusters that require additional space for virtual machine images, data analytics nodes that need fast access to large datasets, and development labs that benefit from keeping test environments consolidated on the same hardware. Its design supports high-performance NVMe drives, making it a strong choice for workloads demanding both capacity and speed.